The clocks went forward, the sea rolled back, and in a hot, steamy venue, time stood still.
London’s Dub Pistols gave a brief history of reggae, ska, rap and hip-hop, cunningly interweaving punk sensibilities to a hungry house.
Punk scruffy and natty sharp, the band worked the crowd to a roaring mass for a frantic two hours – and the rest.
With a special guest appearance by Rodney P, one of the founders of UK hip-hop, they commanded the audience to ‘bounce’ – and bounce the party crowd did.
Alongside their hard skanking originals were a few covers, such as a rootsy reworking of The Stranglers’ Peaches and a furiously-paced Gangsters, of The Specials fame.
The superb touch of a Rico Rodriguez-style trombonist lent the band a vibe straight out of Jamaica’s Studio One. The skilful use of ‘toasting’ the forerunner of rap, of high profile in the mid-70s, was a joy on the senses.
Truly deep sea bass shook the internal organs, while outbursts of drum ‘n’ bass rolls completed this compelling time travel lesson – from a 70s inner city punk party to sweeping vistas of the dance scene – the Dub Pistols do what no other band can. Revel in the future vintage.
Review by JIM CRUTTENDEN