Returning to the scene of the crime

The Moon Invaders come of age with a live CD full of flair and hard graft

The live album is a bizarre beast. While in some cases it can provide the defining testimony of an artist at the zenith of their power (James Brown’s Live At The Apollo and Lou Reed’s Rock’n’Roll Animal spring to mind), more often than not it consists of nothing more than a shamelessly cynical cashing-in exercise. And, to be fair, it does make commercial sense: sell your loving audience a record consisting of songs they already own and save yourself a hefty studio bill by the same token.

So let us be grateful for bands who use the format to present reworkings of established tracks or showcase a majority of little-known numbers or who honestly feel that studio albums don’t paint an accurate picture of them. One such band is Brussels’ The Moon Invaders, a nine-piece ska outfit that has been taking Europe by storm for a fair few years now. You may have seen them supporting Madness at Vorst-Nationaal in December 2008, or playing with The Skatalites’ legendary vocalist, Doreen Shaffer. Maybe it was when they had the honour of backing “Mr Rocksteady”, Alton Ellis. One thing is certain: if indeed you have seen them live, you do remember it.

Their new baby, Live At The AB Club, was recorded over two nights at the Ancienne Belgique’s intimate upstairs venue. It was fun, it was sweaty, it went on for over two hours each night, and now they have decided to handpick 18 tracks from it for our delectation. The thing is, good as The Moon Invaders’ three studio albums are, they seem rather tame compared to the “full” live experience the band offers on stage: the exquisite musicianship, the red-hot brass section and, last but not least, the slick interplay between the American-born Hardison brothers on lead vocals.

And what better way to launch a live album than by… celebrating with a live gig in the same building where it was recorded! On 2 May, The Moon Invaders showcase this latest CD with a welcome return to the Ancienne Belgique, only this time it will take place on the main stage, supporting American skalite exponents The Aggrolites (a band so predictable and contrived in comparison, it’s a miracle their self-styled “dirty reggae” hasn’t fallen foul of the Trade Descriptions Act).

But still, the atmosphere generated by The Moon Invaders is guaranteed to be highly festive, and you could do worse than retire to the AB bar after the supporting act; chances are you will bump into the band and especially their main man Matthew Hardison, possibly the least assuming front man you’ll ever meet.

www.myspace.com/mooninvaders

2 May, 19:30
Ancienne Belgique
Anspachlaan 110
www.abconcerts.be

PM Doutreligne

(April 21, 2010)