Wakeling, English Beat rock the Opera House October 6

06 Oct Wakeling, English Beat rock the Opera House October 6

[click “Play” to hear Susan speaking with Dave Wakeling]

 He describes himself as “The happiest man in ska.” Tonight, October 6, Telluride welcomes back Dave Wakeling and The English Beat. The band is performing at Telluride’s historic Sheridan Opera House, resplendent in its re-stenciled glory.

Doors/box office open at 7:30 p.m. Show time is 8 p.m.

The English Beat is celebrating its 30th anniversary…For Crying Out Loud. The set includes a medley of the band’s greatest hits such as “Stand Down Margaret,” “MIrror in the Bathroom,” covers such as “Tears of a Clown” and “Can’t Get Used to Losing You,” and chestnuts-in-the-making such as “The Love You Give Forever.”

Everything old is new again. When The English Beat first arrived on the scene in England (1979), part of the 2 Tone ska music revolution, the world looked very much like it does today, a deepening recession, high unemployment, threats of dueling nukes. Wakeling is a brainiac with a social consciousness, who once worked for Greenpeace. (Think of him as Keith Olberman with an axe.)

Wakeling believes people think better when they dance. Dancing loosens up brain cells. For more, click the “play” button and listen to Wakeling’s podcast.