The Guvernment is Toronto's version of the dark post-industrial modern nightclub, meticulously decorated with black lights, disco balls, illuminated bars, florescent art on the walls and chains hanging from the ceiling. It has all the contrivance of a set from a Hollywood movie featuring the latest batch of young cool actors... but it would have to do. Arriving early and passing by the merchandise booth, you would have seen the Tricky Kid himself signing a few autographs and puffing on a J, chin in hand like he was just hanging out like everyone else. While that was going on, Zoebliss, a local Toronto space rock band, played droney hypnotic music which sometimes feature acoustic guitar. That's about all the impression they made as their songs never really lifted of the ground once they got going. Stroke, from the U.K., simply blew Zoebliss off the stage. They also used atmospheres, but are a rock band at heart, with songs more urgent and alive and a front man who thrashed around in the little space he had.

The crowd was lethargic at best or, more accurately, dead. Only a handful of people gave any kind of response to the two openers. Another gripe I had was the sound, which was terrible - the singers words were inaudible and the instruments all blended together messily. But again, it would have to do.

When The Specials "Niteclub" came over the PA, you knew the show was about to start, Tricky often professing his love of all things Two-Tone. With "Spending Money On Beer" the group took the dark stage, opening with 'Hell Is Round The Corner' from the debut Maxinquaye. The lighting was perfect. Minimal blue illuminated the band while a slow red spotlight on Martina pulsed in time with the beat.