Just saw Level 42

britrit · #1 10-20-2006, 05:55 PM

Saw them at Royal Albert Hall. I had great seats, just 20 rows from the stage. I must say, they were absolutely amazing. Mark King had his signature bass with the LEDs, and they played alot of the classics.

Mark took an amazing solo to start off the encore, it was fabulous. I find it completely amazing how he can play such great bass lines and sing at the same time.

So if you get the chance, definately go see Level 42.

corinpills · #2 10-20-2006, 09:29 PM

Level 42 is playing at the Royal Albert Hall? Is this a post you started in the late 80's that's just coming through now or something? No disrespect to them or you, I just can't believe they are playing such a large venue. I would have guessed the Half Moon in Putney with plenty of elbow room.

britrit · #3 10-21-2006, 04:35 AM

Nope, Royal Albert Hall, pretty much filled up too.

cowsgomoo · #4 10-21-2006, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corinpills

Level 42 is playing at the Royal Albert Hall? Is this a post you started in the late 80's that's just coming through now or something? No disrespect to them or you, I just can't believe they are playing such a large venue. I would have guessed the Half Moon in Putney with plenty of elbow room.

it's only 5000 capacity though... its reputation as a prestigious venue comes from its history, proms association etc... as a venue for rock concerts it ain't especially big

it doesn't surprise me that Level 42 can fill it... the UK still seems to have more than its fair share of thumb-wiggling Mark King worshippers... walk into any music shop and you're bound to trip over a be-mulleted white-trainers-wearing 30-something bloke thwacking out a King-esque typewriter 'funky' slap riff

now if we'd have known they were all together in one place the other night we could have locked them in there

Baryonyx · #5 10-21-2006, 05:24 AM

Glad you enjoyed the show, I thought they were amazing too! I was in the 4th row at the Sage show. Simply amazing!

62bass · #6 10-21-2006, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowsgomoo

it's only 5000 capacity though... its reputation as a prestigious venue comes from its history, proms association etc... as a venue for rock concerts it ain't especially big

it doesn't surprise me that Level 42 can fill it... the UK still seems to have more than its fair share of thumb-wiggling Mark King worshippers... walk into any music shop and you're bound to trip over a be-mulleted white-trainers-wearing 30-something bloke thwacking out a King-esque typewriter 'funky' slap riff

now if we'd have known they were all together in one place the other night we could have locked them in there

That's very funny.

I'm not a fan of level 42, but I have a bass player friend who is and can play that way and does with his band-all the time! He has a following of young bass players who watch him like hawks at every show. He draws a crowd when he tries out a bass in a music store. I don't think they'll ever sell enough CDs to make it big, but he's a good guy and he's happy and I can't fault him for that.

JAUQO III-X · #7 10-21-2006, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowsgomoo

now if we'd have known they were all together in one place the other night we could have locked them in there

choad42 · #8 10-21-2006, 10:44 AM

Hey there britrit, I'm glad to hear that Level are still getting it done as per usual. I've only seen them live once, way back in '87. Phil was on drums still.

I do like the new line-up though. Mark King is still one of my main influences, his playing still floors me.

Cheers,
Paul Theriault
Bassjones
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandID=234528

Baryonyx · #9 10-21-2006, 03:47 PM

Phil was a good drummer and he sounded great with Level 42, but Gary Husband is on another level completely (pardon the pun). The man is fusion royalty!

RavCat · #10 10-23-2006, 02:21 AM

Saw them last night in Nottingham - absolutely awesome show, but a little disappointed Mr Pink wasn't on the set list

Essexbass · #11 10-23-2006, 04:53 AM

I'm taking my wife to see them in Basingstoke on Saturday night. It'll be the first time she's seen them, but it will be my Seventh show since 1986 (was lucky enough to see the original line-up at their peak).

Nice to see Mike Lindup back for this tour & it's always good to see MK slapping away like a good 'un. What's the percentage of new stuff from "Retroglide" to material from the previous studio albums in the set?

Cheers,
Essexbass.

RavCat · #12 10-23-2006, 06:13 AM

They only played 4-5 songs from Retroglide, in what was a solid 1½ hours of music, so not a great deal in the grand scheme of things.

