Freaker Scene: 4/10/09 The English Beat @ The Cabooze

4/10/09 The English Beat @ The Cabooze

Many special positive factors led to my making of the scene for the always enrichingly engaging English Beat at the party friendly Cabooze on a fittingly Good Friday. Among these contributing so-called factors were that many dear friends were to be there as well as the presence of my Left Coast friend Jai Vatuk, who just recently joined the band as a guitarist. Hired for this tour, Jai sounded marvelous tearing up leads at times & singing some.

Jai is here foremost in the foreground * foto: Timmy

Also involved in the decision to attend was my own vast love for the English Beat & their contagious ska sexified live show, which has aged very well still packing a potent dance driving horned up punch. In other words, The Beat prove to always be a lively uplifting socio flirtacious occasion.

English Beat @ the Cabooze * foto: Fantail Media (permission pending)

The EB wickedly opened with an ambitious rendition of their “Rough Rider”. Dave Wakeling, the group’s fearless leader was spot on raging finely all the night long. He leads with precision, grace, talent & of course a sly sense of humor. Following that was more stimulating stimuli from the highly active band like action ready “Hand’s Off, She’s Mine”, my personal Beat fave (& Nicole’s as well) “I Confess”, stridently 2nd fave “Best Friend” & Twister™ defying “Twist & Crawl”. The scintillating show brought me happily back to the late 70s & early 80s.

The Beat eagerly service the crowd * foto: Fantail Media (permission pending)

English Beat also surged into sultry material like “Whine & Grind”, Motown hit “Tears of a Clown”, old school “Can’t Get Used to Losing You”, manic charged “Mirror in the Bathroom” (this tune defined an era for me), “2 Bleeding Swords”, General Public’s (Dave Wakeling side project) seductive “Tenderness” & the signature swansong “Save it for Later”. At some point, my buddy George Peebles busted out some rude boy dance move steps. It was freaking far out.

The English Beat * foto: Timmy {iPhone}

Everytime the Beat come to town I try to go. Their long shows are fun & leave me really happy craving more as music should. I heavily recommend the English Beat & hope they return once or twice a year until the end of time. Quintessentially EB were & are the 2nd (Wave) coming of ska. Please don’t miss out on their musement.