Hundreds of concertgoers basked in the warmth of the Jamaican sun at Park City on Thursday night as UB40's grooving tunes drove away the chill of the mountain air.
Spirits were high and the mood was summer for the sellout crowd that rocked in unison to the addictive reggae beat.Opening with the hit single, "The Way You Do the Things You Do," UB40 delivered a classy stage performance pumped with energy. Fans were captivated by the group's exceptional live sound, which topped its popular studio recordings. The group also caressed the ears of adoring fans with several new and old favorites.
UB40's performance of its well-known and loved single "Red, Red Wine," a remake of the Neil Diamond song, was intoxicating. Everyone was feeling "so fine" as they drank in the contemporary reggae voice of Astro, the group's token dredlock-wearer. He and other band members added vocal variety and spunk to the unique voice of lead singer Ali Campbell.
Campbell's hypnotic voice was a solid foundation for the band's innovative sound. The personality and energy he and the seven other group members conveyed through movement and song caused one to wonder whether the band or the audience was having more fun.
But there was no doubt that everyone was having a good time. The melodies brought a Jamaican summer to Utah, complete with melon sunshine and the calypso funk of an old favorite, "Don't Break My Heart." Concert attendees couldn't resist the instinctive urge to sway and jam to the beat.
Even those without tickets became slaves to the sound and did their jamming outside the amphitheater gates.
Meanwhile, a refreshing brass trio with trombone, saxophone and trumpet kept the crowd rocking inside. The trio was featured in the performance of several new UB40 songs from the most recent album, Promises and Lies, which was released in late July.
UB40's newest hit single was already an old favorite. Fans sang along as the group performed its version of the Elvis Presley classic, "Can't Help Falling in Love." The single was released earlier with the soundtrack for the movie, "Sliver," and has been No. 1 on Billboard charts for more than four weeks.
UB40's increasing popularity has opened the door for other reggae groups in America. The multi-ethnic, Birmingham, England, band has been adored for nearly 15 years across England and has made its mark on U.S. record charts since its first major release in 1983.
With the addition of Thursday's overwhelming turnout, UB40 fans show no sign of dwindling. UB40's appeal to a variety of people and lifestyles has helped to keep its music mainstream over the last decade. The crowd at ParkWest was filled with adolescents, baby boomers and everything in between, wearing everything from bell-bottoms to bermudas.
Despite their love for UB40's more mellow sound, fans warmed up to the Gin Blossoms, the opening band. The Gin Blossoms, a modern/alternative group, played to a sparse entering crowd who seemed familiar with the group's music.
Their noteworthy musical performance kept the audience interested, but their confused stage appearance with beer drinking and smoking interludes wasn't enough to keep much of the crowd from leaving to get a beer or take a drag for themselves.
But there was no ticket space for disappointment. After moving to reggae rhythms for hours, fans were pleased as they reluctantly left the concert with UB40 melodies in their heads and a reggae beat in their souls.