The Butterfly Collective/The Decatonics

December 29, 2023 0 By Jon

1865, Southampton

With our newfound allegiance and friendship with Dorset band The Decatonics and our continued promotion of theirs and other Ska-related events, we at Rock Regeneration decide to cross County lines to a rather fine venue we know well. Tonight The 1865 play host to Retro 8 (a night of Retro music from bands and DJ’s). That period between Xmas and New Years Eve is always a difficult sell, but with two stellar acts and a great DJ in town this was never going to be a quiet affair.

I have long been a fan of The Decatonics and have watched their stock rise over the years. Sally Meaden (lead vocals) first came to my attention when singing a few songs for a friends Birthday bash some 15 years previously in this very city. I knew then this wasn’t going to be a one-off. The Decatonics comprise of band members from across two Counties and are a staple on the ever-popular local Ska/Two Tone scene. Tonight, they come as support and quickly fill the dancefloor with bodies looking to burn off their Xmas timber! They open with a couple of familiar Two Tone covers before mixing it up with older classics like The Pioneers “Let Your Yeahs be Yeahs” and the odd curveball with their Ska-infused “Echo Beach”. Sally seems most in her element when covering songs by The Selector. “Missing Words” precedes the popular “On My radio” before the mash-up of “Zombie/War”. They go Old School for the latter part of their set and end with a crowd-pleasing “3 Little Birds” which really does put smiles on faces. They take the plaudits and make way for the headliners.

The Decatonics 1–2–3–4–5

Before the headliners we are more than catered for musically by Soulboots Kev on the decks, who plays a mixed bag of classics to keep everyone happy. The punters never leave the floor, and this enthusiastic crowd are bang up for it. At bang on 9.50pm the Butterfly Collective take to the stage. This sextet fills the modest space afforded them and promptly get down to business.

Their set is largely covers, peppered with a few more than decent originals. They open with “Red Light” and set their stall out early doors with their amped Mod/Ska/RnB sound. Dobie Gray’s “Out on the Floor” comes next, and the punters start to respond down the front. Another original follows in the shape of “I’m Alive” and Guy (lead vocals) starts to really find his range as he starts to harmonise a little more freely. What comes next is a surprise to me – I wasn’t expecting the Stone Roses.

Their take on “Made of Stone” is certainly different but did at least have me dancing! A return to form comes in the shape of The Style Council’s “Shout to The Top” before a rampant “Do I Love You” which has this crowd in fine voice. Their Mod leanings come to the fore with The Jam’s “In the Crowd/Away From the Numbers” mash-up before once again taking an Indie diversion with the Happy Mondays’ “Step On”. I’m not sure a song like this suits their sound – I would offer maybe Secret Affair or Chords as a viable alternative, then again, I’m not a musician!!

Parity resumes with the Kinks before that ever-popular crowd favourite, The Specials “Nite Klub” – the 2nd chorus is well sung in the room! “Circa 80” is dedicated to ‘Ant Penny’ and is a great prelude to the crowd pleasing “Beggin”. The Specials “Little Bitch” takes audience participation up a notch which makes up for (IMO) a lacklustre “Teenage Kicks”. “Desert Sun” keeps it real and original, and this is where their strength as a band lies – their originals are more than a match for their covers.

Butterfly Collective 1–2–3–4–5–6–7

Lead guitarist Keith has his own fan club who are loud and vociferous while the drummer is the engine room getting a couple of shout outs during the night. Terry (bass) is a dead ringer for actor “Christopher Ecclestone”, and his backing vocals and harmonies don’t go unnoticed. Penultimate number “Everything I Own” is a showstopper with mass crowd participation while I always felt they’d end on a Jam staple. Cue a rampant “A Town Called Malice” which sees everyone get involved one last time, before the band take the plaudits while thanking every staff member in the room.

If this is an annual event, then it is in good hands. A good-sized crowd came out on a cold, blustery evening for a night of great live music. I’m sure this event will be on the calendar for next year…..

Set Lists
The Butterfly Collective
Red Light
Out On The Floor (Dobie Gray)
I’m Alive
Made Of Stone (The Stone Roses)
Shout To The Top (The Style Council)
Do I Love You (Frank Wilson)
In The Crowd/Away From The Numbers (The Jam)
Step On (Happy Mondays)
All Day and All Of The Night (The Kinks)
Nite Klub (The Specials)
Circa 80
Beggin’ (Maneskin)
Little Bitch (The Specials)
Teenage Kicks (The Undertones)
Desert Sun
Into Action (Tim Armstrong) + Wooly Bully (Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs)
Everything I Own (Bread)
A Town Called Malice (The Jam)

The Decatonics
Gangsters (The Specials)
Walking in the Sunshine (Bad Manners)
My Boy Lollypop (The Cadillacs)
Let Your Yeahs Be Yeahs (The Pioneers)
Hey Little Rich Girl (The Specials)
Mirror in The Bathroom (The Beat)
Echo Beach (Martha and The Muffins)
Tainted Love (Gloria Jones)
Missing Words (The Selector)
On My Radio (The Selector)
Zombie?War mash-up (The Cranberries/Edwin Starr)
Bad Habits
54-46 That’s My Number (Toots and The Maytals)
Wolly Bully (Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs)
Monkey Man (Toots and The Maytals)
3 Little Birds (Bob Marley)