LEVEL 42 // ROYAL CONCERT HALL, GLASGOW
Level 42 are back on the road. Entitled the ‘Eternity Tour’, 19 dates are scheduled to be played throughout the UK. The tour kicked off in Glasgow, and to a packed Royal Concert Hall.
★★★★★
Support on this tour is by The Blow Monkeys, fronted by Robert Howard alternatively known as Dr Robert. The band were a big deal in the 80s music scene, with hits such as Wildflower, Digging Your Scene, It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way, Out With Her and Wait. Tonight they showed they haven’t lost it, and the hits from back in the day still sound as fresh and melodic as they did all those years ago. The dancers in the crowd certainly seemed to enjoy rolling back the years, as they loosened up for the main act due on stage soon.
Mark King and Level 42 burst onto the stage with their 1987 classic Running In The Family, King’s trademark style of ‘thumb slapping’ his bass guitar still prevalent today. The bass thump with the funky jazz backing music makes the band’s sound immediately recognisable. Being a regular feature in the UK singles chart in the 80s, Level 42 are definitely one of those bands you forget just how many hits they had, and tonight’s set list brought many memories back as the old songs were played with the same enthusiasm as they once were, and the crowd tonight loved hearing them as much as they always have.
The Sun Goes Down, Leaving Me Now, The Chinese Way, The Chant Has Begun, all big hitters in the Level 42 portfolio and they still sound like great tunes today. The UK Music scene may be miles away these days from what it was in the 80s, and the Level 42 line up is much changed too. Sharing the stage tonight with Mark King are Mike Lindup on keyboards, Sean Freeman on Sax, Pete Ray Biggin on drums and Nathan King, younger brother of Mark on guitars and backing vocals. Together they sound as good as Level 42 ever have, and although there hasn’t been much in the way of chart success in the last 10 or 12 years, tonight feels as if they’ve never really been away.
Something About You, Heaven In My Hands, Lessons in Love and a medley of Build Myself A Rocket and Hot Water closed the show. Tremendous stuff.
For people of a certain age, tonight was a trip down memory lane, but what a trip. The Blow Monkeys were excellent and Level 42 still playing at the top of their game. A great nights entertainment had by all.
SETLIST: | LEVEL 42 : ROYAL CONCERT HALL, GLASGOW - 02.10.2018
Running in the Family
The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)
Starchild
Heathrow
The Machine Stops
A Floating Life
Good Man in a Storm
The Chinese Way
Something About You
It’s Over
The Chant Has Begun
Heaven in My Hands
ENCORE:
Lessons in Love
Build Myself a Rocket
Hot Water