Jimmy Cliff – at 02 Academy – Glasgow, UK

With his recent collaboration with Tim Armstrong producing his new album it was great to hear Jimmy’s ska version of Rancid's “Ruby Soho”. “Wild World” was up next followed  by "Vietnam" due to current times he changed the words to “Afghanistan".

The lively “World Spinning Around” had the crowd dancing. Decked out in his gold trousers, black jacket & gold headband, Jimmy is a pure showman dancing around like a man half his age, playing the crowd off against each other saying this side sings louder than the other. "Hakuna Mata" had a feel good vibe about it and everyone was smiling.

The very melodic intro into “Many rivers to cross” had the biggest cheer of the night so far and was sung with passion and feeling. Every word hit home and made you feel emotional

It slowed down a bit as Jimmy sat at the front with a bongo and 3 of the band sat behind him also with bongos. They played “Bongo Man” with “Rivers of Babylon” played in the middle. While they were playing Jimmy walked off and the band says good night, shouts from the crowd cried for more.

Jimmy came back on and we got told about when he did a movie once and that he would re-enact a scene from it. He posed with his hands like pistols and pretended to be Ivan - his character from the movie “Harder they Come”. This got the loudest roar of the evening and he sings the title song. It has one of the most poignant lyrics of any song “I would rather be a free man in my grave, than living as a puppet or a slave”.

This was followed by “Sitting Here in Limbo” and he finished with “Wonderful World Beautiful People”. The whole venue was bouncing and singing along. It was a wonderful night, ska music is the most feel good music out there.
 

 

-Dod Morrison-
Big Wheel Overseas  Correspondent

                     More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 

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