More Specials magic at the Civic

The Specials, Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Two pieces of good news to report. First, The Specials’ reunion shows no sign of running out of steam.

On the contrary, for this second leg of their 30th anniversary tour they’ve cast aside any inhibitions and seem even more confident about their return.

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Welcomes like the one which greeted them last night – and every other night, you suspect – will have helped, but it’s no more than they deserve.

The tracklist has been freshened up since those first dates in April, with the caustic Hey Little Rich Girl and pantomime fun of Stupid Marriage greeted like old friends by the sold-out Civic, bedecked with a ramped up stage set including four big screens – black and white, naturally.

In fact, it’s probably a good idea to check the venue’s foundations today as the whole place seemed to be swaying at times. The roof might need a look at too after being nearly taken off by the soundtrack of a generation for fans now re-united, wide-eyed and almost choking back tears in the euphoria of it all.

Musically, the all-too-true Rat Race, Gangsters, Stereotype and Nite Klub sound like they were written yesterday, while the haunting resonance of Ghost Town needs no re-telling.

Terry Hall’s blinking eyes rarely left the stage floor, but the deadpan singer remains an icon of presence and effortless cool, former roadie Neville Staple’s energy continues to belie his 54 years and overall the band were pretty damn faultless.

The second piece of good news is that they’re on again tonight. So if you’re wondering now what all the fuss is about . . . beg, steal, borrow, hock your iPod, sell your soul, do whatever it takes to get there.

Because if you don’t, someday you’re going to hear this music and wish that you had.

Review by Keith Harrison? Post your own review below.

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