The Selecter, The Tendons, Weightloss Esquires, 17th February 2006
Reviewed by Martin Stapleton
Legend is a word bandied around these days but tonight it was fully justified as the legendary Pauline Black returned to Esquires with her band - the two-tone Ska pioneers The Selecter.
In the golden era of 1971-1981 a new sound and style hit the streets - Ska with a punk attitude. The Selecter, along with bands like Madness and The Beat, gave the disenchanted youth of that time a voice, simply by producing intelligent pop music with hard hitting lyrics that weren't afraid to tackle topics like unemployment and racial prejudice.
In the past we have often witnessed bands down Esquires who despite their past glories either play a seemingly deliberately obscure set or they simply cannot sing anymore! No such problems tonight as Pauline Black's cutting yet divine vocals are a perfect reproduction of those bygone classics. Close your eyes and you are magically transported back to a bleak winter some 26 years ago!
Their break-through self titled debut 'The Selecter' (which was, of course, on the b-side of 'Gangster' by the Specials) opens this marvellous evening and when the opening bars of the next song are heard, men and women, young and old start to jump and cry, for it was 'Three Minute Hero'. 'Bombscare' (still sadly topical after all these years) and 'Celebrate the Bullet' followed, which gave us time to pause and reflect before 'Missing Words' got the Doc Martens moving around again. Pauline dedicated the next song to the late and lamented Ska 'troubadour' Laurel Aitkins and the richly deserved 'Musical Servant' was sang with a whole lot of feeling.
Skankin reached fever pitch on 'Train 2 Skaville' while the 'Black and Blue' from their first album was greeted with an euphoric cheer. The final two songs of the set sapped any energy that the crowd had left but these ageing boys and girls deserve credit as they danced to the classic 'On My Radio', the song that launched them to Stardom and Top of the Pops! It was the tune that got us all into that eternal timewarp - bald heads bobbing, bodies wobbling and legs jumping. What a glorious sight and a terrific sound and even a miserable old cynic like myself has to admit that sometimes you can't beat the old 'uns.
As the Selecter bowed to the inevitable baying for an encore, they concluded the evening with 'Murder' which left the entire crowd on a seemingly permanent high. I know I speak for everyone present in saying that it was one of the magical Esquires evenings that had that something special to it. Credit to Mr Danny Esquires who organised the gig and it was lovely to see Pauline Black signing autographs and genuinely taking time out to chat to the punters at the end - a gesture that was very well appreciated.
Supporting The Selecter were firstly Weightloss, a young seven piece Ska band who were warmly welcomed back after a lengthy absence from Level 2. They include tonight a new trombonist and their set gets everyone in the mood, especially 'Logistical Nightmare' which tells the tale of working in The City.
After the Ska came The Tendons whose general take on the Worlds problems is always done in the best possible taste! Guest vocalists tonight feature Jon's daughter Laura who sings on 'Schoolgirl Teaser' and loveable old scally Adam from Henry and the Bleeders who just creates chaos on stage!