Celebrating their 4th anniversary the Beats and Swing crew put on another great night, bringing the genre-crossing Dub Pistols back to the Wedge in all their glory. First up were Basement83 who had gone down well in the Beats and Swing tent at last year’s Victorious Festival. However other commitments resulted in my arriving when locals Zegema Beach were on stage, a band who were returning to the live circuit after a three year hiatus.
Even though it had been a while Zegema Beach haven’t lost their touch. With a summer reggae sound mixed with the odd heavier riff they were an obvious choice as main support. Saturday night gigs often seem to have a slightly different crowd to those mid-week, but with literally only one or two tickets left on the door the venue was filled with a really good vibe. Zegema Beach getting things going with the crowd jumping throughout their set just like the old days.
To keep things in full (beats and) swing Tom Mayhem provided the tunes between bands and continued to do so at the end of the night. This DJ is no stranger to the local scene and definitely up there with those on the wider circuit. Tom always knows what record to drop and as such there was no let up, for what was soon to be a sold out crowd.
It was of course when tonight’s headliners took to the stage that things really heated up. The Dub Pistols are known for putting on a top live show and tonight they were certainly in the mood to party. Founding member Barry Ashworth and guest MC Seanie Tee fronting a band who keep the energy going throughout the performance.
The two frontmen constantly bounced off each other, exchanging lyrics and onstage banter while musically Dub Pistols cover everything from drum n bass to reggae. Along with their take on the punk/new wave classic “Peaches” by the Stranglers – MC Seanie Tee’s rhymes flowing freely in place of Rodney P, who provides the vocals on record.
It is indeed Seanie Tee who fills the void of any other guest vocalists with ease, there’s no holding back in making the Dub Pistols as much his band on stage as partner in crime Barry Ashworth. Both of whom seem genuinely honoured by the reception they receive here in Portsmouth. The audience respond to any sing-a-long moments and show off their appreciation through dance tunes, such as feel good anthem “Alive“.
There was also time for new material and while the couple of tracks aired tonight may take a bit of getting used to, the bass was still high up in the mix to help put the dub into the pistols. However the crowd were soon up partying again for the awesome “Mucky Weekend” and skanking along to the ska of “Gangsters” by the Specials.
If there’s ever a band you don’t want to stop playing it’s the Dub Pistols. Out came the sombrero and terrible Mexican impersonation to help introduce the band members back on stage one by one. As “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly” theme tune played in the background, the obligatory encore started to bring an impressive and long set to a triumphant close.
So happy 4th birthday Beats and Swing, if you need someone to help celebrate again next year – then the return of the Pistoleros and Zegema Beach will be a fine choice.
