otograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 4th 2011.
In the space of five days The Liverpool Academy plays host to three bands that symbolise the desire and want for change that permeates through the news in these austere times. With Liverpool’s own Amsterdam playing on the Saturday and then one of the finest bands to ever step foot on a stage, The Stranglers, on Tuesday, there couldn’t have been a better band to open up this three day mini spectacular than The Levellers.
It has been 20 years since their seminal piece of work Levelling the Land first crashed through the recognised order and establishment window and seeing as Liverpool is one of the most receptive cities to the band, with their musical style and sharp contained lyrics striking a chord with the audiences in the city, it was apt to kick of their latest tour at the Academy.
With an audience seemingly ready to explode at the first note and having been warmed up beyond the call of duty by The Wonderstuff, The Levellers came on stage to great applause and a crowd already crying out for a night to remember. The guys opened up the night with the first track from that album One Way and from that point there was no let up in the bands approach to the evening.
The Liverpool audience were treated to the album in its entirety, with a couple of extra tracks thrown in for good measure; these included the sensational The Boatman, The apt Sell Out, and the courageous and inspiring Battle of the Beanfield. With fusion of classic rock and English Folk, the band have carved a major niche in their style which many have tried to emulate but none have quite matched.
The band powered through an amazing set and it was with great disappointment when the evening finally came to an end but not before they played a track off the last studio album Letters from the Underground, the bouncy and impressive The Cholera Well.
If this gig was anything to go by then the lovers of pure identifiable music will have a lot to smile about over the next few days.
Ian D. Hall