Gig review – Steel Pulse perform Handsworth Revolution – The Forum Kentish Town – 4th April 2015.

Part of the London International Ska festival.
Support: Dennis Bovell Dub band.
Turntables: Pre show: DJ Oxman (Dub Vendor),
Post show: Don Letts Rebel Dread Special.

Apologies for delay in transmission, after encountering a brief shower of micro-meteoroids, some made it through the shields and into the ionising chamber causing a malfunction in the random speculative induction drive. You know how it is! Anyway, here goes . . .

So the controls were set for Birmingham in 1975 . . .
But due to an input error, somehow a landing was made in London 2015. . . .
Not to worry though, for, as fortune would have it, this was exactly the place to be!
After travelling via India, eventually a path was forged to The Forum in Kentish Town . . .
Arriving slightly later than planned, at a tick before 9pm to be exact, which turned out to be just in time!

A place was easily secured front and centre, as the crowd was still filling out, allowing both excellent viewing and maximum bass absorption. The Dub Band, were on stage casually setting up their gear in a cool calm collected kind of way.

The bass capacity of The Forum’s sound system was being thoroughly tested thanks to DJ Oxman’s excellent spinning selection . . .

. . . Then, boom! Dennis Bovell and his amazing Dub Band (including Mr John Kpiaye providing the guitar licks and chops) dealt a serious bass-heavy blow firing out a slick energetic masterclass of hits and first-class dub stylings. Superb! The rapidly swelling crowd were engaged and showed their appreciation.

Soon it was time for the main attraction Steel Pulse!

Kicking off their set with the excellent Prodigal Son, the masses were immediately lapping it up, dancing and chanting along with the chorus. The whole of 1978’s Handsworth Revolution Album was played (out of track order) everyone a strong song in its own right; Ku Klux Klan, Prediction, Soldiers, Bad Man, Sound Check, Macka Splaff and Handsworth Revolution.

The sound had a marked clarity, with all players being well represented in the mix, solidly underpinned by a mighty bass, allowing Steel Pulse’s material to shine in its brilliantly understated yet masterful melodic musicality.

Following hot on the heels of HR they served up a fantastic selection of classic material including; Drug Squad, Rally Round, Steppin’ Out and many more, not a filler among them, Superb!

In addition to the flawless sound, their amazing stage presence, playful energetic interaction and on-stage antics, saw them dancing and running around the whole stage, ensuring the audience were in their palm throughout. Considering this is a band celebrating their 40th anniversary the energy was particularly impressive.

Rarely has music with a message ever sounded so sweet and uplifting.
This reviewer was Blown Away!

Up next a two hour DJ set from the legendary Don Letts . . .
. . . unfortunately mostly missed, as . . .
. . . all of a sudden the time rift made its presence felt again and there were just two minutes remaining in order to get back to the tubular travelling device in time for the last shuttle to the South. Achieving this by the exterior layer of the biting apparatus!

Then, arriving at London Bridge in the year 3000, encountering a marauding gang of Mcbusted fanatics, heading south from the O2, who had clearly had a great evening themselves, each to their own! It just goes to show the diversity a city like London has to offer. And long may it continue!

Over . . .

Apologies for errors and omissions.

Words and Photos: EiTC.