TWIST AND CRAWL, at North Bar, Blackburn

WHEN you go to a gig featuring members of a band whose songs you grew up with, there is always a worry.

Will the passage of time have taken its toll? Will they be a pale imitation of their former selves or, worse still, an embarassing charicature?

Twist and Crawl are basically The Beat, Top of the Pops regulars during the early Eighties and one of the leaders of the Ska movement. The good news, judged on last night's performance, is that rather than being a shadow of the hit-making band, they're as good as ever.

The night was warm to start with but after an hour packed with hits, the North Bar was steaming.

It's not until you hear songs like Best Friend, Hands Off She's Mine and Mirror in the Bathroom that you begin to realise what an influential band The Beat were.

With Ranking Roger on vocals, looking not a day older, but now backed by his son Ranking Junior, the Beat turned in one of the best nights at the North Bar.

Stand-out numbers included a re-worked Stand Down Margaret and Ranking Fullstop.

A band of this calibre deserves a large audience, so where were you? An excellent venue, a cracking band and a pitiful turn-out. Perhaps it was the warm weather or perhaps it was apathy. Whatever the reason, you missed a mighty fine night out.

JOHN ANSON