Belonging to a group is important. People of similar interests tend to stick together; whether it’s The Scouts or The Socialists. Me, I always had an attraction to Ska. I guess it was a natural development from my first love of Punk, but Ska came at just the right age for me. I was in awe of these people who milled around the city centre retaining their tough image, but somehow looking so cool and dapper at the same time.
So imagine my delight when in 2011 The Specials announced they were reforming, coming to Dublin and playing at the fantastic Olympia. This wasn’t any old half baked reunion tour (Atomic Kitten, Liberty X, B*Witched et. al – hang your heads in shame), this was a reunion of a movement, an era, a style, a way of life. There have been a few ‘blasts from the pasts’ gigs that I’ve been to that leave you thinking that I wish I hadn’t seen them in that ‘state’ (Stiff Little Fingers bloated lead singer Jake Burns for one), but this gig got me really pumped. This was a ‘must have’.
The night of the gig eventually came and a really strange feeling occurred to me. You know in ‘the films’ when a person experiences a ‘whoosh, whoosh, whooshing’ life flashing in front of their eyes moment, well that’s what happened when I entered the Foggy Dew for a few pre-gig pints. It was as if I had used a time machine and transported myself and the lads back to 1979. I was surrounded by me! The place was packed with the type of people I grew up with and I felt part of it. We all had our ‘uniform’ on (the obligatory Fred Perry classic cut polo shirt), but it was like being part of a huge family.This wasn’t just a gig (which goes without saying was fantastic), it was a movement. It was where I belonged.
So fast forward to Jan 2013, when another Specials gig was announced, same band, same venue, same lads. You would think that the same feelings would be awoken from deep within me? But no! Even The Lads showed no interest. What could cause such a change in tune? THE PRICE! The promoters had out priced and miss-calculated their audience. The first gig was sold out in days without much need to advertise, yet after four months of expensive radio, EDMs and press ads, this one hasn’t. You see, Specials fans are all of a certain age now with responsibilities, so €110 for two tickets (one for me, one for The Rude Girl), plus pints, plus baby sitter, left it out of our price range and I assume many others.
So, I’m sending a message out to you Rudy, stop your messing around and don’t get greedy. Price your product carefully. Look at who you’re selling to. Know the financial restraints of your target demographic and the perceived demand. With people’s pockets feeling the strain and ‘must haves’ now becoming ‘like to haves’, no amount of advertising and promotions could sell a product that the public don’t find good value. So Dublin wise up, or this place, is coming like a ghost town.
Paul ‘Rude Boy’ Gibson
Art Director