The Beat/Bow Wow Wow – live in Barrowland

For some reason I have never witnessed The Beat live. Just one of these things, the planets never aligned. I assumed with the death of Ranking Roger my chance had gone, but not so, with Dave Wakeling bringing his version of The Beat to Glasgow Barrowland. I’ll admit I had a slight concern about the crowd filling the Ballroom, having seen one of the ticket filler companies selling tickets for around a fiver earlier on in the week. Not great news for those who had already paid full price but the approach seemed to work, while the gig wasn’t sold out, it was a healthy sized crowd.

I had managed to catch (Annabella’s) Bow Wow Wow before, the last time they played was in the small room in the now defunct ABC on Sauchiehall Street to a much smaller audience. I took the opportunity to update my seven year old pic with the iconic frontwoman. This time Annabella was playing with a stripped down band of drums (essential to the trademark sound of the music!) and guitar, sharing guitarist Lightning and his luminous locks and mutton chops with the headliner. It would appear the ever youthful Annabella must have a portrait in her attic and has plenty of tales to tell of Malcolm McLaren and her time with the the rest of the originals back in the early 80s. The venue steadily filled during their set, a set of the crowd pleasers you’d hope and expect, Louis Quatorze, Aphrodisiac, See Jungle and of course Go Wild in the Country, before closing the set with their definitive versions of The Strangeloves song I Want Candy. I’d love to see Annabella play Glasgow again in a more intimate packed full venue.

Talking of crowd pleasers, what a set Dave Wakeling and co. shared with the Barrowland crowd! I’m probably more of a casual fan of The Beat rather than an aficionado, so what the band treated us to was exactly what I needed, actually whether a fan or an interested observer, it was a perfectly formed set of all the hits and more. As a more casual fan, I had actually probably forgotten just how many cracking singles and tunes the band had, this set providing a timely reminder for me, with loads of “I’d forgotten about this one” moments, perhaps some of the others gathered who’d taken a chance with a cheap ticket were having the same joyous experience, while at the same time the diehard fans were singing every word to every song.

Special mention must got to MC/vocalist Antonee FirstClass who was on stunning form, filling any breaks and engaging the partisan crowd with his banter and repartee. The bands excellent set opened with Rough Rider and they then proceeded to play banger after banger of classic songs including their covers of Tears of a Clown and Can’t Get Used to Losing You (in tribute to lost friends and band mates), the still relevant today Stand Down Margaret, thanks to the performance of the current car crash of a despicable Tory government, Hands off She’s Mine, Twist and Crawl, Too Nice to Talk To… the list goes on. Ranking Full Stop segueing into Mirror in the Bathroom a particular highlight.

It’s a shame I never got to see the late Ranking Roger, but I’m glad I finally got to see The Beat and tick them off my wish list of bands I’ve still to see live. If you’re swithering about whether or not to head off out to see any of their other dates, don’t hesitate, you’ll have a blast!