The Specials at Club Nokia

Last night we walked right past the limos lined up outside the Taylor Swift show at Staples and went to L.A. Live to see The Specials at Club Nokia. Never been there before, so it took some poking around. Luckily, there were some signs that we were in the right place.


We got in just in time to find a decent spot while Fitz & the Depressions were playing their final songs. The Specials didn't go until at 9:40, when a recording of "Enjoy Yourself" lead into a raging performance of "Do The Dog." Of course, the band was energetic and tight. They should be since they've played plenty of music following the departure of original lead singer Terry Hall, who went on to play in Fun Boy 3, The Colour Field, and various solo, duo, guest, and Arabic music projects (all great). But Hall has a one-of-a-kind voice and the albums and singles they recorded with him aren't only some of my favorite albums, but spearheaded the multi-ethnic, blue-collar, ska revival and 2-Tone movement. To a certain generation of fans of British music, it's a big, big deal that he's back.


Terry Hall was as somber, dry, and stoic as ever, but he actually seemed to loosen up as the show went on. Tossing out water bottles, inviting everyone to visit the band at the Sunset Marquis, threatening to punch someone's face in if he kept gobbing at co-lead singer Lynval, and asking both band members and the crowd if they were having fun. He added to audience, "You're looking for a good time, I'm looking for partner in life." (I was informed by my friend that Terry Hall's reconnecting with his bandmates was part of a recovery program related to a bad spell triggered by bipolar issues.)

The 30-year-old songs about loneliness, joblessness, racism, nuclear proliferation, and urban decay not only sound great, but are as relevant as ever. The recession might be another reason why the band got together after all these years--that, and to wait out the third and fourth waves of ska...


Transplanted Brits, Latino skinheads, and old punks--all dressed in various combinations of Fred Perry, Ben Sherman, and Merc--made the floorboards bounce for much of the 90-minute-set, which included not only high-energy, crowd-pleasing favorites like "Dawning of a New Era," "Rat Race," and "Little Bitch," but well-played, moodier ones like "Stereotype," "Man at C&A," and "Ghost Town." (Drummer John Bradbury is a freaking machine and guitarist Roddy Radiation totally rips, but still no keyboardist and driving force Jerry Dammers.) I had super high expectations, they were exceeded, and one more entry has been taken off my very short list of musical heroes I need to see.