Member Since: 1/24/2005
Band Members: Ras Lionel Bard aka Kez......VOCALS
Fudge.........VOCALS
Mustapha Toke aka Tall Tim........KEYS
Jonny 2 Bad......Lead Guitar
Malcolm X.......SAX
Paddy Power.......BASS
Richie Capone.......Rhythm Guitar
Tim Bali........DRUMS
Influences: Anything that moves us.
Sounds Like: Upbeat Promotions served up some ska this evening, with two bands especially catching the eye. Firstly, and travelling all the way from Birmingham, are Cracked Actors. Forming in 1999, they had the sole intention of entertaining their mates. Now, nearly ten years later, they have certainly made some new friends here in Bedford. Consisting of Fudge (vocals), Kez (vocals), Johnny 2 Bad (lead guitar), Richie (rhythm guitar), Paddy ( bass), Malx (sax), Tall Tim (keyboard), and Tim Bali (drums), they play with the influences of Marley, Steel Pulse and The Clash. This is a band I enjoy enormously. It's a feeling I sense immediately as first song "Captive" gets to the gist of Cracked Actors' thoughts and feelings; "I am a captive and I want to be free".The words are sung with the utmost passion but encased is a loose ska rhythm. "Red Ray's" opening could not have been more different, as it opens to a spanish flamenco style, which brings about some spontaneous dancing amongst a decent sized turnout. The band's vocal duo 'bounce off' each other superbly, one of the Actors even wears a majestic top hat which suits him magnificently. On their next song "H.M.P.", Tall Tim (the hippy looking keyboardist) takes on the vocals, which brings about some ribald banter from the rest of the band. All smiles, the stage is awash with a team of musicians totally at ease with themselves. It had been a difficult drive down but even their new guitarist, who claims he was born in Bedford. is happy to be here. "Skapache" is a Cracked Actors variation of the old Shadows hit of the sixties, while the lush reggae strains of "Hypocrisy" is a favourite of mine. The thirteen song set offers plenty of contrast with "Buzz to Buzz", fast and dancey, while "Naked" is enhanced by the sound of Malx on the sax. The punkish "Modern World" is a slight let-down, but thankfully "Flowers" soon puts the bloom back into the Cracked Actors' musical garden! A rich, raw, ska-reggae beat booms out and is soon reprised with "Come around" which closes the set. "More!" was my shout!
Record Label: Bard For Life Records
Type of Label: None