Photos: The English Beat & Squeeze @ Roseland Ballroom

Dave Wakeling of The English Beat

Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze

The English Beat & Squeeze @ Roseland Ballroom - April 28, 2012

Photos: Al & Carmela Gersbeck / Review: Carmela Gersbeck

While I admit that I went to Roseland to see Squeeze and didn't have a clue who The English Beat were, I have to say that they blew me away.  From their opening rendition of "Tears of a Clown," they made it clear that they were there to party and expected everyone in the audience to do so -- and party they did! The English Beat played with enthusiastic energy and the sold out crowd danced and sang for their entire performance. (We downloaded their greatest hits soon after.)

After a short intermission, Squeeze joined the stage and proceeded to play non-stop hits for 90 minutes.  Glenn Tilbrook was in fine form, sporting a beard and suit, and the band seemed to enjoy the response of an already warmed up crowd. There was an entertaining graphics display that changed with each song and what I enjoyed most was that they avoided turning their show into an audience sing-along of every hit. The only song in which they encouraged audience participation in towards the end was when they played "Tempted," and the audience enthusiastically sang the chorus.

All in all, a fine performance and excellent show.

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The Roseland show was the last date on Squeeze's tour, and the only shows on the horizon are The Hampton Court Palace Festival in June and Cropredy Festival (both in England). The English Beat on the other hand have dates booked through the end of August. Check all tour dates below, along with a full set of photos shot by Al & Camela... 

FN News Roundup: March 22, 2012

It's been quite a day in terms of album reissues, festival news, and movie castings that have been plucked from our dream journal. But pop this article up on your phone and go read it outside, it's like summer out there right now!

• At long last, shoegaze legends My Bloody Valentine will reissue their classic LPs Isn't Anything and Loveless along with four EPs' worth of material from 1988 to 1991 and unreleased / rare tracks. The countdown to May 7 is ON! (Slicing Up Eyeballs)


• Speaking of long-awaited reissues, David Bowie will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars on June 5, with completely remastered tracks and an audio DVD with previously unreleased mixes (Consequence of Sound)


• INDEED. Michael K. Williams (Omar from The Wire) has officially signed on to play Ol' Dirty Bastard of the Wu-Tang Clan in an upcoming biopic about the late rapper's career and life. YES. TO. THIS. (Warming Glow)


• Happy 35th Anniversary to the B-52s! The band who taught us much about tin roofs rusting are playing four shows in the NYC area in July with Squeeze, plus a separate show in Englewood, NJ in early August (BrooklynVegan)


• I guess we can't complain about a lack of local festivals anymore. We've got another new one on July 28 & 29 called the Catalpa Festival with headliners including TV On The Radio & The Black Keys, along with Snoop Dogg performing Doggystyle in its entirety. Geanna expressly wanted that last part bolded (Pitchfork)