Vance’s Big Squeeze/English Beat at the Mountain Winery Review by Vance*

*Sometimes Vance’s Big Reviews are NOT by Vance.

WARNING: Ones NOT by Vance may not be as good or reliable as ones BY Vance. Or kew.  But this one is.

Mashie and I went to see the English Beat and Squeeze at the Mountain Winery with Slick and Kewlene. A Squeeze concert was something I’d been hoping would come around for years, and it finally happened! And it was in a venue I like! I’m not much for the Filmore/Shoreline/raucous-type places where any reasonable exit strategy requires leaving after the third song, and then having to get your hearing checked a week later. I was hoping/praying/waiting for a Squeeze Tour, but I have to admit I really wouldn’t have gone more than 20 miles to see a show, or paid much, or have gone if it was too late, or if it was a work-night, or if “Breaking Bad” was on telly…

The Son-in-Law was also there with The Daughter**, but they were in the cheap seats, up in the bleachers, so we didn’t see them during the show. WE had good seats in section 21 which is close to the stage on the right end side. Another couple of friends were there, coincidentally, back behind us a few rows. We could see perfectly and were no more than 25 feet away. I forgot my camera of course, but remembered the binoculars which were totally unnecessary. Slick took some iPhone pics and a video which I’ll post.

Speaking of iPhones, Stephen Large of Squeeze (he’s really a Glenn Tilford and the Fluffers member who fills out Squeeze on this tour) played a keyboard solo on an iPad.

Kew.

He also had some karate chop moves and other…. um….. well,….chops on the keyboard that Slick particularly enjoyed. Chris Difford was also fussing with an iPad on a music stand. Maybe he forgets the lyrics?

Was he texting?

But I get ahead of myself.

The English Beat played first. Interestingly, Dave Wakeling (he is the voice of the EB) and is now the only original EB member in the present band. They played nothing but the hits; none of this “Here’s some new songs we’d like to play….”, and Dave still looks fit and sounds good. He was modest and witty, and made a big deal about getting to open for Squeeze. I figured this should’ve been the other way ‘round, since my impression was that EB had a much bigger US following than Squeeze. I guess w/o Ranking Roger or at least some other original member, the band’s cred is not what it used to be. But, what do I know?

Dave recruited two local musicians for the show, one kid on keyboards and a dude on tenor saxophone. His other musicians travel with him, I guess. I thought EB were great, everyone else liked ‘em fine. There were some middle-aged groupies in the audience obviously hoping to jump Dave’s bones. The audience was sparse when EB started the first song, but got larger as the set went on.

The audience filled in and when Squeeze came out, the place was packed. They played many of the 45’s and Under hits, and some newer and less well known songs which all sounded great. Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford, and John Bentley, their bass player, are original Squeeze members (or good enough). Tilbrook and Difford are looking older and a bit scruffy, especially Glenn, who has packed on some serious poundage. Thank goodness this was a venue that frowns on mosh pits and stage diving. However, their music was clean and professionally executed with an energy and good humor that made it obvious they were having fun and enjoying their moment. Tilbrook has lost nothing musically, although the bloom of youth has passed. He retains his clear tenor, and he can play that guitar. However, should he invest in a new suit, and maybe get on the stairmaster for a bit?

CD sang lead on Cool for Cats, sounding as always, and was adequate on his other lead, which I forget the name of, since I’d never heard it before.  The newer, younger members, drummer Simon Hanson (who looks like a slender, natty Bruce Willis), and the keyboardist, Stephen Large (reminiscent of a taller, young Elvis Costello), were playful and were obviously enjoying themselves and enjoying being a part of the nostalgia. The audience held nothing back, and showed their appreciation for the band’s efforts.

We were all on our feet for much of the time, and there was some serious dancing in the aisles, which security finally gave up trying to stop. They even had a young (-ish) lady try to jump the stage. She was a bit too drunk to manage it and fell off before she got up. It looked as if it must’ve hurt. She made another feeble attempt to get at the object of her lust, but she sort of lost her inclination to deliver. Sensing weakness, Security rushed her and whisked her away.

Aside from our young fan, the crowd was much as you’d expect: middle-aged and ready to go home at 11:30 after downing several $11-$20 (ridiculously small) plastic cups of wine. But, they had a really good time, and obviously were fulfilled by this opportunity to hear two old favorite bands and the songs they love.

Me, too.

After waiting for one well worth it encore, “Another Nail for My Heart”, then “Pulling Mussels From a Shell”, we were out of the seats and on the freeway in 15 minutes. Whoo hoo! Another flawless execution of the exit strategy.  It can sometimes almost give me wood…..

On the way home, I realized that this concert was totally what I’d hoped for, but would never need to repeat. As the CFO would say, “This box is checked.”

Awesome!

Now I’m waiting for The Cure.

**See the "Moving Day" post.