UB40 was incredible!
by Tractors on 10/3/10Fox Performing Arts Center - RIVERSIDEThese guys still have it, the best show I've ever been to. Their energy was awesome, the show was great, worth every penny and more!
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UB40 on Tour
A UB40 concert doubles as a lesson in how reggae has informed pop music over the last few decades. Weaving together island-inspired covers of American hits like "Red Red Wine" and "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" with their own songs such as "Food for Thought" and "Love Is All Is Alright," the band keeps people dancing and vibing throughout their whole set.
Currently, there are two versions of UB40 touring. One features founding members Robin Campbell, Brian Travers, Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer and Norman Hassan alongside vocalist Duncan Campbell, while the other features founding vocalist Ali Campbell and percussionist-vocalist Astro. (Please check with your venue to see which group will be appearing.)
UB40 Background
For more than four decades, Birmingham's UB40 have been one of the world's premier fusers of pop and reggae, with their working class, multicultural heritage and keen ear combining to create big hits. Formed in late 1978, the band named themselves after a form Brits had to file in order to receive unemployment benefits. They released their first album, Signing Off, in 1980, and its blend of dub, ska and reggae with pop hooks plus socially aware lyrics made it a critical favorite that launched two Top 10 singles in the UK. In 1983, they had a commercial breakthrough with their fourth album, Labour of Love, an all-covers collection made up of songs released between 1969 and 1972. Songs by reggae and rocksteady stars like The Melodians and Lee "Scratch" Perry made up the bulk of the album, and its biggest hit was a take on Jamaican singer Tony Tribe's cover of Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine," which lets Campbell and Astro trade verses over a bubbly beat.
The global success of "Red Red Wine," which went to No. 1 in the UK in 1983 and topped the American charts five years later, helped UB40 become Britain's de facto reggae ambassadors. Blending self-penned reggae songs with Caribbean-influenced covers of pop hits like "I Got You Babe" (a collaboration with Pretenders leader Chrissie Hynde) and "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You," UB40 have forged a path as one of the world's leading reggae bands, their dual commitment to social issues and groovy beats only growing stronger as time goes on.
These guys still have it, the best show I've ever been to. Their energy was awesome, the show was great, worth every penny and more!
Great concert, even without Ali Campbell singing lead. His brother Duncan did a pretty good job filling in, and even looked and moved in a similar way on the stage. Just a couple fo songs that he didn't quite hit the mark on, but overall very worth the tickets.
UB40 comes all the way from the UK for this? I originally had seats in the balcony, but in order to fill up the floor they upgraded my tix to the 12 row. Come on guys! This is one of the best Reggae bands of all time. The band was on point! They sounded great! But, they didn't play over an hour and a half. I think UB40 was happy to get Riverside out of the way, because we acted like a small town.
If you didn't know the words you sure couldn't hear or understand them. The music was great and the venue is beautiful but we couldn't understand a word that was said.
Fanatstic show! Fox Performing Arts Center is a sweet venue! Show went well!
The concert was amazing. I had never heard UB40 Live before, but my boyfriend had seen them many times. They were great! So many songs that I didn't even realize were theirs. Humphrey's is a fantastic venue to see a concert ... under the stars! It was a magical evening!!!
What a night amazing venue amazing band couldn't of asked for more
What better place to have a concert, than on the Beach at Mandalay Bay. The mix of old and new songs was terrific, and "Red, Red Wine" brought back some wonderful memories
Great venue. Great band! First time to see them and it was great - even after they've been around for 30 years.
UB40 put on a solid show although the whole band apparently did not make it through customs. The set list was predictable which is a good thing in this case. The weather was perfect and the crowd was engaged. A good time was had by all.
UB40 was just ok this time. They didn't play all the good oldies that I we wanted to hear. Their new music was great but we still like to hear the old ones. The crowd was weak and too mellow.
Venue is great and loved UB40 live! I look forward to going back to see more concerts to come.
This concert was so disappointing! We saw UB40 at the same venue 2 years ago and they rocked, everyone was on their feet dancing the entire show, lots of great energy. This time, no Ali and no fire whatsoever. Although the music sounded good, the band had the energy of a has-been wedding band, complete with canned moves and bored expressions. Duncan Campbell has a good voice but lacks the charisma and rhythm that make UB40 so fun to see in a live show.
Actually I was pretty disapointed with the show....just not the same without Ali Campbell, and a few of the others that were missing. Seen these guys a bunch of times, and this was the first time I wasn't stoked with the show. They played way too much off their new album......you could see it in the crowd....when they played the stuff no one knew..they all sat there. When they played the "songs you know by heart" (which were very few) the place started rocking. To not play songs like Rat in the Kitchen, and Bring Me Your Cup, is very dissapointing.
I doubt this will appear anywhere. The music was great. The attitude of the group and some of the audience was more than I care to repeat. The group should be grateful for everyone including those of us that had the ability to purchase tickets close to the stage. To invite those from the rear to come to the front and ruin our experience was unacceptable. Security had little to no control over the obnoxious and intoxicated few that didn't give a Rat's A--. They were so frigging self centered. I'll not spend $ 500.00 for four dinner show seats to this group again.
I knew their lead singer had been replaced–First with maxi Priest, then with his own Older Brother–before I bought the tickets. I found out after the first song that their second lead had been denied entry into the Country. The new singer sounded like he drank a bottle of NyQuill before the show–slow and downbeat. When no one gets up to dance at a dance-band concert, it’s a problem. The lack of a duet ment they didn’t play their hits–and they have enough to fill a show. They did covers and their new stuff. I’ve seen them 20 times. This wasn’t UB40. Just the back-up band. Should have played an hour of “Dance with the Devil”. Just the instruments. Humphries is a great venue. UB40 didn’t do it justice.
One word - Outstanding!!!.........................
I have been an avid fan of UB40 for over 20 years, have their cd's seen them perform multiple times and Humphreys a few years ago. this was like a different band, low energy, no conecting to the audiance, the lead singer barely spoke a word, it was ike they have been on a plane for 24 hrs, and lived on a steady diet of white bread coffee and varios others substances leading them to the burnout they displayed on stage sunday night. the saving grace of the evening was a nice friend to share it with and amazing warm weather, as wel as a nice venue, but they were a total disapointment and i will not spend any more time to see them, sad cause they use to be SO HOT!
I've seen UB40 a number of times in the past 25 years. This event was unfortunately the weakest of all. Another visit from UB40 without Astro............. The set list was "ok" at best. I enjoy the b-side songs as much as the next guy, but they played too many of them. The crowd participation was mild at best, but somewhat came to life when a recognizable song was played. I'm still a huge fan, but might not pay the money to see them again. I'd rather hold the fond memories of past concerts rather than the disappointments of the new ones. One last thing about the venue....... please please please turn the volume up !!!!!!!!
I thought I was going to fall asleep during this show. They need to livin' it up! They played a lot of 'new music' that nobody knew. I sugget keeping to what made u famous ub40 & drink a redbull before the show for gods sake!