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Johnny 2 Bad - UB40 Tribute
Date/Fri 25 January, 2008
Reviewed by/Denis Hill
It was announced in the national media during the days leading up to this show, that this was officially the most depressing week of the year. I don’t know how they measure such things, but it must have been something to do with post-Christmas malaise, drab weather and shortage of cash.
Could Johnny 2 Bad lift the January gloom? We’d just have to suck it and see, but if the outrageous hype quoted in the pre-show publicity: “One of the best shows I’ve ever seen” (Greg Allen – The Stage), was anything to go by, then not even this ambitious task should be beyond them.
As I took my seat in a comfortably full, if not capacity, concert hall, I had to confess to a certain scepticism. I am not reggae music’s greatest devotee and find the genre rather banal and samey.
How wrong I was to be as this Birmingham-based eight piece sucked the dancers up onto the dance floor from the very first track (unheard of in Letchworth) in a four-beat and brassy intro, featuring James Renford’s seductive sax-playing.
Groovin’ (‘til I Die) was an early triumph and as we hot-stepped into Beautiful Woman, the infectious rhythm and highly visual stage presence tempted even more dancers to the floor – and the aisles and the doorways! Other high points of a barnstorming first set were The Only Love I Need (complete with synchronized dance moves by the three-man white-suited brass section) and If it Happens Again I’m Leaving, a track which demonstrated the tightness and spot-on timing so important to the reggae heartbeat.
And I must mention the super little trio which closed the first set, consisting of
Stick By Me (And I’ll Stick By You)
Here I am Baby
Take a Chance on Me (I’ll Love You ‘til the End of Time)
All serving to confirm the impressively Campbell-esque vocals of Wayne Lawrence and superb musicianship of his UB40 ‘co-workers’.
Into the second set and the band quickly and cleverly re-established their terrific first half rapport with an audience walk which beautifully emphasised the lilt and pulse of the gig. Rat in The Kitchen which followed was as pulsating as Sweet Sensation was captivating. I’ll be Yours (Baby Tonight) provided ample evidence of Skins’ drumming credentials and this number pitched us headlong into the Andy Williams inspired Can’t Help Falling In Love, expertly handled.
The obvious social and political content of One In Ten was nicely sugar-coated and here let me pay tribute to the talents of keys man Mickey Nanton and bassist ‘Boot’ whose respective contributions on the night were sublime. Even the door stewards were foot-tapping during Kingston Town and the band’s signature track Johnny You’re Too Bad was a sheer delight justly met by a rapturous ovation as the boys were formally introduced and thanked.
Of the many possible contenders for favourite track of the night, mine was Ivory Madonna, combining Wayne’s exquisite pitch-perfect vocals with the reedy, mellow, yet strong and stentorous brass tones of Stuart, James and Andy. This was like reggae wrapped in velvet!
My Girl Lollipop came next with its unfortunate reminder that I am old enough to remember Millie’s chart-topping version of the early sixties and then, predictably enough, Red Red Wine closed this outstanding show with a quality which had not faltered in two hours.
Any lingering January blues had long since evaporated in a euphoric performance which I rate as one of Plinston’s best ever – and I cannot believe I am alone in that view. True, the hall has seen bands of similar accomplishment before, but Johnny 2 Bad had managed to combine musical mastery with marvellous showmanship in a rare and heady blend.
Come back soon? You bet!
Johnny 2 Bad were:
Wayne Lawrence – Lead Vocal/guitar
Mikey Nanton - Keys/backing vocals
Stuart Haugh - Trombone/backing vocals
James Renford - Sax/backing vocals
Andy Harris - Trumpet
Skins - Drums
Boot - Bass
