Madness Live NYC

 Taken From ska.about.com 07/05/99

There seems to be no doubt that the pseudo ska-craze of the mid 90s has come and gone, but even if there's little of the punky-moshers-with-horns style that pleases the traditional ear, ska fans young and old must agree on one thing:

Any "wave" that inspires a reunion of the full, original lineup of Madness is worth all the 9-ska-band marathons you can muster up in community halls from Seattle to New Jersey.

While the rest of America bit the heels of their palms monitoring the band's initial West Coast tour in 1998, April of 1999 brought the legendary Two Tone band over to the east coast for a brief, but memorable series of appearances in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., including live shows and appearances on local radio and national television. In the midst of recording their new album, Wonderful, Madness hits the States to promote the release of Universal Madness, a live recording from last year's show in Los Angeles.

After appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman, they played their first public gig at Irving Plaza in New York City. Assembled for the landmark performance was a most unique crowd, full of many NYC ska regulars out to hear the band that inspired their younger counterparts, as well as a good assortment of older fans for whom this was indeed a trip back to a sound they hadn't heard in 15 years. In addition, many fans had traveled to NYC especially for this gig, from devoted British fans to young American fanatics. The atmosphere was charged, not only inside the club, but for blocks around, as the Union Square area was awash in rudies, skins, and nostalgic 80s veterans. The universal attraction was evident everywhere: just yell "Hey You!" and you could prepare to hear an immediate "Don't Watch That! Watch This!" response.

All anticipation of the show, all expectations, were surpassed ten times over once the fans actually got to see the band take the stage and hear Mr. Chas Smash provide that signature cue for himself, listening with joy as the crowd recited the whole signature introduction. With the collective chant of "One Step Beyond!," Irving Plaza was instantly transformed into the nuttiest place this side of the millenium as the band ripped into their classic repertoire of super-skank, madcap, tragi-comic ska and reggae. Graham "Lord Suggs" McPherson led the band and the crowd through favorites like "The Prince," "House of Fun," and "Grey Day" and kept everyone entertained between songs as well with his charismatic presence. Like a super-cool, snappily dressed accountant/spy, sideman Chas Smash kept tabs on the decibel level of the crowd, always ready and eager to turn everyone up a notch with a sly comment or some comedic stage mimes with the microphone stand or his band mates. The whole band was true to their dramatic form, with guitarist Chris Foreman roughing it up with juiced up up-beats and frantic feet and saxophonist Lee "Kix" Thompson taking the stage discreetly camouflaged with a lovely and stylish black wig.

Though the band clearly knew what the crowd wanted in their performance of old and familiar hits, they also tossed in a couple of preview performances of new songs to appear on their upcoming studio album, Wonderful. "Lovestruck," a song about falling in love with a lamppost, is a darkly sentimental song slotted to be their first single. "I am The Communicator" should prove to be a popular live song for years to come, a Chas Smash tune with a great sing-along chorus fill of yees and yahs.

Unlike other recent reunions of 80s and Two Tone bands, the full original lineup of Madness seems to be picking up just where they left off and have clearly energized a new generation of fans. For many of the old and new nutcases in the audience, Irving Plaza may well prove to be the show of a lifetime.