THE SPECIALS

Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

Fri 28 Oct

words: CLAIRE MAHONEY photos: SIMON AYRE

★★★★☆

The lyrics “Enjoy yourself – it’s later than you think,” couldn’t really hold much more resonance than when played to a packed Cardiff arena of boots-and-braces-clad forty-somethings. Mind you, last Friday night The Specials could probably have pulled a song out the bag for each decade of this audience’s lives – Too Much Too Young (a misspent youth), Do Nothing (the challenge of unemployment), Friday Night, Saturday Morning (living your life for the weekend).

And that’s why, after over 30 years, The Specials are still able to do what they do without even the slightest whiff of dadrock or 80s bandwagoneering. Before they even planted a black loafer on stage the political tone was set, as images of Thatcher, Blair and Cameron flashed up to jeers from the crowd. The years of protests, strikes and riots that were this bands backdrop in the early 80s draw all to easy comparisons with the issues of the day. But this is probably what helps make a band whose age range spans between 50 and 60-odd still seem vital.

Back to the 7,000 strong party though, where even those in the balcony seats were up and skanking. What we got was over 90 minutes of full-on rocksteady, reggae and ska with treats like Monkey Man, Blank Expression, Concrete Jungle and A Message To You Rudy – which the crowd were asked to sing to the London rioters. Original rudeboy Neville Staple, with his greying dreads tucked under his pork-pie hat, was on total form. Terry Hall looks much the same, if a little more crumpled. But even his usual hangdog expression melted at the unconditional enthusiasm of this Welsh crowd. The two encores brought us the uneasy eeriness of Ghost Town and the punkish rant Little Bitch before signing off on a rueful note with You’re Wondering Now – the vocal handed over to the crowd for a generous portion of joining in. Enjoy yourself. Well, it would have been rude not to.