In the annals of pop music history, few groups have demonstrated the enduring appeal and cultural resonance of Madness. Yes, many of their members may be grandads now and could easily get by just churning through their plethora of hits – they spent a total of 214 weeks in the UK singles chart from 1980-86 – but there’s still an energy to keep producing truly great music. Don’t get me wrong, the majority of the sell-out crowd at Belfast’s Custom House Square on Friday night came for the classics, and the tempo was set early on as Suggs and co got off to a flyer, belting through One Step Beyond, Embarrassment and The Prince.
However, it wasn’t long before the audience was treated to C’est la Vie and Hour of Need, both culled from their 2023 chart-topping album, Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’est la Vie. They were thankfully met with appreciative applause – a tacit acknowledgment of the band's evolving sound. While Madness have cultivated a reputation for ebullient anthems, their oeuvre reveals a depth often overlooked by casual listeners.
Beneath the ska and reggae-inflected rhythms and catchy hooks lie poignant commentaries on racism, war, and familial discord, demonstrating a social consciousness that adds gravitas to their musical levity. I digress, though. This was a warm summer’s night and the temperature was cranked up as the crowd sang along to Wings of a Dove, Lovestruck and Shut Up.
Suggs remarked how glad he was to see so many young faces in the crowd, and it was clear that this wasn’t a gig just for those of a certain age. I brought my five-year-old son for his first ever concert and he skanked with joy on my shoulders as hit after hit, including the likes of House of Fun, Baggy Trousers and Our House, ensured that the decibel level crescendoed, the energy palpable and electric. And just when you thought things couldn’t get any better, It Must Be Love filled the air, with a mass sing-a-long that could probably be heard throughout Belfast city centre.
Signing off with Night Boat to Cairo, thousands of fezzes and pork pie hands bopped up and down in unison. Madness is a band that brings people of every age, colour and creed together. Some in society may seek to wallow in the misery of hatred, but the Nutty Boys are a shining example of how music can transcend boundaries, celebrating our shared humanity and joy.
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