A Specials night of Skabilly thanks to Roddy ‘Radiation’ Byers

A member of The Specials will give a special night of ska-rockabilly when he comes to Reading next month.

Roddy Radiation Byers was the lead guitarist and a writer for The Specials, penning hits such as Concrete Jungle, Rate Race, and Hey Little Rich Girl – the latter covered by Amy Winehouse.

Now, he’s heading up The Skabilly Rebels, a fusion of the driving rhythm of ska and the gritty, hard edge of rockabilly.

The group comprises Joe Harcourt (second guitar), Lee Pratt (drums), Connor O’Connor (bass), and Adrian R Lee (sax). He’s bringing them to The Face Bar, courtesy of Club Velocity and New Mind.

Their collaboration led to the 16-track album Blues Attack!, with songs including  cajun-edged Black Zodiac, breezy-ska song Desire, and roots-rock flow of Judgement Day, to the blues anthem “Another Rusty Nail.”

Byers has penned each song, ensuring they have skabilly heart and soul that flows through Byers’ vagabond voice and shredding guitar licks.

The aim is to give each song a rocksteady beat, a vocal twang, and a rocking riff that takes the listener on a thrilling adventure of teenage angst, crazy weekends, long-lost love, cheating hearts, sudden death, and a deep longing for that which a simple department store window is holding back.

The music can be heard when the band come to The Face Bar in Chatham Street on Saturday, October 12, courtesy of Club Velocity and New Mind.

Music starts at 8pm, and tickets can be bought by logging on to www.wegottickets.com/clubvelocity

Club Velocity/New Mind presents Roddy Radiation (The Specials) and the Skabilly Rebels
8pm, Saturday, October 12
The Face Bar, Chatham Street, Reading RG1 7JL
www.wegottickets.com/clubvelocity