A warm July day, Concorde 2 and beforehand for many, Brighton beach, was the starter, mains and dessert for the evening. Easy Star All-Stars are touring the UK in celebration of the tenth anniversary of their album, Radiodread, an album that put forth dub-reggae covers of OK Computer.

I was nervous to see how Radiodread would transpose live. On recording the songs retain a novelty factor, each one paying a fair homage to the original song. OK Computer is one of those albums though that is utterly monumental and after recently catching Radiohead when playing at the Roundhouse in May, I was uncertain of my expectations tonight.

Opening with ‘Airbag’ seemed a fitting beginning to affairs as it opens the OK Computer album. The scene was set with profound bass rhythms omitting from the towering amplifier onstage. It began to emerge at this point that there was an obscure mix of characters catching the group tonight. On the one hand, there were the die-hard Radiohead fans, desperate to catch some of their favourites live — if not by Radiohead, at least they were seeing them in some format. From here, there were the drum and bass addicts, flailing around the wings of the room and then the obvious reggae lovers, living up to the stereotype as they flaunted the smoking ban and various other laws. It became apparent that despite their often displaced identity due to their various cover albums – Dubside of the Moon, Radiodread and Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band – they are still considered one of reggae’s most important assets nowadays.

From ‘Airbag’ the group performed a marvellous rendition of ‘Climbing Up The Walls’ — it was a version that captured the same darkness that Yorke and co developed but put it through an entirely different lens. It stands as the best cover of the set, seeing a sinister incarnation of reggae take form leaving the crowd moving with a methodic skank.

The set nosedived in and out of Radiohead though as they demonstrated their take on The Beatles’ ‘Lovely Rita’. With more optimism and joy than the previous two numbers, the crowd were encouraged to dance and the atmosphere began to develop. A reggae cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Money’ that incorporated a glimmer of ‘Exit Music (For a Film)’ blended the mix of two different musical energies. The set occasionally became confused at points like this, there seemed a lack of continuity to the atmosphere they were trying to build.

Similarly, The Easy Star All-Stars targeted Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’; unfortunately this seemed to fall on deaf ears as it neither sounded all that reggae-influenced, nor similar to the original. After these creases were ironed out though, the set began to pick up momentum and unison with the audience.

Taking to the likes of ‘Let Down,’ ‘Electioneering’ and ‘High and Dry’ saw the group toy with more Radiohead but this time adding their unique, reggae-dub spin on both tracks. Their take on ‘Let Down’ removed the malice that Radiohead provided, instead turning the minor to major and blossoming a sense of positivity in the crowd. I must confess, it is bizarre seeing Thom Yorke’s twisted thoughts regurgitated in an entirely different light but frontwoman, Kirsty Rock, did them more than justice. This move to an uptempo reggae saw the crowd become much more enthusiastic and appreciative of the performance.

As the group cemented some of their own originals amongst the cover-heavy set – ‘One Likkle Draw’ proving to be a fan favourite amongst certain members for various reasons – the energy had developed tenfold since the earlier regions of the night. ‘Karma Police’ provided the encore and Kirsty managed to pull the crowd into a mass singalong throughout the chorus of Radiohead’s majestic single.

For a Radiohead fan to go and expect to see their favourites, you may have left slightly disappointed. It was nothing like the Radiohead versions regardless of the fact they played the hits. It would certainly be more the cup of tea of a dub-reggae fan as the group proved that they are still one of the best in the genre.
Tom Churchill