The Selecter Live at HMV Empire, Coventry.
Few cities on Earth can claim to have shaped music culture, and even fewer claim to have had whole music genres emerge from their concrete walls. With 2-Tone sounds echoing from the industrial Midlands to the beaches of California, Coventry can rest comfortably among the likes of London and New York.
Cats among pigeons.
The Selecter headlined the HMV Empire last Saturday with support coming from Zen Baseballbat, after parking my car nearby I fumbled for Google Maps as I had never been to the venue before. I did not need it however, as in the distance and reverberating off the city walls was a well-educated mix of Trojan Reggae and Ska music. Desmond Dekker, Toots the Maytals and The Pioneers to name a few helped make this Yam-Yam feel at home on the other side of the West Midlands. It was an interesting clash of cultures upon approach to the Empire, with rude boys, skins, new wavers and punks flocking together as cats among pigeons, as 21st Century Love Island hopefuls, office workers and techy teenagers looked on bemused. I couldn’t help but smile as the sounds of Long Shot Kick the Bucket flowed down the street.
Doing my best chicken impression.
Zen Baseballbat were to welcome us to this important evening of music, with their Ska recipe including seasonings from Dance, Afro-Beat and 1980s Synth Electronica and a side dish of PPIL-influenced experimental Punk. This was quite the experience, and I must admit, I found my neck was stuck in a jolting motion from all the rhythm they possessed. The packed-out crowd loved it too, with people skanking and moving to the back walls, and this room was huge! They pulled off a perfect opening set, the niche crowd were appeased. Doing my best chicken impression, I got another drink before The Selecter came on.
Longevity.
The main event was next, enter The Selecter. They were a man down however, as co-singer Gaps Hendricks sadly passed away earlier this June 2024, with a touching tribute dedicated to his memory during the performance. And WOW… this performance was on point The Selecter are a fine wine, they shine as one of the brightest stars when it comes to classic bands of the 20th century who are still plying their trade. Drummer Charlie ‘H’ Bembridge did not miss a beat, and Pauline Black’s voice is still as angelic as ever. They played a mix of 80s classics and recent tracks, it was refreshing to hear how conscious their new music is to current affairs. Knife crime, cost of living and the NHS were some of the topics the band shined a light on, and during these current times, the band’s potent messages seemed to resonate with the crowd in attendance.
Black is still as politically Punk as ever, as I am not one for bands talking much between songs, The Selecter are an exception as they use the stage to spread awareness as well as music. This great venue got its due as people were smiling and dancing their blues away, I even learned a few new dance moves myself watching the crowd. They played covers of the 007 James Bond theme as well as ‘War’ by Edwin Starr and ended the night with 3 classic tracks, it was an ethereal night of music and a pleasure to attend, dance and converse. The band played for well over an hour, and that’s even more credit to The Selecter’s longevity as entertaining crowds to this level is no easy feat. Speaking to attendees that night, it was great to see so many loyal fans of all ages! There were the old Punk types of the era who told me they had seen the band hundreds of times. But what was even more refreshing was the collective of younger generations who follow historic music culture, they enjoyed the night just as much as the originals and are as fanatical about following them… if not more so. Catch The Selecter in a town near you in 2025 and experience music history
