UB40 in The Olympia Theatre on 22^nd October 2014

A reggae legend died on Sunday. John Holt was one of many Jamaican musicians whose influence has had a profound effect on UB40, and his legacy is celebrated during tonight’s set by the Birmingham band. They formed in 1978, named for a social welfare document and taking their cue from ska, reggae, rocksteady and lovers rock, sparking a thirty year career before a rift saw the departure in 2008 of singer Ali Campbell and keys man Mickey Virtue.

It can be confusing for fans, with two versions of the band now in existence. One UB40 is billed as Campbell, Virtue and Astro (who jumped ship from UB40 – the other one – to join his ex-colleagues) while the other UB40 with the remaining original members fronted by Ali’s brother Duncan are also doing the rounds. Acrimonious? You better believe it.

You get the impression that tonight’s line-up is the one the fans put their money behind, with Ali’s distinctive vocal and Astro’s toasting such a major element in the band’s sound. The Olympia is buzzing; well-warmed by the roots sounds of Radio Riddler and their reggae reimagining of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ album. Where the headliners’ set is dedicated to Holt, theirs is “for the purple one”, and they go out with that album’s title track. The trombone plays the guitar solo, the singer plays air guitar – by the end of their arm-swinging, inclusive set this crowd is game for a bit of Ali magic.

And he delivers, after a time – but that’s fine, time at the bar is important too. Tonight’s crowd are in no rush to get the last bus. As the band ease us in with a Flying High instrumental, arms fly skywards as Ali and Astro bounce out to Here I Am (Come and Take Me). They’re a vocal crowd tonight, weighing in on Homely Girl. Cherry Oh Baby and Maybe Tomorrow are roared back with equal gusto, and even the new, lesser known material sits alongside the standards even though the men on stage are more audible on these outings.

The dancing starts in earnest with The Way You Do The Things You Do as Ali, casual as you like in short jacket, rides the air in front of him to the delight of the women and helplessness of their fellas in the crowd. There’s acquiescence in the air, though, and the lovers rock comes slow and steady, dropped in amongst the bouncier ska and early UB40 hits to let said fellas pitch woo and regain a foothold.

Campbell and Astro form a united front through the set, with dual harmonies typifying the selection. Every once in a while, though, one will step into the central role. The band recedes into darkness as Astro toasts on Bring Me Your Cup, while Ali takes the spotlight on Kingston Town. It’s not his for the keeping. Just as they did on Would I Lie To You, picking up the synth line and singing the chorus as the band knew they would, the crowd overpower him. A re-imagined Red, Red Wine follows – dancier than that recorded – but it’s only an aperitif.

A drum solo is certainly unexpected, but that’s what we get as the horns join the tribal rumblings and Food For Thought breaks in at the encore. A more faithful rendering of Neil Diamond’s beverage follows even though we may be over the limit at this stage, but the much-fudged-along-to Astro rap in the middle is always going to raise a smile. As the set ends you have to wonder – is this UB40, or is it a backing band with a couple of lads from UB40? Does it matter? Not to tonight’s crowd – not even the pat-downs, bag searches and drink confiscations could dampen the mood of the reggae party Astro promised would happen.