May 8, 2009 10:15

The Specials fight off illness to make London comeback

Frontman Terry Hall is in fine voice as band kick off five-night residency

Photo Gallery: The Specials

The Specials shrugged off illness to play the first London show of their reunion tour last night (May 7) .

The band had to cancel the first show of a five-night sold-out run at the O2 Academy Brixton the previous night (May 6) after frontman Terry Hall was struck down with a throat infection. That gig has been rescheduled for May 16.

However Hall was in fine voice as the band played a hit-packed set before a devotional crowd, who sang along for virtually the entire gig.

Kicking off the show with 'Do The Dog' from 1979's debut album 'Specials', the band went on to play classics including 'A Message To You Rudy', 'Gangsters', 'Rat Race' and 1981 UK Number One single 'Ghost Town'.

Hall thanked the crowd "for letting us play" before a version of 'Do Nothing' from 1980's 'More Specials'.

The band, who were controversially missing founding member and songwriter Jerry Dammers, encored with another Number One single, 1980's 'Too Much Too Young', 'Skinhead Moonstomp' and perennial closer 'Enjoy Yourself'.

The band play the same venue tonight (May 8) and then continue their residency next week (May 11, 12, 16).

The Specials played:

'Do The Dog'
'(Dawning Of A) New Era'
'Gangsters'
'It's Up To You'
'Rat Race'
'Monkey Man'
'Blank Expression'
'Too Hot'
'Doesn't Make It Alright'
'Concrete Jungle'
'Friday Night Saturday Morning'
'Stereotype'
'Man At C&A'
'A Message To You Rudy'
'Do Nothing'
'Hey Little Rich Girl'
'Little Bitch'
'Nite Klub'
'You're Wondering Now'
'Ghost Town'
'Too Much Too Young'
'Skinhead Moonstomp'
'Enjoy Yourself'