The
anti-globalisation issue is supposed to have mobilised the world's
youth against Ronald McDonald and tyrannical suit wearers everywhere.
If this truly is the case the Levellers should expect to be
rivaling Kylie for worldwide exposure (although the idea of
any of the Lev's baring their bottoms to boost record sales
is horrifying). Instead they are struggling to even get their
single played on hospital radio and tonight's gig has failed
to sell out at a venue that is considerably smaller than those
they filled on previous tours.
The band's enforced absence from the nation's consciousness
is all the more surprising when they are such an enjoyable live
act. They have passion, sing-along sloganeering choruses and
pop hooks big enough to land a whale. The Levellers reduced
circumstances have no negative impact on the gig, only seeming
to make the crowd more determined to retain the celebratory
spirit of previous tours. The band and the audience are all
looking a little chunkier than the last tour, more than ever
lead singer Mark Chadwick resembles what David Essex would look
like if he undertook the Guinness and pie diet. Although his
paunch is unlikely to concern a band that has steadfastly refused
to make any image concessions in order to achieve greater commercial
success.
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Tonight's gig demonstrates how the
Levellers have been cheated out of a more respected place in
rock history. This is largely due to the way critics responded
to the release of 1991's magnificent 'Levelling the Land', being
more concerned about how the band's crusty image was so out
of kilter with Madchester cool, rather than the quality of the
tunes. Sensibly the set list is evenly split between songs from
that classic album and from new release 'Green Blade Rising'.
Performed live, 'One Way' destroys any apathy generated from
the song having been played at every indie club night for the
past eleven years. Even without the didgeridoo being wheeled
out for the song opening it was still greeted with religious
fervour by the audience. 'The Game' is a frenzy of fiddling
(definitely not a reference to the lack of personal space in
the mosh pit) and is a perfect demonstration of the Levellers
song writing formula. Each verse increases the tension of the
tune until it explodes into the communal karaoke of the chorus.
'The Road' is the definition of jaunty, lyrically Chadwick conjures
scenes of carefree revelry which are then replicated in the
room as the crowd bellows along to the apt refrain "the
words that you heard made the world go away".
The new songs are lyrically uninspired, but they do demonstrate
that the Levellers have rediscovered the melodies that temporarily
deserted them on previous album 'Hello Pig'. Separated by standout
tracks from past albums and passionately performed to an enthusiastic
audience, singles 'Come On' and 'Wild as Angels' sound less
trite than on record and more like the rallying cries they were
intended to be.
Tonight the Levellers prove that while their albums (excluding
'Levelling the Land') are inconsistent, they have recorded plenty
of singles over the past decade to fill a ninety-minute live
set. This is especially evident during the encore as men old
enough to know better are roused to defy gravity and medical
advice by launching into a pixie dancing frenzy to the pop majesty
of 'Beautiful Day'.
Gavin Eves
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