Special Needs Reunion - Special Needs,Subliminal Girls,What Would Jesus Drive? Live Review @ Proud Camden (London) - 15 Feb 2011

Special Needs

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Live Review

With the insane frequency at which bands have been forming and disbanding over the past decade, it's hard to keep track of the ones that did actually count and make an impact of some sort.

Remember Special Needs, Alan McGee's protégés, who had been signed onto his now defunct label, Poptones, and gone on to release a few sing-along indie anthems such as 'Francesca' and 'Blue Skies'? After a meteoric time in the spotlight which involved playing Glasto in 2005 or having 'Francesca' aired in loop on MTV2 at the time, Special Needs were aborted in the fall of 2005, but still released their posthumous - and only - album to-date, 'Funfairs and Heartbreak', through the indie label ReAction Records in 2006.

Since then, frontman Zachery Stephenson, has become a Camden fixture, acclaimed as a major live music promoter in the circumscription, hosting nights at the likes of Bartok, Monarch, Boogaloo or Undersolo.

And because every new year welcomes its lots of new resolutions, it was with delight that Stephenson's Facebook friends were told of the reformation of Special Needs on 1st January 2011, with a reunion gig at Proud Camden scheduled on February 15th.

So tonight, 400+ aficionados have gathered at the Camden venue to celebrate the event, and supporting are mates of Special Needs' early and/or glory days in Subliminal Girls, Parties, as well as the brilliantly-named boy/girl/husband and wife duo What Would Jesus Drive who played to a seduced audience notably by their feminist anthem 'The Girls are in Charge' with bassist Amy recalling Kim Deal at times -why, after years of underground excellence, these two haven't reached exposure a la The Ting Tings, despite outweighing the latter in gravitas, remains a mystery...

Noize pop collective, Antlered Man prolonged the anticipation of this special occasion with a nice and tight set, crowned by the engaging tune 'Buddhist Soup'.

Finally, shortly after 11pm an obviously nervous Stephenson and his boys hit the stage and get the party started, with many of their 50s-rockabilly-cum-70s garage-infused tales of girls (they're slightly obsessed) from 'Sylvia' to 'Tarts' to 'Sally O'Sullivan' among others, delivered by an emphatic Stephenson, and enhanced with the close- to- genial drumming mastery of new recruit Nick Bukowski (compared by some to Keith Moon- far-fetched indeed, but agreed the guy is good). Talking of The Who, Special Needs have a well-received stab at 'I'm a Boy' shortly before a four-song encore ending with the delightful 'Francesca' and 'Blue Skies'. A personal favourite, B-side 'Stick Together', was performed earlier.

Almost an hour in and it's time to pack up.

Whatever the reasons and motivations for such unexpected yet not overlooked reunion, passion seems to find its place in the equation.

Facebook-enthusiast Stephenson has promised this was not a one-off, and that tunes and tours are on their imminent way...Yes, please!