Dave Wakeling leads the English Beat through a groovy gig at Webster Hall last summer (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Highline Ballroom
431 West 16th St. between Ninth & Tenth Aves.
Sunday, January 9, $30, 8:00
212-414-5994
www.myspace.com/officialbeatspace
www.highlineballroom.com
We have to admit that we were forced to catch the English Beat last August at Webster Hall, figuring them to be just another once-hot ’80s retread living off the past, playing warmed-over versions of ancient hits, with only one original member in tow. Damn, were we wrong. Instead, we had a rollicking good time as Dave Wakeling led the Beat through a thirtieth-anniversary celebration of their seminal album I JUST CAN’T STOP IT, along with a few covers and even a new song. The dance party never stopped as a comfortable and relaxed Wakeling shared funny stories about crazy nights in New York City way back when and how most of the band now downs coconut milk in lieu of the harder stuff, referring to Rhythmm Epkins on drums, Wayne Lothian on bass, Matt Morrish on sax, Raynier Jacildo on keyboards, Musashi “Moose” Lethridge on guitar, and Antonee taking the First Class Toaster part made famous by Ranking Roger. The generous setlist ran the gamut from such EB classics as “I Confess,” “Can’t Get Used to Losing You,” “Twist & Crawl,” “Hands Off, She’s Mine,” “Stand Down Margaret,” “Tears of a Clown,” and “Mirror in the Bathroom” to a cover of the Staples Singers’ “I’ll Take You There.” Running long, Wakeling cut a General Public tune, making a sly jab at RR. The Birmingham native, long since relocated to California, also added a snippet of Pearl Jam’s “Better Man” to “Save It for Later,” just as Eddie Vedder has been adding a snippet of “Save It” to PJ’s performances of “Better Man” for years. The band also featured the new “The Love You Give Lasts Forever,” part of a benefit project for Acoustic for Autism; in fact, they’re readying the first English Beat studio album since 1982’s SPECIAL BEAT SERVICE, so don’t be surprised to see other fresh tracks tonight, when EB plays the Highline Ballroom with the Brooklyn Rundfunk Orkestrata, Toubab Krewe, and the Lost Fingers. Tickets are half price if you bring in an unemployment stub and present it at the box office. You know you want to go. So just go. Plus, it’s Sunday night, so what else do you have to do?