Dave Wakeling launched an American version of The English Beat sometime last decade. The new band sounds great and Dave's voice remains in top form. The tour stops at The Bell House on Dec. 9th and Maxwell's in Hoboken on Dec. 14th.

While out in Los Angeles many years back, I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Dave play with his group Bang at The Roxy, In an interview with songfacts.com, here is how Dave described how Bang morphed into The English Beat: "I started my own 4-piece band and called it Bang. And sort of went back to roots. The Beatles, there was only four of them and they sounded okay, so I did that instead. Bang went on for a couple of years, but so many times I would show up, and they would say, "Tonight: The English Beat, General Public, Bang, and Dave Wakeling," like it was four groups. In the end, I just gave up. I was like all right, fine. English Beat it is. You can't fight against the tide."



As a major part of the two-tone ska music revolution of the late 70s and early 80s, alongside their stablemates The Specials, Madness, and The Selector, the musical juggernaut that is lead vocalist Dave Wakeling hasn't lost any momentum in songwriting. He and his bandmates managed to find time between endless touring to lay down demos for their forthcoming release (planned for 2011). Their new songs such as "The Love You Give Lasts Forever", "How Can You Stand There" and "Said We Would Never Die" are quickly becoming fan favorites and live staples.

Tickets for the Dec. 9th show at The Bell House are $25 and doors are at 8PM. Tickets for the Dec. 14th show at Maxwell's are $24.99 and doors are at 8PM.

English Beat Tour Dates
Nov 12 -- Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA
Nov 13 -- Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA
Nov 19 -- SLO Brewing Company, San Luis Obispo, CA
Nov 20 -- SoHo, Santa Barbara, CA
Dec 08 -- Ramshead On Stage, Annapolis, MD
Dec 09 -- Bell House, Brooklyn, NY
Dec 10 -- Fairfield Theatre – Stage One, Fairfield, CT
Dec 11 -- Fairfield Theatre – Stage One, Fairfield, CT
Dec 12 -- Infinity Hall, Norfolk, CT
Dec 14 -- Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ
Dec 15 -- Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry, NH
Dec 16 -- Tupelo Music Hall, White River Junction, VT
Feb 4 -- Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA
Feb 5 -- Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA

Links:
The English Beat