The Specials Wow A Packed Crowd at Seattle’s Showbox SODO, By Holly Homan

Wednesday night March 27, 2013, Seattle hosted legendary ska masters, The Specials. I saw The Specials for the first time fifteen years ago almost to the very day. It was a festival called Bored Stiff sponsored by KNDD (back when they were still playing good music). The concert was held at Snoqualmie Summit, in the snow, and included other now legendary bands like Rancid, Blink 182 and Harvey Danger.

Back in 1982 I had a dream I was on a cruise ship and The Specials were the house band. I was so disappointed when I woke up and found out it was only a dream. So I was beyond ecstatic to learn my favorite ska band of all time would be returning to the Seattle area.

The Specials came on stage opening with two classics – “Do the Dog” followed by “Gangsters.” The packed like sardines crowd went wild and I found myself repeatedly punted against the barricade like a soccer ball. The Specials formed in 1977 and definitely looked older and grayer, but they exuded as much energy as they did when I saw them fifteen years ago. Rhythm guitarist Lynval Golding (a founding member and Seattle resident) often ran across the stage and back again as if he were still twenty years old, while lead guitarist Roddy Radiation added to the momentum by crashing to his knees, doing crouches and kicking up his heels. Nik Torp (member since 2008) kept the beat going on Farfisa and looked like he’d just come from an Amish compound with his long beard and broad brimmed hat.

When a Showbox staffer poked a hole in a water bottle and sprayed it over sweaty audience members, singer Terry Hall stopped and exclaimed, “I’ve never seen anything like that before!” He then got all excited and chanted, “do it again! Please do it again,” with all the enthusiasm of a five-year-old watching a magic trick. The action was repeated and Hall said, “Wow, I think that’s a man I’d like to marry some day.”

At that point Lynval Golding chimed in with his thick Jamaican accent that his whole extended family was in the audience, so please no swearing or vulgar language. This led into their classic, “A Message To You, Rudy,” with which everyone sang along. “Night Club” followed and again everyone sang along. Part way through this song, the entire band stopped playing/singing and bass player (and original member) Horace Panter sat on a monitor and they let the audience sing the song. The hour and a half show included two encores, one of which included “Ghost Town” (my favorite) and “You’re Wondering Now.”

You’re wondering now, what to do,
Now you know this is the end
You’re wondering now, what to do,
Now you know this is the end.

An apt song for a finale and for a winner show. They didn’t do “Pressure Drop,” but that’s about the only classic they didn’t perform. A minor disappointment for a band I have waited fifteen years to see and prior to that waited seventeen years. I hope I don’t have to wait as long next time. They truly are the best ska band ever and next time they come I hope they bring The Selecter with them.

Opening the show was a little blues rock duo called Little Hurricane from San Diego. Little Hurricane is comprised of front man Anthony “Tone” Catalano on slide and electric guitar and drummer Celeste “C.C.” Spina. For a duo these two packed a dirty bluesy punch. C.C. slammed the skins with such intensity it belied her diminutive and very feminine appearance. She wore a floral sundress and drummed barefoot while her well-worn cowboy boots sat poetically in front of the bass drum. Tone traded between slide and electric guitar and had enough effects pedals to stock a music store. He also sang lead except for one song where the two sang a duet. Their voices blended beautifully together and I wished C.C. had sung more. Her voice was stunningly beautiful. Combine this with some provocative poetry and you have one hell of a duo. They’ll leave you shaking your head in disbelief that two people can produce such a powerful sound and C.C. exudes enough charisma to fill a venue twice the size of Showbox Sodo. They were very enthusiastically received for an audience that came to hear ska.

Said audience consisted of a wide age range from young children, to twentysomethings up to people in their thirties, forties and fifties. I was heartened to see that so many young folk were present and this wasn’t just a trip down memory lane for us old farts.

– Holly Homan