Nick Harrison – Oi Rude Boy

• 2nd Sep 2008

Remember a few years ago when there was almost a Ska revival headed up by scouse skangsters – the dead 60’s and tenuously by The Ordinary Boys? No? Well basically it didn’t happen, whoever thought you could revive the gusto and fevour that reflected some tough 70’s times were wrong when racist attacks, stirkes, powercuts and high employment were the order of the day and Ska was a shining beacon amongst some dark times.

Nick Harrison’s Oi rude boy blatantly picks up the ska thread in fact if I was The Beat I would be asking for a credit on the basis of pinching the best bits of ‘mirror in the bathroom’. His voice fluctuates between Pete Doherty and Alex Turner and doesn’t really reveal his own identity and stamp.

It’s a sharp number ok but lacks the guile, bounce and the passion that made Ska so vital.