I first saw Coventry`s Ska revival band The Selecter in 1979 on the 2-Tone package tour with The Specials and Madness. Sadly Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson died last year which left singer Pauline Black and drummer Charley ‘Aitch’ Bembridge as the only remaining founding members of the band. It`s been a fair while since I last saw the group and i`m sure it`s `The Avenger`s Theme` with which they kick off tonight`s show. It doesn`t take long until we enjoy one of the band`s top twenty hits with the infectious `Three Minute Hero` which really ignites this packed crowd. `Frontline` and `Celebrate the Bullet` quickly follow as somebody shouts out “I love you Pauline” to which the singer replies that it was nice to be loved by somebody from Birmingham. Although Coventry is just twenty miles away there`s always been a fierce rivalry between the two cities.
The show continues with numbers such as `War War War` which is more relevant these days and `Train to Skaville` but it`s The heartbreaking `Missing Words` and `On My Radio` which sends everybody into a frenzy before closing out with `Too Much Pressure which blended the Toots and the Maytels classic `Pressure Drop` within it`s layers. It`s the Selecter`s forty firth anniversary this year and I heard somebody say that Pauline Black still has a healthy set of lungs and on the strength of tonight the “Queen of British Ska” and her band still have plenty to offer.
Birmingham is famous for being the Birthplace of Heavy Metal but we are also proud of the diversity of our inner city communities which have produced some superb reggae artists with Apache Indian, Pato Banton, Musical Youth, Friendly Fire Band, Benjamin Zephaniah, UB40 but for me Steel Pulse are our greatest export. A band who were the first, maybe only, reggae act to perform at a Presidential inauguration, won a grammy and arrive in my and their hometown on their 50th anniversary tour. David Hinds, rhythm guitar and lead vocals and Selwyn Brown keys and percussion are the only remaining members who founded this band.
I first caught the band in 1978 supporting The Stranglers at Stafford Bingley Hall and it’s been around three years since I last saw them. The first three albums `Handsworth Revolution`, `Tribute To The Martyrs` and `Caught You` to me were stunning but as the band increased in popularity and started to make waves in the Unites States I kind of lost touch with them and have only bought 1991`s `Victims` since.
`Ravers` kicks us off before the irresistible `Rally Round` a track from one of lead singer David Hind`s favourite albums `True Democracy` and a favourite number of mine. We have a nod to the debut album with the introspective `Soldiers` before the uplifting `Chant a Psalm`. The show progresses with a blend of old and new tracks with songs like the reflective `A Who Responsible?` , dreamy `Nyah Love` and `Steppin` Out` but for me its numbers such as `Drug Squad`, `Babylon Makes the Rules` and the seductive `Stop you Coming and Come` that really hit home before closing out with the emotive `Klu Klux Klan`.
The band are encouraged to return for an encore and share the thoughtful `Your House` but it`s `Handsworth Revolution` that transports me back to my late teens with all the memories it stirs up. I wasn`t expecting `Taxi Driver` so that was a real bonus before the band left us with `Respect` a cover and a tribute to Lucky Dube, who was tipped to be the next major Reggae superstar following Bob Marley but was was murdered in Johannesburg in 2007. I saw Lucky Dude in 1994 at Womad in Reading and he was immense.
There was a lot to take in during this one hundred- and five-minute set and at times it was a little slanted to an American palate which is understandable as the spend most of their time touring the States but there was enough for me to dust down my vinyl and let my neighbours enjoy some classic Steel Pulse.
If you get chance to catch them on this anniversary tour, I`m sure you`ll do the same.
Photo of Steel Pulse, Keith Pearce
