Last Friday (12 July) Camden Town's Madness braved sunny Scarbados, headlining the Open Air Theatre. Celebrating their first ever UK No.1 album - Theatre Of The Absurd Presents C'est La Vie - the ska band have embarked on a new summer tour. Known for their humorous and catchy songs, Madness were an influential part of the late ‘70s two-tone ska revival movement, and are still going strong. Having seen them twice before, most recently in Manchester last December, I was delighted to see them again. Their set of just under two hours was full of fezzes, dancing and many jokes about the coastal town's name.
Madness were joined by support band The Hoosiers, a pop rock duo who looked amazing in their matching fringe jackets. They opened with 'Worried About Ray' followed by the frank introduction, "we are The Hoosier's, and you are here to see Madness." In promotion of their album Overconfidence, they played many new singles including 'Making A Monster' and 'Confidence (Is Easy)’ - something frontman Irwin Sparkes does not lack. The band also played a cover of Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,' their hit 'Goodbye Mr A' and a song called 'So High,' dedicated to anyone who's had the very common experience of being "hit on by someone who is a walking red flag...and also a skydiving instructor." Their camaraderie really stood out to me, particularly the chemistry between Sparkes and their keyboard player, who at various points switched to trumpet. I wasn't familiar with a lot of their music but enjoyed the set, and they definitely had the crowd in good spirits. Before leaving the stage, the Hoosiers left the 'Scarbarians' with a message - "keep music going."
Despite the drizzly walk from the train station, the sun came out and any negative energy dissipated just in time for Madness. After a reel countdown, charismatic frontman Suggs shouted the instantly recognisable "Hey you! Don't watch that, watch this" introduction of 'One Step Beyond.' With its iconic saxophone and walking basslines, the instrumental made for a perfect opener. Just days after the Euros semi-final, they of course found the time to get everyone chanting "it's coming home." This was followed by 'The Prince,' the band's homage to ska legend Buster Prince and my favourite Madness song. Next, a sombre piano riff signalled the fan favourite 'NW5', transforming into a heartfelt chorus which the crowd sang along to. They then played 'C'est la Vie’, their recent single which inspired the tour's name. Between songs Suggs apologised to anyone at the concert who thought they were attending the Spice Girls Reunion, a joke he made the first time I saw Madness in 2018. He then began reminiscing about the band's origins in 1976 in keyboard player Mike Barson's bedroom, before playing 'My Girl’.
The aptness of their song 'The Sun and the Rain' was not lost on the crowd, as their fezzes were paired with ponchos. Next up was 'Wings Of A Dove,' and although we were seated in the stalls the song's infectious feel good energy had everyone up, joining in with Suggs' classic staccato dance moves. This was followed by 'Bed and Breakfast Man’, another song I really enjoyed. If the song itself didn't get people dancing, the huge disco ball on the screen certainly did. Despite promoting their new material, Madness still found the time for old hits such as 'Our House' and 'Lamppost.'
A highlight of the concert was the stimulating visuals. 'Run For Your Life,' a gloomy take on modern issues, featured a montage of modern pop culture. 'Mr. Apples' was accompanied by a video showcasing saxophonist Thommo's (not so great) acting skills. They continued with their classic hits, playing 'House of Fun' with hypnotic visuals to compliment the humour and euphemisms of the song.
Suggs lovingly addressed his fans once again, mentioning how nice it was to see so many young people. The band then disappeared, leaving only guitarist Chris Foreman on stage who launched into a completely unexpected cover of AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell.' Clad in a royal mantle and pork pie hat, he looked like true ska royalty. Once Foreman was re-joined by his bandmates, they played 'Baggy Trousers', the nostalgic classic about Suggs' schoolboy days. Looking down into the crowd all I could see was a sea of fezzes jumping up and down. They then concluded their main set with the sentimental 'It Must Be Love.'
After a brief interlude of bagpipe playing, Suggs returned, saying "we've got one more thing to say to you." They kicked off their encore with ‘Madness’, a song originally by their hero Prince Buster but one that has come to encapsulate the band perfectly. Saving 'Night Boat To Cairo' until last, Madness concluded their set on a high note. As usual, their exit music was 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' from Monty Python.
One thing I loved about the concert was the band's unique style and stage presence that has remained through the decades. They certainly know how to entertain; not only are they excellent musicians but they also had me laughing throughout the set. Their music is timeless - decades after their formation their hits are still adored and their new material has that distinct Madness sound. Overall, the great atmosphere and banter between the band made the set. To use Suggs' own term, they really brought the ska to Ska...borough.
