photography by Carlton Beener The Specials returned to Los Angeles Thursday, April 16 for their first full U.S. gig in 29 years. The almost original lineup (sans Dammers), while a little more grey, were in top form. The crowd was a mix of young and old, many younger than the songs they were there to [...]

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The Specials reminded us that they are still important because 30 years later, their songs are still as listenable and fun as they were in 1977, and the issues they wrote abou—racism, the seeming inescapability of the rat race, and general good-time having—are still just as relevant. Also, Jerry Dammer told the crowd they were mostly really beautiful but with “really fucking ugly” ones interspersed, and what good festival crowd doesn’t enjoy a little abuse?

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Buy Coachella 2010 Tickets Here Friday, April 16th: Jay-Z, LCD Soundsystem, Them Crooked Vultures, Vampire Weekend, Deadmau5, Public Image Limited, The Specials, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, Echo and the Bunnymen, Benny Benassi, Fever Ray, Grace Jones, She & Him, Erol Alkan, The Avett Brothers, Calle 13, The Whitest Boy Alive, The Cribs, La Roux, Yeasayer, [...]

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