It’s Friday, the last day of a looong hot working week. It is 7:30pm and Electric Soft Parade are here. No one else is here yet mind, not even us. Perhaps the majority of thirsty Levellers fans prefer the sun and the fairly-priced pub next door than being indoors paying more for booze. It’s hard to be sure, but likely.
McDermott’s Two Hours get a better turn out. They become a little draining after a while with constant tales of drinking and boat journeys, like that guy at the party that won’t shut up. But the stories are bearable and a good dose of stage banter, although partially obscured by a heavy accent, does create a friendly vibe. When we hear the familiar strings of a huge fiddle coming towards us from the distance we know that either there’s a giant outside jamming on a violin, or the Levellers are about to come on stage.
In the end it’s not Goliath playing a ditty. It is in fact the main act, Brighton’s own folk rockers the Levellers. They arrive quickly and begin with ‘England My Home’ although ‘Brighton My Home’ feels more appropriate tonight. The face of the band is shared between the three charismatic gents on guitars. Visually the most recognisable is Jeremy Cunningham on bass with his long, chunky, red dreadlocks. He is keen to show them off, spending a noticeable amount of time with his backed turned. Simon Friend is a longhaired, bandana-wearing, string-playing god. We believe he was a banjo in a past life.
However this is not a band defined by image. It’s not about the looks, it’s about the great songs. Levellers have classics and you better believe they aren’t afraid to use them. Second song ‘What A Beautiful Day’ isn’t much expected, what with its credentials as a song, especially now that it is associated with the band’s Beautiful Days festival. But they can do that now; they are the local band that really made it.
Their distinctive style is affirmed primarily by frontman Mark Chadwick’s vocals as well as the sound of the fiddle. Mark appears to be growing guitars backstage; we see around seven or eight of his crops throughout the evening. Fiddler Jonathan Sevink boosts and defines the folk element of the music. He deserves respect for his crazy footwork alone but a killer fiddle solo later in the set raises him to legend status. Mr Matt Savage needs a mention for his skills playing keyboard, percussion, guitar and singing. Bet you can’t do it all at the same time you flash bugger.
As the hits and favourites come flying it takes Mark no effort to get the crowd clapping, singing along and doing whatever he wants. The highlight of the spectacle is didgeridoo player Stephen Boakes. Dressed as a glow in the dark voodoo spirit, he performs the large hollow stick on ‘This Garden’ and ‘One Way’. The latter is our loudest group effort and wins best live track tonight. The encore, featuring support act McDermott’s Two Hours, turns into a nine man folk frenzy leaving the show on a high.
Levellers demonstrate the skill and professionalism we expect to see from an experienced band, especially on home turf. The gig feels like a living thing that is born and dies, all in one night, and we get to feel all the emotion in between. It’s fun and real at the same time, we feel more than connected. They bring the mood up and down with their choice of songs, levelling the land in a sense. The guys are true pioneers of folk rock as it is now. Levellers’ music delivers a feeling more than a message. From what we saw tonight, this feeling is happiness.
Dome, Friday 19th July 2013
Words by John McLean
Photos by Mike Tudor @ Studio85UK
