Images: The English Beat, The English Channel October 16, 2011 at the House of Blues

The English Beat has always seemed like a band I would never see live. The legendary British 2 Tone act and staple of movie soundtracks broke up for the first time in 1983 – the same year I was born. By fate or coincidence, I always thought my age would keep me from ever seeing them play live.

But I was wrong.

Last week, over 28 years since my birth and their breakup, I was finally able to catch the reunited English Beat as they played a benefit for the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation at the House of Blues in Las Vegas.

I had to wonder going in if the band would be able to live up to my lofty expectations. Thankfully, they did. In a rare move for myself, I decided to leave the floor after photographing the first three songs and watch the rest of the show from the balcony, and the view up there was amazing. The entire band looked to be having a blast and they had the crowd eating out of their hands from beginning to end. The entire floor was a dance party, much more tame than, say, last week’s ska show with Big D and the Kids Table, but filled with just as many fun moments. Even the other balcony seaters danced from their seats to the aisles once the band burst into classics like “Tears of a Clown” and “Save it for Later.

As much as I enjoyed hearing some of my favorite ska songs live, I found I had the most fun when the band was interacting with the audience, goading everyone to dance by dancing themselves, pointing out familiar faces in the crowd, and bursting into a freestyle rap or two. These moments are what made the show a memorable experience and I’m glad I finally got the opportunity to see a band that I’ve been listening to since I had my first cassette player.

As I mentioned, this show was a benefit concert for the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, an organization that is looking to find a permanent cure for those who have been afflicted with chronic and acute paralysis by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances. Even if you couldn’t make it to the show, you can still donate to the cause by visiting http://samschmidt.org/

-Emily Matview

Photos by Emily Matview | https://www.flickr.com/photos/holdfastnow/

and Tyler Newton | http://500px.com/spottedlens

The English Channel by Emily Matview