POP MUSIC REVIEW : A Feeble Steel Pulse at the Greek

When the British reggae band Steel Pulse went prospecting for American gold and platinum a few years ago, its music turned to tin. Last week, on the first of two nights at the Greek Theatre, Steel Pulse’s reggae elements seemed bronzed: preserved mementos that had taken their last steps years ago.

Though regaining some of the infectiousness and toughness that have been lost on recent recordings, Steel Pulse’s performance was static and predictable, musically and thematically. The loping, bass-heavy beat, the cries against corruption and apartheid--all the right buttons were pushed to keep the crowd dancing and cheering, but they all were things we’ve heard many, many times before.

There were a few times when Steel Pulse reached beyond its standard post-Bob Marley approach (singer David Hinds’ voice is still a closer approximation of the master than even Marley’s son, Ziggy).

Brief stabs at soul vocal harmony and even a British march and New Orleans-y jazz prefaced and punctuated several songs and/or served as humorous diversions. But, while preferable to the several crossover panderings found on the new “Victims” album, those moments did little to add any sense of progress or artistic resolve to the proceedings. And what’s the use of a Steel Pulse without its mettle?

Steel Pulse, Special Beat (ex-members of the Specials and the English Beat) and Dread Zeppelin play today at 5 p.m. at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, 8800 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. Tickets: $20.25 to $24.75. Parking: $5. Information: (714) 855-8096.