UB40 do justice to legacy of hits

UB40, 40th anniversary tour, CET Arena, Palmerston North February 8. Reviewed by George Heagney

Age doesn’t appear to have wearied veteran English reggae band UB40, who finished their 40th anniversary tour of New Zealand in Palmerston North.

These days there are two versions of UB40 after a 2008 split, but the one that played in front of more than 6000 people at CET Arena on Friday is the one everyone wanted to see.

Ali Campbell is the long-time front man and the distinct voice of the group.

He left the original band, only to be replaced by his brother, but Campbell now tours under the UB40 name too.

Campbell, along with original band member Astro, sounded like they hadn’t missed a beat over the years, playing most of their biggest hits.

Campbell got the night off to a great start as the sun set with Ifit Happens Again.

The ensemble band all play their part, but Astro is the band’s great hype man.

He chimes in with vocals, but his finest moment was when he sung Rat in Mi Kitchen, which didn’t disappoint.

Even though there wasn’t much of an encore chant, the band returned with the muchanticipated Food for Thought – a banger with a cracking brass section. They wrapped up with two covers, their major hits (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You and Red, Red Wine, which the crowd loved.