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Review |
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Back at the Guildhall in Southampton for quite a
treat, nearly twenty years after the Levellers started
out. Unfortunately, going on previous experience,
the Guildhall isn't the best for sound quality,
but I was excited regardless.
Walking into the main room as Frank Turner was
on stage, the room was packed from wall to wall
with die hard fans, and generally an older bunch.
Turner, on stage, was playing "Substitute,"
one of a handful to come off of the latest album
Love Ire & Song, including the title track,
and "God Save The Queen," commenting
on the proceeds much better going to Breast Cancer
Research than his beer fund. Appearing without
his band, his voice was almost lost within the
vast hall, and he tried to play a stomp-box through
"Worse Things Happen At Sea," among
others. A handful of fists were waving in the
air during fan-favourites such as "The Real
Damage" and his closing number "The
Ballad of Me and My Friends," but the atmosphere
was weak at best and nothing compared to his headlining
shows. Never the less, Turner played well and
was a nice start to the evening. An evening which,
was about to get rather surreal.
Divokej Bill were next to come on stage, and in
comparison to Turner's solo appearance, they filled
the stage with eight band members. Being from
the Czech Republic, their strong accents were
uncomprehendable in such a room as the Guildhall,
and the lyrics themselves were sung in Czech.
However, despite the language barrier and up to
five vocalists singing at once, everyone was enjoying
themselves. The music was really good fun, and
well-written; the songs were catchy and spirits
were high. Fairly similar in terms of the Levellers
sound with less of the punk feel, and a bit more
of the "lads" feel. Very good indeed!
Finally, Levellers arrived to see the night out.
"Sunday hey? Well punk rock can still happen
on Sundays."
From the opening track to the final bow, the tempo
was high and I can safely say everybody would
have had a little jig at some point. Obvious classics
like "Beautiful Day" were omitted from
the set list, disappointing yet understandable;
however certain songs did spark up great cheers
from the audience. The set featured around twenty
songs, including a smattering from the latest
album. Some of my personal favourites, "Behold
A Pale Rider" and "Cholera Well"
were performed, as well as the single "Life
Less Ordinary." Having missed a high percentage
of the Leveller's career, much of the set was
unclear and sounded very similar. But the die-hard
fans knew every word and were loving every minute;
including an older gentleman in the seating area
who was going just about as crazy as the restrictions
of the seat would allow, while his wife sat contently
at his side.
A digeridoo player joined the band on stage, with
fluorescent pink hair, facepaint, and feather
boa. I'm going to be perfectly honest, I have
no idea what that's all about. Baffling.
Haunting strings backed the anti-Bush cries, which
was all set against chain-link-print backdrop,
as the Levellers maintain their punk morals.
Some might argue the Levellers are past it, and
I'd disagree. Yes, granted, they're not the young
men they used to be. But just because they can't
run around stage like maniacs, or be so visibly
passionate, certainly doesn't mean they don't
play extremely well, and continue to write great
songs. They're not dead yet.
Frank Turner- 4/5
Divokej Bill - 4/5
Levellers - 4/5
Review By Thom |
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| The
Levellers |
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| Frank
Turner |
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| Band
Related Links |
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| Review
Score Code |
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- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
-
What Was That? |
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