Back in December I bought Alex and I tickets for the last night of the Specials' homecoming tour At Coventry Richoh
Arena. Last friday was the night of the concert. It was amazing! Me and Al grabbed a meal at the Elms first then drove
through Foleshill in the worst driving rain I've seen for ages.
I've always liked bits of Ska and it's Al who introduced me to most of the music I like now, especially 80's stuff, so it
seemed appropriate to go go and we'd both been looking forward to it for ages. We were amongst 8000 people, loads
from Cov, and there was an amazing atmosphere. There are no seats, just tons of bodies and bars dotted around the
sides of the stadium. We got bumped around a fair bit by the meat heads, but the audience was pretty mixed with families
and couples everywhere and once we moved out of the real tussle we still had a great view and it was still a fab atmosphere.
I think a lot of us were desperately happy to have them back in Coventry; and when the lead singer apologised
for their absense all these years it seemed so sincere and emotional... It was the first time in a long time that I felt that
proud to be from Coventry. So it was more than just music.
But fortunately the music was, on it's own, pretty great. I hadn't ever listened to more than the basic tourist's guide to
Ska; Ghost Town, Too Much Too Young etc. Basically on friday, I was a daytripper! Al's always known more about
ska, especially Madness - he has their whole back catalogue...I'd better say thank you to my cousin Paul Monks
right now, seeing as before Alex he was trying to guide me towards good music (and Dr Who too, thanks again), and
even though I was a brat something must have gone in during those years!
Here are some videos taken by fellow sudience members. The first clip I have added mainly because it captures the o
pening of the concert; their intro was fab and you can hear how excited everyone is, singing 'Enjoy yourself,it's later than
you think...' and that's how they ended too. Anyway watch, and judge for yourselves :)
