THE Bad Manners gig started as it always does, with a chorus of "you fat b******" directed at the band's front man, Buster Bloodvessel. 

But the irony is, after decades of fronting one of the most energetic bands in the country, and a gastric bypass in 2004, the 60-year-old no longer has his trademark beer belly.

His Christmas gig at the Concorde 2 has become a staple in the festive calendar and some in the crowd, now in their 50s, have been coming since they were teenagers. 

And it's easy to see why they keep coming back. Nothing changes.

Buster plays the same songs, tells the same jokes, and the same punters fight each other in a good-natured push-fest near the front.

It's a winning forumla with jump-up classics such as Special Brew, My Girl Lollipop, and even a ska rendition of the Can Can, keeping the crowd bouncing and mosh-pitting for the whole hour.

Buster brings with him a brand of humorous ska, wagging his large tongue at his audiences, and often bringing his dog on stage to sing a song or two. 

Not very well, but not that it matters. 

Perhaps the only change was the age demographic of the audience.

It is clear a summer of festival touring has introduced the ska band to a younger generation.

And they might not know all the lyrics like their older counterparts, but they certainly share the same enthusiasm. 

The Concorde 2 proved itself, yet again, as a fantastic venue for the ska-revival band.

Compared to Madness' Sound of Madness Tour at the Brighton Centre the night before, the gig felt intimate, exciting, and personal, all thanks to the nature of the 600-capacity venue.

As long as he is alive, Buster will always find a willing crowd and a home-away-from-home in Brighton.