Pop Levi @ 100 Club, London

Pop Levi at The 100 Club Review

0/5
Bands: Pop Levi
Venue: The 100 Club
Gig: Pop Levi @ 100 Club, London
Gig date: 19th April 2007
Posted on 5th June 2007 by bigcheese

Opening with fantastic, fast-paced single 'Sugar Assault Me Now', Pop Levi cuts a bizarre figure, twitching around the stage with his guitar and decked out in a most fetching stained glass window patterned collarless shirt, bowl haircut and heavy eye makeup. He plays most of this first track - probably his best known tune thanks to the fact it’s on a Mini advert - as an instrumental, only taking up the mic towards the end to roll out a few lines of the infectious lyrics. Even so, it's a great showcase of his unique voice, though effects have been added for the live show. His nervous energy during the heavily guitared, Led Zepplin-esque 'Blue Honey' seems to entice the crowd into an attempt at dancing, with lots of swirling arms. Somehow, it kind of makes sense. The remainder of the set is made up mainly of tracks from debut album 'The Return To Form Black Magick Party', each played with a precision that only comes from hard work and dedication. When the band eventually leave the stage, while most of us are suffering in the heat, the Ray-Ban clad guitarist hasn't even broken a sweat. The crowd's enthusiasm draws Levi and his accomplices back out to play a further three tracks, including the downbeat 70s number 'From The Day That You Were Born' and ending with a rather drawn out version of 'Dollar Bill Rock' - a jumpy, 50s rock and roll ditty. Sadly this proves to be the beginning of the end and he closes with a self indulgent wank of a guitar solo which, although proving him a very capable and talented musician, is completely unnecessary. As are all guitar solos. EVER. Feeling nonetheless fairly elated, we stream out onto Oxford Street. Someone has kindly placed a park bench next to the bus stop, onto which falls a girl from the gig, declaring rather loudly, “I feel like I’ve just had an orgasm.” Pop Levi is doing it for well educated, middle class girls, and he’s doing it well. by Anna Wrecksit

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