The Magic Bag
The English Beat
Sat
April 8, 2023
8:00 pm
EDT
(Doors: 8:00 pm )
The Magic Bag
,
22920 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, MI
All Ages
$45.00
Dave Wakeling is a hell of a nice guy! Dave loves to tell you the stories behind his songs, either from stage or after the show. Ask any one of the thousands of fans who have met him over the years and that's what you'll hear. Never mind that Dave is the singer/songwriter from two of the most popular bands of the end of the millennium, The English Beat and General Public, he's a stand up man from Brum. Whether it's the personal as political in "How Can You Stand There", making politics personal in "Stand Down Margaret", taking a stand against global warming as he did with Greepeace's "Alternative NRG", or helping little kids stand up proudly with "Smile Train", Dave has always stood for something.And like the mighty Redwoods of his adopted home of California (dude!), it's been easy for Dave to take a stand because of his strong roots…Hailing from working-class Birmingham, England, Dave and The English Beat entered the music scene in the 1979. When The English Beat rushed on to the music scene in 1979, it was a time of social, political and musical upheaval. Into this storm came they came, trying to calm the waters with their simple message of love and unity set to a great dance Beat.Tongue firmly in cheek, feet on the ground and eyes on the future, Dave takes the stage time and again, touring across the States, Canada, the UK and beyond. He does it for two reasons: First, he loves to play music, period. Second, his job here on earth is to bring a message of love, unity and a steady, rhythmic groove of danceable songs with a message to the masses. Fans see him as an icon and to the young bands coming up he's the elder statesman of ska. His swooning croon has been covered by such rock luminaries as Peter Townshend, Eddie Vedder and Elvis Costello. However, he learned what those terms actually mean early in 2006 when, much to his surprise, bemusement, and eternal joy, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame contacted him and asked him for his trademark Vox teardrop guitar, to be displayed in a place of honor alongside the axes of Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Truly a wonderful and humbling experience for a working class boy from Brum!Dave is currently entering a musical renaissance, and fresh off this legacy moment, Dave is planning on going into the studio to lay down two new albums. Dave also continues to tour as The English Beat, as he had done for the last three decades, with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing the hits of The English Beat, General Public, and his new songs. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be blown away by the ever-changing King of Ska!