The English Beat Goes On
Dave Wakeling and that glorious, Vox teardrop.
The English Beat has gone through several iterations, yielding fourteen members since 1978. Dave Wakeling, the only remaining founding member, continues to front the group, propagating it’s brand of distinctive ska, reggae and punk, played to ageless perfection Saturday night at the Metro.
Wakeling’s signature vocals and infectious guitar riffs on “Save It For Later”, “Mirror in the Bathroom” and “I Confess” were played with little to no alteration from their original recordings, respectful of the sound that endeared fans in the era of 80s new wave, and sparking current college kids in Fred Perry polos to jockey past me on their way to the front row. The English Beat is timeless, transportive fun, with Wakeling showing no signs of letting anyone down.
Full Gallery: The English Beat @ The Metro
Wakeling keeps the beat alive with his newest lineup.