One of best bands I've ever seen, the English Beat has a new/old one - "Live at the US Festival" and it's on Shout Factory. Now, I went to this show in '83 in the employ of this darn fine newspaper and I almost got fired for doing it - my boss at the time was not so understanding when it came to other people having fun but the old adage is completely true: " It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission." I went to both US Festivals in '82 and '83 and the Beat was great - like always. One of the great bands of the '80s along with Oingo Boingo, the Blasters, Top Jimmy and Rank and File, the Beat was always better than whoever they played with - ten times better than the Clash ever were. Anyway all the hits are here - "Mirror in the Bathroom," "Two Swords," "Tears of a Clown," "Ranking Full Stop" and Saxa wails on that sax most convincingly on "Jackpot." There's also a DVD so you can see it all and lucky us - the Beat is still around. They'll be at the Canyon Club on 6 October and you need, "Just Can't Stop It," just maybe the best album of all time...