The San Diego Traveler

UB40 - They’re Irie, Mon!

by Carole A. Lane on August 23rd, 2007

UB40 has been playing beautiful music together since 1980, yet last Sunday night was the first time that I ever fully experienced them.

I love reggae.  In fact, my hubby and I spent our honeymoon in Jamaica, making UB40 a sentimental favorite of both of ours, so this concert was much anticipated and LONG overdue. I purchased the concert tickets as a surprise back in June, and for the next two months the excitement built.

Bottom line: UB40 did not disappoint. In fact, they were flawless. Here’s a little taste, although this was actually shot at a different concert.

This was not a big-spectacle concert experience. There weren’t dancers. No special effects, except for lights and a little smoke. Instead, there was a band that loves their music, and a happy, dancing crowd that they love performing for. Their sound was rich, their harmonies and instrumentation perfect, and their energy was, well, irie.

As for the venue, Pala Casino is nothing special. In fact, if you’ve ever been to any of the casinos in Laughlin or Mesquite, NV, you’d probably see the resemblance. With none of the grandeur of a Vegas casino, but at least as much smoke, I found Pala Casino somewhat depressing. The people gambling on Sunday night looked mostly haggard and pale, in stark contrast to the concert crowd. The restaurants surrounding the casino were extremely overcrowded, causing long lines, and the food was very average. They also seem to have a great scarcity of restrooms for the restaurants. All-in-all, I would not recommend going out of your way to gamble there.

On the other hand, the outdoor concert area was pretty decent. They set up a stage and seats on the grass area at the back of the casino adjoining the hotel, and the acoustics were excellent. The lines for the bar were impossible, but otherwise, it was a great night outdoors, perfect for the reggae crowd. If you don’t mind watching a couple making love in their hotel window, and this crowd didn’t seem to mind at all, it really is a nice place for a fun summer concert.

If you like reggae as much as I do, there’s more to come. This Saturday, there’s a Reggae Fest at the Del Mar Racetrack, with Ziggy Marley headlining! The first race is at 2 p.m. an Elijah Emanuel will start the reggae music at 3. There’s also a beer festival with over 40 different brews being held in the Pavilion.

Doesn’t that sound like a great way to enjoy the end of a beautiful summer in San Diego?

Share This

Related Stories

Cats - They’re Back!
The San Diego Special Edition - July 17, 2007
And They’re Off… Racing Season Begins at Del Mar

POSTED IN: Entertainment