UB40 - By Ian Taylor
First on stage at the M.E.N. Arena was Eddy Grant, who up until now, I always thought was something of a one-hit wonder… clearly I was wrong as the lights went down and on walked Eddy, prompting the crowd to scream with excitement.
Without any delay, he started with 'Killer On The Rampage', followed by 'War Party' and 'Do You Feel My Love,' before launching into this highly-anticipated single due for release in February; 'I Am The One'.
Then it was time for Eddie’s biggest single to date, 'Electric Avenue', which obviously sent the audience wild with excitement as they sang along word perfect to the choruses, and I’ve got to admit, the atmosphere was electric.
Closing with 'Gimme Hope Jo'anna' Eddy served as a great opening act for UB40... But let’s be honest, once they guys opened with 'Here I Am Baby,' any support act was long forgotten.
With the first half of their set littered with the likes of 'One In Ten,' 'Homely Girl', and a cover track from Jonny Nash, 'Cream Puff’, which had all the couples in the audience dancing.
The set also featured songs, ‘Rainbow Nation’ and ‘Tyler’, which are both songs about a man, Gary Tyler, who has been a prisoner in Louisiana since 1975, and the poignant; “Tyler is guilty the white judge has said so. What right do we have to say it’s not so?” rang through the arena.
After that it was time to lift the audience’s spirits once again, with a UB40 classic ‘Higher Ground’, an obvious favourite of the band, who radiated stage presence during the three minutes before they decided to show us a different side to UB40 as the bass player put down his instrument and stepped up to the microphone - it was time for ‘Reggae Music’ which showed his MC style of vocals.
To end the set UB40 belted out some of their finest material in the form of ‘Kingston Town’ and ‘Red Red Wine,’ showing that they can cater for new and current fans by playing both newer and older, classic songs.
However, we all know that wasn’t it, so as the lights went down for the end of the show, I sensed an encore, and the audience could too, hence the screams of “More, More, More” Unsurprisingly, UB40 emerged from the darkness to play three final tracks; ‘Please Don't Make Me Cry’, ‘Easy Snapping’ and ‘Falling In Love With You’.
To be honest, as the gig finished and we filed out of the arena, it dawned on me why a band I thought we just for ‘the oldies’ could still play in such massive arenas - because they quite single are a massive band… and their strong set easily justifies the ticket price tag.
Words & Photos - Ian Taylor