Whatever your view on Maggie and her legacy it’s hard to ignore the ironic air of celebration throughout the packed Fleece audience tonight. Ripped dreaded toaster Ranking Roger skips onto the stage clutching his mobile and unleashes some fairly damning pre-prepared thoughts on the late PM and her destruction of communities. The Beat were a major force within the late 70’s/early 80’s ska scene, their music inspired by political and socio-economic upheaval in a time of strikes, riots and chronic unemployment. Thatcher’s reforms and their effect on society was always likely to be at odds with the bands message of ‘peace, love and unity’ and as Ranking Roger finishes his diatribe by declaring it as one of the greatest weeks of his life, it’s obvious that there’s still no love lost.
The Beat are a tight live proposition even in their
advancing years. Ranking Roger’s son,
Ranking Junior aka Mini Murphy stands alongside his father giving the group a
contemporary boost with some impressive rapid freestyling. The lively rapper gives the old classics an
extra dimension and he’s able to work the audience as well as his evergreen old
man. ‘Rock The Casbah’ would surely get
Strummer’s blessing for keeping the diverse crowd of skinheads, students and middle-aged
mothers jovially jumping like its 1982. Working through an impressive back catalogue
of lilting Jamaican ska that takes in the contagiously catchy ‘Hands Off She’s
Mine’ and the incendiary delight that is punky Jam-style ‘Click Click.’ Ranking Roger encourages more celebrations of
the iron lady’s demise on ‘Jackpot’ instigating a chant of ‘Hip hip hooray’ and
the crowd are more than happy to oblige.
Everett Morton stands out on Smokey Robinson cover ‘Tears Of
A Clown’ the man most responsible for bringing the band’s reggae style with his
uniquely fascinating polyrhythmic drumming.
‘Ranking Full Stop’ has father and son working seamlessly in
heartwarming tandem, full of energy creating those infectious dance rhythms. Roger happy to let Junior take the spotlight
with an improv showcase of fast rapping with Dad faithfully joining in on
drums. ‘Mirror In The Bathroom’ is
majestic; extended to include a superlative dub/ragga middle eight, more great
freestyling from Ranking Junior and some silky sax from newbie Simeon Murray. High-fiving the boisterous audience to end
the gig it certainly feels like both band and crowd have shared something
special. With a new lease of life live and
a formidable bundle of classics to pick from, there’s no doubt that they’ll be
winning new fans and continuing to supply the soundtrack to many more Friday
nights to come.
Kindly published by Venue:
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-b/20461-the-beat
Best Track: Click on link below
The Beat - "Mirror In The Bathroom"
Setlist: TBC
Albums available:
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