Three views of Mark Chadwick

Three views of Mark Chadwick

Mark Chadwick, Exeter Phoenix, Wednesday 6th October

View one By Paul Giblin

Levellers’ frontman Mark Chadwick released his debut solo album as a singer-songwriter All The Pieces this autumn and his national tour included a date at Exeter Phoenix.

Like the album it was promoting, this gig showcased the sensitive, often unheard, side of Mark’s musical outpourings and proved to be a significant departure from the fiddle-dominated jump-up-and-down Levellers shows fans have become accustomed to, even when the band plays unplugged.

Instead, we were treated to charming, often introspective, songs about his forty-five years on the planet. Delivered in a gentle vocal style with a backing band who tended more towards folk-jazz than folk-rock, with some lovely acoustic bass adding warmth to the overall ambience. At one point the band left the stage to let Mark pour out more from his heart on his own and it was great to hear songs which addressed the audience in first-person rather than trying to rabble-rouse with a big chorus.

Mark’s album has been well-received by the critics and this tour should please anyone who likes well-crafted, heartfelt songs performed by some great musicians who are more interested in creating the right atmosphere than belting out riffs or reels.

View two By Scott Williams

Dan Donnelly has really been practising both his guitar work and his looped sampling to deliver a faultless showcase of old favourites, and songs from his new album, which he was selling minutes before from behind the merchandise stand.

His sets done he returns to the stage with Levellers’ frontman Mark Chadwick to perform tracks from Chadwick’s debut (after all this time!) solo album All The Pieces.

Starting with album opener Elephant Fayre, mark is clearly nervous performing live for the first time.

The band’s core is Sean Lakeman (the album’s producer and brother of Seth), and bassist Ben Nicholls from the Seth Lakeman band, they soon find their flow to deliver music which drifts from folk to acoustic rock effortlessly.

By the time the band deliver Satellite and Say You’re Gonna Be My Girl they’re in full flow, and the crowd have warmed to them. Indians proves to be a highlight as does Mark’s later slide guitar work.

It is weird to hear the voice of the Levs singing songs that don’t have the same arrangements or sound, or even shape of Marks’s other band, and his re-working of the few rare Levellers’ numbers like Maid of the River, Galahad, along with Drinking for England and Just The One were the gems of the night.

I hear this tour is the only chance you’ll get to see Mark Chawick solo, so take the opportunity whilst you can; it makes for an enthralling evening.
 
View three By Frances Johnstone

I really enjoyed the gig. Dan, as support act and in Mark’s band, was on good form. Emergency Brake and Diamonds in the Road sounded great, as well as his new single Running, and one of my favourites, This Song.

Mark said he was nervous as it was the first gig of the tour, but he and the band were terrific.

I love the new album All The Pieces and they started the show with the title track – very catchy.

The lighting was great and the band were superb.

They ended with Just The One, which the audience loved. I wish they were on again tonight… I would definitely be there.