HENLEY-ON-THAMES, ENGLAND - AUGUST 21: Adam Ant performs at Rewind South at Temple Island Meadows ... [+]
Almost 45 years ago, Britain was caught up in “Antmania”—the fan hysteria surrounding the rock band Adam and the Ants, led by their charismatic frontman Adam Ant. Once written off in the U.K. music press, Ant (real name: Stuart Goddard) transformed himself from middling punk rocker to meteoric pop star circa 1980 by donning a swashbuckling warrior image and forming a new band lineup. The Ants' second album, 1980's Kings of the Wild Frontier, became a huge smash in the U.K., kicking off a period of hits such as “Dog Eat Dog,” “Ant Music,” “Stand and Deliver” and “Prince Charming.” Ant's success streak continued when he went solo in 1982 with “Goody Two Shoes” and “Strip” during MTV’s golden era.
With his pop adventurism and photogenic looks, Ant ushered in the era of British New Pop of the early to mid-1980s that led to the Second British Invasion of America. “In his rapid rise to the status of first teen idol of the 1980s, he mapped out all the moves for those who came after,” journalist Dave Rimmer wrote of Ant in his book Like Punk Never Happened.
Fast forward to the present, and Ant is actively touring where he still shows the traits that made him a New Wave superstar. They were on display Sunday as he and his support band performed a career-spanning set at New York City's Palladium Times Square as part of his current “Antmusic” tour of the States (it continues through May 10).
In front of a very packed crowd of mainly older fans and even some younger ones, Ant pulled out all the stops that resulted in an entertaining and flawless 90-minute show of familiar favorites that included those aforementioned hits. Rounding those out were deep cuts from his catalog like “Killer in the Home,” “Ants Invasion,” “Beat My Guest,” plus the singles “Zerox” and “Cartrouble” originally released before the Kings of the Wild Frontier album that opened the floodgates for him.
At times during the show, the live performances of some of the older songs sounded much rawer and heavier in contrast to their original studio incarnations—among the reworked numbers were “Room at the Top,” “Desperate But Not Serious,” “Vive Le Rock” and “Goody Two Shoes” – which served as another indication of the singer's mantra of not repeating himself.
Even 45 years after those “Antmania” days, Ant still projected charisma and a commanding presence in his singing and stage moves that echoed James Brown and Prince. His ace band included two drummers who uncannily recreated the distinct “Burundi” beat sound of the earlier Ants albums, bringing further heft to the proceedings. The ruffled pirate shirts and other outrageous fashions associated with “Antmania” have long gone, but the timelessness of the songs remains.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: Dave Wakeling of the band The English Beat performs at ... [+]
Opening for Ant was another popular British act from the post-punk period, the English Beat, who were synonymous with the 2-tone bands (the Specials, the Selecter and Madness) that fused ska, pop, rock and reggae. Fronted by co-vocalists Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger, the Beat had a string of Top 50 U.K. hits between 1979 and 1983: among them “Save It for Later,” “Too Nice to Talk You” and their cover of the Miracles' classic “The Tears of a Clown.” For their Palladium appearance, the group, now led by sole original member Wakeling, performed those songs plus tracks from General Public (the group that Wakeling and Roger started in 1983 after the Beat's initial breakup), including their well-known hit “Tenderness.” A poignant moment occurred onstage when Wakeling acknowledged his former bandmates Roger, saxophonist Saxa and drummer Everett Morton – all of whom passed away in the last several years – before he and the band launched into “Can't Get Used to Losing You.” Like Ant, the Beat delivered an entertaining set that saw the audience members swaying and dancing to the infectious grooves and beats.
Setlist:
Antmusic
Vive le Rock
Friend or Foe
Dog Eat Dog
Room at the Top
Prince Charming
Zerox
Cartrouble
Kings of the Wild Frontier
Killer in the Home
Puss 'n Boots
Desperate But Not Serious
Strip
Wonderful
Beat My Guest
Ants Invasion
Red Scab
Stand and Deliver
Encore:
Goody Two Shoes
Play Video
Physical (You're So)
The English Beat Starring Dave Wakeling
Setlist:
Rough Rider
The Tears of a Clown
Too Nice to Talk To
I'll Take You There
Tenderness
Save It for Later
Can't Get Used to Losing You
Ranking Full Stop
Mirror in the Bathroom
Jackpot
Gimme Di Ska
