Live Review: Adam Ant with The English Beat at The Eastern in Atlanta, 4/14/24

Londoner Stuart Leslie Goddard, the 69-year-old rockstar, was born during the rise of Elvis. Goddard was a member of the London band Bazooka Joe, which famously opened for Sex Pistols for their first live gig on November, 6, 1975. Not long after, Goddard changed his name to Adam Ant and formed Adam and the Ants. Their debut album, 1979’s Dirk Wears White Socks, went to number one on the UK Independent Albums Chart. After three studio albums, Ant went solo and released his first album Friend or Foe in 1982 which skyrocketed him to world fame.

Fast forward four decades and he’s back on the road for his ANTMUSIC 2024 Tour. Of the roughly 20 tunes performed nightly, 10 of those are from the Adam and the Ants era, pleasing those hardcore fans. While he may not top the spinning, jumping, and aerobic moves of his earlier dance days, he is a slim and trim leather-clad machine. The backing band is as solid as they come, with an energy and urgency that updates and upgrades his songs for the 21st century.

Ant kicked off the show with the Ants’ first single “Antmusic,” welcoming a throng of diehards to sing along to each word. Asking his fans to, “Unplug the jukebox and do us all a favor,” Ant was clearly a beneficiary of lots of love and some serious cash flow at the merch table. He peppered some big ones in his set, including “Dog Eat Dog,” “Stand and Deliver,” and “Kings of the Wild Frontier.” Best known for his solo debut, he wowed the fans with “Friend or Foe,” “Desperate But Not Serious,” and “Goody Two Shoes” for the encore.

The English Beat opened the show and proved why they have nearly 45 years of staying power. The answer? Dave Wakeling. The boyish leader of the Birmingham, England ska band has been on the playlist of music fans for years. What’s more, he lives every day with a positive and inspiring attitude, which is contagious for anyone within earshot. Beat shows are happy events, with smiles, claps, and jumping fans throughout.

Wakeling and the band kept the heat up during their set with some of their best stuff, and even a little “Tenderness” thrown in from his General Public days with the late Ranking Roger. Buy some music and check these bands out on the road at Adam Ant tour and English Beat tour.

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