Note: This review is long overdue, but for what it's worth, here are my impressions of my 3rd 80s concert of the summer of 2010...
"Is everybody having a good time?" shouted Level 42 bassist and lead vocalist Mark King into the crowd.
"I thought we established that already," quipped a friend, apparently referring to King's intention to get the already energized crowd well, more energized.
The British band Level 42 has garnered a reputation among most Americans based almost exclusively on the top-40 hits of the 1980s, "Something About You" and "Lessons in Love." However, those who turned out on Friday, July 23rd for their 30th anniversary show at Nokia's Times Square Theater were well aware of how much the group has accomplished above and beyond those hits. While no new material was introduced, what was played by the talented jazz and pop group was expertly executed, making for a fun show.
Besides King, the only other band member from the original lineup is Mike Lindup on keyboards and vocals, who actually inspired a few whistles from some very vocal dancing girls in the audience. The band's music inspires the crowd for the expert musicianship it clearly showcases, along with the artful blend of jazz, funk, soul and '80s pop. Level 42 showed they could get equally hot and funky with numbers like "The Sun Goes Down" ("Livin it Up"), and also smooth, tender and wistful, as in songs like "It's Over." There were moments in the show when I felt like I was at the Montreal Jazz Festival, riding the wave of smooth jazz at its pinnacle, and at other moments I felt like I was being lulled to the pop elysium of the band Chicago.
Overall, it was upbeat show and a good time, in an air-conditioned theater with great acoustics and a smattering of folding chairs at the back to anyone too lazy to stand up and dance (and lots of dancers there were, me included!). Other memorable tunes for the evening were "Running in the Family" and "Kansas City Milkman." The show was a bit short (only 90 minutes) but expertly realized. The guys returned for an encore of "Heaven in My Hands" and "The Chinese Way," which did not deliver as much punch as the other material, but it was an encore well received in any case. As King said in his concert-closing statement, "We've got to come back!"
