WORDS AND IMAGES BY DESH KAPUR
Tonight, I was on the North Wales coast at Venue Cymru for a night of 80’s nostalgia from the purveyors of pop-funk courtesy of the legendary Isle Of White lads Level 42.
Level 42 was formed on the Isle of Wight in 1979. They had a number of UK and worldwide hits during the 1980s and 1990s.
Their highest-charting single in the UK was “Lessons in Love”, which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, and number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, upon its release in 1986. An earlier single, “Something About You”, was their most successful chart-wise in the United States, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
After much success as a live and studio band in the 1980s, Level 42’s commercial profile diminished during the early 1990s following a series of personnel changes and musical shifts. Disbanding in 1994, the band reformed in 2001.
Tonight’s evening proceedings were to be kicked off by famous beehive-wearing Mari Wilson, minus the beehive these days. Mari entered the stage resplendent in a sparkling black suit to raptures of applause. Most people would remember Marie for her top ten single “Just What I Always Wanted” and equally famous 60’s beehive hairdo and even though to most people Marie’s star was sort and bright that is not the case, even though chart success alluded the jazz soul singer she has forged a career as a very successful Jazz and Soul singer. If tonight’s show was anything to go by, she has not lost any of her vocal prowess regaling the theatre with a set of beautifully presented jazz and soul classics
After a short intermission, it was time for Level 42, with only 2 original members Mark King – bass, vocals, percussion, Mike Lindup – keyboards, synthesisers, piano, vocals, Nathan King – guitar, backing vocals, joined in 2001 with Sean “Skip” Freeman – saxophone, backing vocals joining in 2001, Pete Ray Biggin – drums, percussion joined in 2013, Dan Carpenter – trumpet, backing vocals, percussion and Nichol Thomson – trombone, backing vocals, percussion both joined in 2013,
The band launched straight into “To Be With You Again” and all of sudden the seated venue was full of standing fans and people dancing in the aisles.
Tonight, was very much a walk-through past glory, the band were tight and funky as can be, I think Mark King might be the King of slap bass. It was pop it was funk and for a reviewer, who is not really into funk it was superbly entertaining. “Running In the Family” brought the house down as you would expect, but the venue was full of lifelong fans and to be honest, every song was greeted with love and joy. Keyboardist Mike Lindup was in superb voice all night.
A three-song encore including the classic “Lessons in Love”, brought a fantastic night of Jazz infused pop-funk to end to almost deafening applause.
SET LIST
1/ To Be With You Again
2/ Running In The Family
3/ Mr Pink
4/ The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)
5/ Children Say
6/ The Sunbed Song
7/ Love Games
8/ Heaven In My Hands
9/ A Floating Life
10/ Leaving Me Now
11/ World Machine
12/ Starchild
13/ Something About You
14/ Lesson In Love
15/ Hot Water
FOLLOW LEVEL 42
FOLLOW MARI WILSON
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
