UB40 bring it home to Birmingham’s bp pulse LIVE
After 45 years, the Birmingham band still has it.
Photo: Richard Purvis
It’s not every day that a band without their original line-up can still leave such an impression, but UB40 did just that. Without original frontman Ali Campbell (he left in 2008 and still performs as UB40 with Ali Campbell), the rest of the band proved there’s no struggle as they are joined on lead vocals by Matt Doyle, who joins founding members drummer Jimmy Brown, guitarist Robin Campbell, bassist Earl Falconer, percussionist Norman Hassan and saxophonist Brian Travers. They were joined by Gilly G, Jahred Gordon and Matt Campbell, Robin’s son.
Starting off with the notable Here I Am (Come And Take Me), the band got fully into the swing of things, free from gimmicks and over-the-top stage production that so many other bands of their ilk often do, leaving Matt’s vocals centre stage. Having only joined the band three years ago, the singer has lent his vocals to their latest album celebrating 45 years together, UB45, which includes re-works of previous hits.
Working dynamically as a collective — much like Soul II Soul who had graced the stage before — the iconic band joyfully made their way through some of their best work, including Keep on Moving, Maybe Tomorrow / Anything Mi Chat, Homely Girl, Sing Our Own Song and One in Ten.
With Astro and Mickey Virtue both departing to join Ali Campbell, Gilly G did an excellent job taking on Astro’s previous role, with Jahred Gordon jumping on Mickey’s keys.
The band then performed a new track, Home, written by new vocalist Matt and performed alongside videos of local Birmingham residents on the screen behind them. This love for Birmingham is resounding and echoed throughout their show, especially with this particular show taking place in their hometown.
Instead of opting for a crazy light show, Robin simply got the crowd holding up their phone lights, creating a togetherness felt throughout the jam-packed arena, with everyone swaying in harmony as he performed The Keeper, a song written about his wife, who he mentioned “is out there somewhere” when speaking to the crowd.
When it came to the more commercially successful tracks, Robin gleefully told the crowd, “If you don’t know this one, you might as well go home” before bursting into 1983 hit Cherry Oh Baby. Luckily, the whole crowd sang along in unison, waiting in anticipation for the closing track, Red Red Wine, which did not disappoint and washed the entire arena in bright red lights.
Despite saying their goodbyes, the Birmingham crowd were not ready to say goodbye to the band, desperately willing the reggae band for “one more”. Gilly G bound back on stage to get the crowd riled up before the rest joined him for Food For Thought / Forever Blue and the two that everyone had been patiently waiting for: Kingston Town and Can’t Help Falling In Love, two tracks that undeniably made UB40 the iconic band they are today. Kingston Town was performed in honour of the late Brian Travers, the saxophonist and songwriter, with videos of him on the screen.
And, just like that, we had been left impressed by the entire band, and couldn’t quite believe how much Matt Doyle sounded like previous frontman Ali Campbell: if you shut your eyes for just one second, you might have been fooled yourself.