Level 42 in concert. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 8th 2010.

For thirty years now Level 42 have been thrilling their fans and delivering a style of music rarely heard in this country and even rarer played with the charm and sophistication that any self respecting music fan would kill to hear.

Back in the 1980’s Level 42 were amongst the top rated bands in the country, with their easy style and pleasing lyrics, they were hailed as media darlings. Mark King certainly broke the mould with his particular way of playing the bass and with Mike Lindup on keyboards and adding his own personal voice on a lot of the group’s tracks; they seemed set to be one of the country’s big musical exports.

Despite a brief break in the later part of the 90’s the band continued on and despite original members Philip and Boon Gould leaving the group, still get an audience, young and old, up and dancing from the very first beat.

Coming on to wild applause from a seemingly packed out Philharmonic, the boys opened a night of nostalgic memories and much loved melodies with Hot Water and World Machine before picking up the pace with the fantastic Running in the Family.

There will always be a side to the band’s music making that will appeal to the ballad lover in us all and with Level 42; theirs is the wonderful It’s over, whose slow beauty of the melody belies the sentiment within the lyrics.

Mark King was on fine form as he grinned and joked in parts, playing with the audience deftly and even taking time out to mention L.I.P.A and a fan’s daughter. It is those little touches that make an evening for some people and there are so few bands that even bother.

The band brought the evening to a perfect close with songs that included the hit that gave the band the recognition they fully deserved, Something About You and Lessons in Love.

The band provided a couple of hours of escapism that will not be forgotten for a very long time.

Ian D. Hall