The Levellers, Manchester Academy, 26th November 2021

The Levellers were always a slightly odd prospect. Never really darlings of any scene, but always loved. They felt slightly out of kilter with their peers didn’t they. So a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of their Levelling The Land album might feel like a reach, but lots of older bands do these tours now. I watched The Jesus and Mary Chain do Darklands a few nights ago and that was fantastic. I think it’s time we stopped turning our snobby muso noses up at perceived cash-in tours and respect the opportunity to hear these songs again, properly collected together live for the first time. Levelling The Land really is worthy of celebration. From those opening bars of One Way, The Academy is rocking. This is a flawless album and to hear it played in full is a real treat. Every song brings a full singalong, that’s even louder on the quieter songs like The Boatman. Liberty Song sounds utterly sublime, although played live it seems to have gained a bit of pace and I struggle to keep up. It’s sold out. Absolutely packed and this can be good and bad. If you’re down the front great, near the back not so much, but they put on a show and sound as tight as these songs did decades ago. Live they’ve got two speeds. Banging folk songs or strap in we’re about to go fucking bonkers folks songs. It all sounds a lot faster and heavier than on record. It’s fun though and you don’t want a carbon copy, but they rattle through it so fast I’m left reeling as it draws to a close. “Now what” says Mark Chadwick as Battle of the Beanfield rings out. Indeed. Anything following will struggle to be honest. We get Hope Street in the mini set that follows, but not much else I’m interested in. I’ve been here before. The Lemonheads doing It’s a Shame about Ray was great until the album was done, then fell apart and this is exactly the same. I don’t think I’m the only one thinking this as the toilets and bar outside are chocker. In fairness, there’ll be some die hard fans lapping it up, but I’m sorry that’s not me. It’s not a bad gig and certainly worth the admission for Levelling The Land alone, but definitely one of two halves and the second I could take or leave.