Easy Star All-Stars, 1st Dec

I've listened to Radiodread a lot since hearing it at the [skip:Jurassic 5] gig and eagerly tracking it down to the Easy Star All-Stars. Dub Side of the Moon is still one of my favourite albums and while Radiodread is good, it isn't nearly as coherent as Dub Side, probably because the whole concept album thing isn't really there. There are some songs that work brilliantly (No Surprises, Let Down) and some that don't really gel (Fitter Happier (obviously), Lucky) and the trombone bit in Paranoid Android is just brilliant.

As we arrive at Trinity, a place that has had substantial refurbishment but still manages to look exactly the same, Dub From Atlantis are piddling about around some dub tunes. I say this, because essentially it's a guitarist improvising with lots of delay over a DJ. There is minor excitement over a great chilled version of Damien Marley's Welcome to Jamrock and people are generally having a good time.

The bar serves Gem and Wild Hare at pub prices too.

The rumours on the internet were that we were going to get two different sets tonight, the full Radiodread and Dub Side albums. But Easy Star All-Stars kick off with some unknowns (at least to me) to get everybody excited and then launch into one of the most fun gigs I've been to this year.

The songs blend seamlessly into one another, Radiohead merging into Pink Floyd and the temperature is unbearable as everybody dances like maniacs and sings along at the tops of their voices. The 'Stars' from the album don't make an appearance, but the band members make an admirable showing. Climbing up the Walls is still creepy as hell and Exit Music (from a film) is still emotionally traumatic.

Mostly though, the great thing about this stuff is that reggae is feelgood music. It's not depressing or angry and adds an element to these albums that manages to uplift you as well as being emotional and somehow true to the originals. Singing along to live reggae Pink Floyd has to be one of life's greatest pleasures (well it is now).

Awesome