Madness with Chris Murray Combo – at Club Nokia – Los Angeles, CA

Monday night isn't usually a big night out, even in Los Angeles, but last night was a little different. There wasn't a full moon, but there certainly was Madness.

Since the band's newest studio album in 2009 (which went gold in just under 5 months) California has been patiently waiting through announcements of Australian tours, European festivals, and UK dates for our turn. And this past Monday it finally came with a headline show at Club Nokia, supported by the Chris Murray Combo.

"Chris Murray Combo played a great set giving us their "A Game" everyone at the club was having a great time, not a sourpuss in the lot and Madness killed it with all their classic tunes. It was everything I expected in a show that size"
  -Jake

As doors opened, the club quickly filled with suited men in fedoras and girls in two tone dresses. Chris Murray opened the show around 9 pm with his relaxed brand of roots ska. Already a long-time fixture of the LA ska and rocksteady scene, the Chris Murray Combo wasted no time on introductions, just jumped into popular songs like "Rocksteady", "Ex-Darlin'", and "The Real Ska" as well as a new song, and mention of the new video for "We Do the Ska" which will be premiering online Wednesday. The crowd responded warmly, dancing along. The band played a tight 45 minute set, and left the crowd in high spirits as they cleared the stage for Madness.

At quarter past 10, the lights went out, and the opening lines to "One Step Beyond" came over the sound system. Frenzied cheers arose from every corner of the Nokia as the lights came up and the band took the stage. Frontman Suggs paused after the opening songs to introduce the band, turning to gesture at the back wall as an enormous marquee backdrop lit up to spell out "MADNESS" in lights.


   Enjoy this 15 minute video overview of the show

For over an hour the band ripped through an energetic set which included "Bed & Breakfast Man", the Prince Buster cover "Madness", "Baggy Trousers", "Our House", "It Must Be Love", "My Girl", and "Grey Day", to name but a few. Throughout the set, the band were obviously in high spirits, joking with each other, and the crowd, and occasionally joined on stage by a man in a shiny blue spandex catsuit and white Russian-style fur hat.

"Madness was just that, madness! Definitely one of the best shows I have been to in a while"
  -Vanessa O.



There were touching moments too, when Suggs talked about the birth of his daughter, who was present at the show, being the inspiration for song Forever Young, and the end of the set dedicated the show to the young child in the audience sitting on his father's shoulders.

"Madness was deeply missed by L.A. and Monday night proved that. It was a reunion of rude boys and girls from the 80's, 90's, and 2000's and I'm so glad I didn't miss it"
  -Bubba


"Madness was awesome! I wanted to cry. Enough said"
  -Jenny N.

"Madness is hands down one of the best Ska shows I have ever been to. I was impressed by the performance from start to finish. Best Monday I have had in a long time"
  -Cory J.

Eventually the band cleared off, but Los Angeles had waited a long time, and soon the cheers brought the band back fro a short encore, which finally culminated in "Night Boat to Cairo", and then as Eric Idle's "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life" came over the speakers, Suggs thanked the crowd, saying "Sometimes it's a pleasure. Sometimes it's an honour. Rarely, it's a pleasure and an honour." before taking his last bow and calling it a night. The crowd, sweaty but happy, was slow to disperse into the new hours of Tuesday morning, not wanting to believe that it was all truly done.

-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 
             More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 

 

 

 

 

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