ShareUB40 featuring Ali, Astro and Mickey, performing their Silhouette Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Thursday 9th April 2015
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
With there being two bands called UB40, both fronted by a Campbell brother, it would be easy to get confused as to which one you had bought tickets for. The group of family and friends from Birmingham who got together in 1978 to form a band named after a government unemployment form, have had their well-publicised acrimonious disagreements and parting of the waves. Lead singer Ali Campbell left the group in 2008, followed by keyboard player Mickey Virtue. Forming their own UB40, the band was complete when Astro joined them in November 2013.
So it was Ali, Astro and Mickey’s UB40 who took to the stage tonight to a packed Royal Concert Hall, complete with an eight piece band that included a brilliant horn section. The party began with the Al Green cover, Here I Am (Come And Take Me) which had the audience immediately on their feet. Still standing for The Chi-Lites cover, Homely Girl and The Temptations The Way You Do The Things You Do, it was Astro’s turn to make his mark with Folitician.
But it was UB40’s huge hits Cherry Oh Baby, Would I Lie To You and One In Ten that had this audience singing and dancing, whilst tracks from their new album, Silhouette were also well received. Cyber Bully Boys written about Astros alleged treatment by his former band members was particularly good if you ignored the politics behind it, whilst Fijian Sunset had all the hall marks of the former UB40.
With the three of them having played together for over 30 years, they have helped to define reggae music for several generations. This version of UB40 benefited from the inclusion of Astro because now they were able to perform Rat In Mi Kitchen without having to improvise, and with his first words he took us straight down memory lane.
With hits Kingston Town and (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love prompting an ovation, the set was brought to an end. For the encore, the first notes of Red Red Wine had everyone singing which could be heard long after this two hour set had finished. Their longevity makes them the Status Quo of reggae, and on this performance it doesn’t matter what they call themselves, Ali, Astro and Mickey still know how to throw a party.
But watching them perform, I couldn’t help but remember what it used to be like before the spilt; a solid unit that truly entertained; whose songs are sung by all generations and more importantly, usually contained a message that is sheer poetry and thought provoking. Having stood in a muddy field, soaking wet watching the whole band at a Milton Keynes gig where they supported The Police many more moons ago than I care to remember, there is a little sad reflection. The band was everything that all aspiring musicians want to be involved with; a great band who were having fun with their friends and family.
If you can’t decide which camp to support; then ignore all of the negative press and go and see them both. This is UB40 in whatever guise and they were all born to entertain with a lithe but potent sound which delights all of their fans.
One Reply
Totally agree with your review Kevin. I have been a career long fan of the group and saw them first in the early 80s and again in ‘85. They had taken a slightly commercial change of direction and I was missing the early more earthy reggae angle but it proved to be the best move they could have made. Many lesser known ‘classics’ were given a great new lease of life and have definitely stood the test of time. My wife and I went to see whole band again in 2004 when they were excellent so when we booked to see the Robin Campbell version of UB40 in Dec 15 at the O2 Academy in Brum we were full of expectations.
To say we were disappointed is a massive understatement.
We were already pumped up by a great support set from Steel Pulse who were fantastic but as soon as Duncan sang the first line we looked at each other and thought something wasn’t right. I knew it wouldn’t be Ali’s smooth vocals but was not expecting what we heard. His voice was weak, not particularly like Ali’s and to be honest was more like an affected impression by a karaoke singer who was standing on stage alongside his favourite band and couldn’t believe his luck at being there. (I wonder how far from the truth is that?) There was no charisma in his act, no depth or real range to his voice and he played it safe on every testing note instead of going for it. It seemed that the set was built around what he could comfortable ‘sing’ for want of a better word. The brass section was as good as ever but Robin was strangely subdued (possibly embarrassed at charging the public for a pale imitation of the genuine article?). To make matters worse, the sound mix was horrendous – too much rumbling bass (and I’m normally a basshead) which drowned everything else including, mercifully, some of the vocals. Conversely, Steel Pulse had it spot on so it wasn’t the arena etc. We left thoroughly dissatisfied.
Thankfully, my wife got us tickets to see Ali, Mickey and Astro at the Barclaycard Arena last Sunday 1st May 2016.
What can I say? … from the very first track everyone (including the seated sections) was on their feet and didn’t stop dancing until the end. They played so many of the Labour Of Love 1&2 tracks and they were just like the old days. Ali’s voice was just as good as ever and Astro added that extra dimension that ‘the dark side’ (as Ali calls them lol) just hasn’t got.
The harmonies from all three plus the newer members were tight and the musicianship was spot on.
Kingston Town, Groovin’ and Keep on Moving were real cloud pleasers, as was Food for Thought (so good to hear this live again) and of course the predictable encore including Red Red Wine brought the house down. The more recent stuff from Silhouette was also well received as you say. All in all a great gig. Would gladly see them again tomorrow.
For anyone thinking of going to see ‘UB40’, (with Robin and Duncan) don’t waste your money
UB40 feat Ali, Mickey Virtue and Astro – ‘The Real Deal’