Police, Specials Mix Reggae with New Wave...
New Wave and reggae strange bedfellows? Hardly. It makes sense that someone would combine the two, after all, both are types of protest music, full of political lyrics.
Thursday at Abbey Road two New Wave bands with heavy reggae influence performed be fore a packed house. The result was fresh, exciting music, that surprisingly was almost apolitical.
It was The Police, recently named best new artist by Rolling Stone magazine in its 1979 critics' poll, which got top billing. But it was The Specials, new band from England, which proved to be the group to watch.
With bassist Gordon Sumner, alias Sting, leading the way, the three members of The Police raced through songs off 'Outlandos d'Amour' and the recent album 'Reggatta de Blanc'. For having only three musicians, their sound is remarkably full with a backbone of good. basic, high powered rock and roll the stuff of which the best New Wave is made.
But it was the lively integration of rock and reggae delivered by The Specials that caught my attention.
While The Police may have been the first to marry reggae and New Wave, The Specials go a step farther to the point where reggae often dominates.
Neville Staples' vocals with had character Roddy Byers' guitar leads ultra-fast and full of teeth.
The Specials were out to deliver a good time. While vocalist Terry Hall commanded the audience out of its seats. Staples was more successful.
"With all this hatred. all this conflict." he said in his Jamaican accent, "this may be your last chance to dance".
Last chance or not. everyone was up and moving to 'It's Up to You'.
(c) Salt Lake Tribune by Terry Orme
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