The Beat at The Electric Palace, October 4 For five years in the late 70s and early 80s The Beat were the face of the British Ska revival, writes reviewer Neil Harvey.

Pubs and clubs around the land resonated with the thumping, toe-tapping beat and Ranking Roger and Dave Wakelings vocals.

Having split in 1983, two bands emerged and started touring at the beginning of this century – The English Beat, with Dave Wakeling and, the band we welcomed to the Electric Palace stage on Saturday night, The Beat with Ranking Roger. The crowd was ‘warmed up’ by an energetic set by Bridport’s returning heroes, The RPMs.

The classic three-piece have spent the last year honing their skills in Brighton, and returned with a set of hook-ridden power-pop songs which drew the late-arrivers away from the bar.

The Beat – drums, bass, guitar and sax, along with Ranking Roger and his son, Ranking Junior – were cheered to the rafters as they took to the stage and went straight into hit song ‘Too Nice to Talk Too’.

The backing band may have played second fiddle to the vocals, but they never put a foot wrong, incredibly tight and the perfect canvas for Ranking Roger’s splashes of colour. Tears of a Clown, Hands off She’s Mine, Mirror in the Bathroom – all the best known songs were there, performed with aplomb by a true gentleman showman, who ensured that we all had a memorable night.

If it came down to a choice between Saturday night TV and music of this quality, the live music wins each time.