Level 42 makes a welcome return to the North East of England whilst performing in front of a packed out crowd at the Sage Gateshead.

With a career spanning almost four decades, Level 42 have sold in excess of 30 million albums and have created an impressive back-catalogue featuring many mega-hits. Tonight the group returns to Tyneside as part of their Eternity UK tour.

Level 42’s last studio album Retroglide was released back in 2006, so without a new album to promote the group’s current tour is very much a retrospective look back on their almost 40-year career.

As the group takes to the stage, they waste no time in breaking into their greatest hits with the anthemic “Running in the Family” opening the show, which in turn sets the tone for the night ahead. The whole room up on their feet from the off.

By the second song in the set, the crowd is already being treated to the formidable bass skills of Mark King with the instrumental piece “Heathrow”. King lights up the stage, quite literally, with his illuminated fretboard and masterful playing all night long.

The band’s original Keyboard player Mike Lindup takes the spotlight during “Starchild”, which has a simply unstoppable groove which is accentuated by a horn section at the rear of the stage. The room illuminated by atmospheric disco lighting from either side of the hall.

The music of Level 42 features many layers and textures which come together seamlessly like a huge wall of sound throughout the course of the evening. This is particularly the case during the likes of the somewhat funky “Good Man In A Storm” and “A Floating Life”.

King slows down the proceedings momentarily with the beautiful ballad “Leaving Me Now”. With Shaun Freeman’s soulful saxophone infusion and the group’s three-part vocal harmonies, it certainly hits the spot. The track concludes with a stirring keyboard solo from Mike Lindup.

A further astounding instrumental piece by way of the jazz-tinged “Mr Pink” truly illustrates why many regard Mark King as one of the greatest bass players on the planet.

As Level 42 heads into the final third of the show, the band wheels out the big guns with the inclusion of their unmistakable Top Ten hit “Something About You” before a frantic airing of “Heaven In My Hands” brings the main set to its explosive conclusion.

A three-song encore featuring timeless classic “Lessons In Love”, results in dancing in the aisles before the band follow suit with their choreographed moves during “Built Myself A Rocket”. Level 42 really rock out during “Hot Water”, which in turn brings an incredible night of music to a close.

Tonight Level 42 delivers a career spanning set that covers all the bases. The audience inside of the Sage Gateshead are nostalgically transported back to 80s and it is most certainly a memorable and enjoyable experience for all.

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Level 42
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Event Date: 16-Oct-2018

About The Author

Adam Kennedy is an experienced music photographer based in northeast England. He has been shooting concerts for several years, predominantly with the band Vintage Trouble. In 2013, he was one of their tour photographers, covering the UK and Ireland tour including the headline shows and as opening act for The Who. As an accomplished concert photographer, Adam's work has been featured in print such as, Classic Rock Blues Magazine, Guitarist Magazine, Blues in Britain magazine, broadcast on the MDA Telethon on ABC Television in the US, used in billboard advertising for Renaissance Hotels in the US, and featured online via music blogs such as Uber Rock and Guitar Planet. He is also the official photographer at Newcastle Rock and Blues Club.