|
Stadium reggae from stalwarts...
UB40 took reggae to the masses; stadium concerts and hit singles, managing to water down the music into an easily digestible pop form in the process.
But if you remember reggae is a really commercial Americanised form of traditional Jamaican Mento and Ska, this white reggae is very far removed from its roots.
That said, as stadium bands go, UB40 played a viable and popular style and on stage they were tight. Very tight.
The brass section do add a soul feel, and the whole set up and performance on stage in Rotterdam is very professional. The band clearly enjoy themselves, smiling loads, but there’s little band/audience interaction. For many in the crowd it must have seemed like hearing the records and watching matchsticks bob under a light show, epitomising what I hate so much about such professional bands in such large stadiums.
The 22 song concert (running at nearly 2 hours) covers all their big hits, including Red Red Wine, Rat In Mi Kitchen and Kingston Town.
Extras include 5.1surround sound, photo gallery, band interviews and extra footage. A fully packaged DVD that fans would enjoy.
A full 5 star item for the ardent fan or a casual fan wanting an introduction. But for me it’s just too much to stomach.
***
Review by Joe Geesin
|