I won't spoil it for anybody by listing the songs they played, but the Retroglide songs just didn't have the same energy as the mids 80's stuff they played. If you know the songs featured on Level Best, you'll know at least 75% of the material in the set. Almost nothing came from their fusion era (the songs took from their first album were the pop-friendly numbers).

You're right that it was good to see Lindup in the lineup, but Mark King and Gary Husband just steal the show IMHO.

Baryonyx · #13 10-23-2006, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Essexbass

What's the percentage of new stuff from "Retroglide" to material from the previous studio albums in the set?

When I saw them in Newcastle they played Retorglide, Dive Into the Sun (what an opener!), Rooted and Sleep Talking (encore).

I thought they were really pumped, they seemed to be very proud of the new songs, Dive Into the Sun was explosive as the opener and had me on my feet right away. Rooted and Retroglide, although they were slower numbers, packed a serious punch. Rooted has become a real favourite since seeing it live! Also, Sleep Talking was fast and pacey and a real old-skool slap-a-thon. I couldn't have been happier with the setlist, because you get the classics (the 4 song medly was the best bit of the show: Living it Up, Running In The Family, Lessons in Love and Something About You played back to back!) and you get the new stuff.

If I have one gripe it's that they didn't play any Guaranteed stuff!

poptart · #14 10-23-2006, 07:32 AM

Off to see the 42 tonight at the Symphony hall in Birmingham, where is saw them a couple of years ago with the new (old) line up. The sound at the symphony hall is amazing so I am looking forward to a rematch with the old (new) line up

Baryonyx · #15 10-23-2006, 07:35 AM

Believe me, in my estimation the "proper" line up is the best one. Lydon Connah could play the keys, but no-one can sing like Lindup (or indeed, play the keys like he did).

I don't even miss Allan Holdsworth that much-but how weird is it to think that he was in Level 42?

poptart · #16 10-23-2006, 07:40 AM

Chris

I am not a 42 expert but did Holdsworth play after the original guitarist died? I did not realize that he was "in the band" as such - could you shed some more light on this eg which albums he played on? Thanks

PS - I did see 42 a couple of times in the 80's at the NEC (which is notorious for rubbish sound) and I actually stood behing the mixing desk and still couldn't hear the bass properly

- which is why I am glad that they are playing at smaller "bass friendly" venues

Essexbass · #17 10-23-2006, 07:49 AM

[quote=poptart]Chris

I am not a 42 expert but did Holdsworth play after the original guitarist died? I did not realize that he was "in the band" as such - could you shed some more light on this eg which albums he played on? Thanks

Hiya,
Holdsworth played on some of the tracks on "Guaranteed" which was L42's first album after they split from Polydor (standout track is "If You Were Mine" which bears a typical Holdsworth solo).

Jakko Jaczyk(?) I believe did most of the gigs after Alan Murphy passed away. Dominic Miller (Sting's guitarist) played on some of the tracks on "Staring at the Sun" (& possibly "Guaranteed", but I could be wrong on that one...).

Incidentally, have any of the tracks from "Guaranteed" been played at a L42 gig since the tour behind it? IMO I didn't think it was a good album at the time, but listening to it 10 years later, it's actually grown on me.

Cheers,
Essexbass.

Baryonyx · #18 10-23-2006, 08:08 AM

yeah, Holdsworth played on Guaranteed and layed down some fantasic lines. I just though it odd that he should play with a band like level 42-though I think that he and Gary on the drums really pushed the band in a "fusion" direction on that album, which is awesome!

I really like Guranteed, it's a shame it's been swept under the rug a bit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X2K3zNypTk

That is just something else!

poptart · #19 10-23-2006, 08:48 AM

Thanks for the info guys.

Essexbass · #20 10-23-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2112

yeah, Holdsworth played on Guaranteed and layed down some fantasic lines. I just though it odd that he should play with a band like level 42-though I think that he and Gary on the drums really pushed the band in a "fusion" direction on that album, which is awesome!

I really like Guranteed, it's a shame it's been swept under the rug a bit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X2K3zNypTk

That is just something else!

Great YouTube vid Chris - first time I've ever seen it. Would like to see that show come out on DVD one day.

Cheers,
Essexbass.