Reggae for the People 2008 Review

 

Arriving at the Junction I wasn’t really expecting anything different to the venues that I have been to in London over the years. As a regular at Brixton Academy and London Astoria, I perhaps have become accustomed to the larger gig where thousands of sweaty fans bounce in unison to the band on stage. 

Set in what seems like a new-build estate with various food outlets the Junction was rather unassuming and not as big as I had expected. This was promising as I, along with most people, prefer a smaller, enclosed venue as it encourages audience participation and a more personal performance.

Looking a bit like a leisure centre and with virtually non-existent security and door-staff I began to get a terrible feeling that the gig was either cancelled or one of the bands had pulled. So, after getting some cash out of the ATM machine after much deliberation, the machine charged £1.75 per transaction, we headed into the venue and were greeted with almost complete darkness.

Unsure whether the place was completely full or completely empty, I grabbed Sarah’s hand and tentatively walked towards the only light I could see. As we entered the main room it all became clear to me, the place was almost empty. On stage was the very talented DJ from Mungo’s HiFi, he filled in the gaps between performances and made what is normally a painfully slow process a pleasure. To our right was a lit area, with a dozen or so people drinking – the bar. Heading towards the bar, we noticed the merchandise stall on the back wall to our right and confirmed we would be back.

A reasonably priced (i think) Guinness and WKD later and we found the line-up and time slots on the wall, The Pietasters would be on in ten minutes – brilliant. We perused the merchandise and settled on a Slackers t-shirt each, as the Pietasters took to the stage.

I don’t know too much about the band and have only heard a handful of songs but they put in a very solid performance, despite the fact the venue appeared less than a quarter full. The size of the room didn’t do the band justice either, their sound would definitely be better in a larger setting. However, their energy and a fantastic set of ska tunes won them a good few fans tonight, as well as announcing their t-shirts were being reduced to a fiver. Another t-shirt each then…

The Slackers were due on stage at 20.45 and unlike most gigs I have been to, they weren’t too late. I’m not even sure if they were late at all but Mungo’s Hifi made sure that I didn’t notice or care. As The Slackers came on stage, Sarah and I had managed to secure a spot right at the front within touching distance of the band. The crowd swelled and the Junction began to look a bit like the audition room for This is England as I felt a little out of place with a Fred Perry or Ben Sherman and no Doc Martens. Never mind, focus on the music.

The Slackers

The majority of the crowd were clearly here to see The Slackers and the band were greeted with loud cheers as they launched into classics like ‘I Still Love You’ and ‘Old Dog’ as well as ‘Every Day is Sunday’ from their new album. Dressed all in white and playing his upright bass, Marcus Geard oozed cool, Vic Ruggiero always sounds and plays brilliantly and Dave Hillyard put in a stellar birthday performance. The other guys all played well although I couldn’t feel a little sad that Q-Maxx 4:20 wasn’t there as Glen Pine’s vocals seemed to detract a little from the overall Slackers-style that I had grown to love. He seems a bit too much like a crooner for me, and with nods and winks to the girls in the crowd a bit too regularly – I find it a little uncomfortable.

The set was a complete triumph, and the encore of ‘Pedophilia’ was the perfect end to the night for the Slackers crowd with Hillyard’s sax-playing ending inches from me. A great night and a great performance from the band that most of us had come to see. It seemed to be even better in the small venue, and in Cambridge where I would guess bands don’t play all too often.

Pama International are the last band to come on stage at around 10pm and I am looking forward to seeing Lynval Golding after years of hoping for a full-Specials comeback tour. Lynval is dripping with charisma and in a band of seven members seems to thrive on the attention that his reputation demands. He struts around like a frontman and plays guitar in a style reminiscent of Chuck Berry.

Not knowing many of Pama International’s songs affects the crowd’s ability to interact and this is not lost on Golding. Between each song he repeats the band’s name to ensure we at least take that home with us tonight. The third song the band play is dedicated to Sarah, as Lynval picks her out and tells her she will make a lovely wife. The song’s title I presume. The perfect dedication from a great performer and musician.

Lynval Golding

The night ends with crowd depleted, drunk and everybody with a skank in their step. Reggae for the People won’t have made the bands a lot of money but it was never about that in the first place. A fantastic event put on for all the right reasons, and I am sure the crowd I was part of will all remember the name of Pama International come Monday morning – if they remember nothing else.