Level 42 at the Royal Albert Hall 22/10/25 - anyone else there?

[franzbassist]

Don't get me wrong with this post, as I have enjoyed (without ever really being an ardent fan) Level's music for many years, but last night's gig left me underwhelmed for a few reasons:

 

i) Mark's vocal was weak.  I know he's never been the greatest vocalist, and how he even pulls it off playing some of the lines he does is beyond me, but last night there was no power there at all.  Is age catching up with him, as it does with so many singers, or has he just got a cold perhaps?

ii) Unlike Level gigs I've been to before there was virtually no chat.  They played almost all of World Machine with perhaps a dozen words said in total.  A total contrast to the support act Andrew Roachford, who was really engaging and gave good value.

iii) The lighting was very poor.  Half the time the band, all dressed in black as well, were hardly visible!  Also, why have a projected backdrop and only use it twice?  Surely something better could have been put together.

 

Honestly, the whole thing felt it was done on a pretty small budget.  I don't have an issue with that per se, as I know they aren't the scale of band they once were, but I came away really disappointed. I've seen Level four times before last night and they were way better.  I'm posting this not to bash the band but more out of concern, hence why I'd like to hear other opinions in case I am way off the mark?

Edited 5 hours ago by franzbassist

[Count Bassy]

As far as I'm aware the Albert Hall only has 5 levels.

[franzbassist]

1 minute ago, Count Bassy said:

As far as I'm aware the Albert Hall only has 5 levels.

STOP IT 🤣

[Paul S]

I was there.  I am a L42 fan and have seen them more than any other band.  Not because I am a huge fan of slap bass but I believe Mark King to be the most accomplished and complete bass player I have ever seen - his finger style playing is remarkable.  I especially enjoy the early jazz funk stuff immensely.  Not so much the pop phase.  Anyhoo, I missed the earliest years but, since the mid-80s, I've seen them probably 2 or 3 times per tour whenever they tour.  Which, in recent years, has been every other year for a big tour with, usually, a London gig in the non-touring year.  So I've seen them probably dozens of times over the past few years, including locally at the Cliff's Pavillion in Southend (well, Westcliff, really) just last week on this tour.

 

I. Mark's vocals.  I don't kow when you saw them last but I would say, overall, his voice is much improved over how it was 2 or 3 years ago.  He lost a lot of weight and his voice improved (as a result?  Fitter?).  But for sure the ballads were poor last night, compared to last week.  If you last saw him 10 years ago, for example, then I would agree it is not as good as it was but it has since got worse and then better!    As an aside, Mike Lindup's voice has improved tremendously in the past couple of years.  TBF it needed too - always rather thin and weedy, it seems a lot more like the 'old days' and he can more ably carry the songs he sings main vocal on.  I believe he is doing a lot of solo stuff at the moment so maybe using it more.

 

II. Again, no chat is how it has been the past couple of years, especially when doing 'album anniversery tours' like this.  They just play the album then the hits.  Roachford, imo, spolit the entire set by not shutting up.  I don't see it as adding value at all, I just find it irritating.  Then again, he has just the one decent tune so has to pad it out.  And why go through all the false endings/audience joing in etc then carry on (over time) and finish on a weak tune no-one has heard before?  Mystifying.  Anyhoo, I digress.  

 

III.  Agree regarding the lighting,  which did seem pared down for this tour compared to previous years, for sure.  A reasonably complex light show was always a part of the gig but not this time.  The back projection didn't seem to get used as much last night as it was last week, can't imagine why.

 

Personally, overall I find the band as good as they ever have been.  The brass section adds value and Nathan is a great fit, busy filling the sound and vocals.  Phil Gould left big shoes to fill but Pete Ray Biggin just blows my mind.   Perhaps the Sirens tour was their peak but I still enjoy them.

 

Big negative for me - I thought it a shame that Mark King has started to introduce more showboat slap bass stuff again.  There was a period of some years when he didn't do that but, on this tour, it seems to have crept in again.  No need - it aint the 1980s any more.

 

Just goes to show how two people can see the same show and leave with different feelings about it.

[Merton]

Did anyone see Marlee King opening the show?

My mate was playing drums; he also happens to be dtum

and monitor tech for L42 of course 😁

[franzbassist]

That’s a great reply, thanks.  Reassuring too.  Yes I last saw them about 10 years ago, so that would explain a lot re. the vocal change. And yes, Mike’s vocals are so much better than they used to be.  That was a pleasant surprise.

 

Agree re. Nathan, PRB (a machine!) and the brass.  All good on that front.

 

Roachford:  Also good points, I guess I was highlighting the difference more than anything.  If MK had nattered as much over the course of the Level 42 set they’d have had to drop a couple of tunes! 🤣

 

 

 

 

 

[franzbassist]

10 minutes ago, Merton said:

Did anyone see Marlee King opening the show?

My mate was playing drums; he also happens to be dtum

and monitor tech for L42 of course 😁

Yes.  She doesn’t lack confidence!  Drummer was very good.

[White Cloud]

1 hour ago, franzbassist said:

Don't get me wrong with this post, as I have enjoyed (without ever really being an ardent fan) Level's music for many years, but last night's gig left me underwhelmed for a few reasons:

 

i) Mark's vocal was weak.  I know he's never been the greatest vocalist, and how he even pulls it off playing some of the lines he does is beyond me, but last night there was no power there at all.  Is age catching up with him, as it does with so many singers, or has he just got a cold perhaps?

ii) Unlike Level gigs I've been to before there was virtually no chat.  They played almost all of World Machine with perhaps a dozen words said in total.  A total contrast to the support act Andrew Roachford, who was really engaging and gave good value.

iii) The lighting was very poor.  Half the time the band, all dressed in black as well, were hardly visible!  Also, why have a projected backdrop and only use it twice?  Surely something better could have been put together.

 

Honestly, the whole thing felt it was done on a pretty small budget.  I don't have an issue with that per se, as I know they aren't the scale of band they once were, but I came away really disappointed. I've seen Level four times before last night and they were way better.  I'm posting this not to bash the band but more out of concern, hence why I'd like to hear other opinions in case I am way off the mark?

This mirrors my own experience exactly earlier in the tour at Glasgow. Word for word. 

[Norris]

I saw them a couple of weeks ago on the current tour in Leicester and thought they were excellent. Maybe it was just an off night or a bit of fatigue creeping in? They are not spring chickens any more.