Brighton Magazine - Mark Chadwick Was On Fire For The Faithful Few @ Brighton Homecoming Gig

Selected Brighton Magazine Article

Monday 18 October 2010

Mark Chadwick Was On Fire For The Faithful Few @ Brighton Homecoming Gig

Mark Chadwick took to the stage @ Concorde 2, last night (13th October), with a set bulging with critically acclaimed material from his new album, All The Pieces.

Mark Chadwick @ Concorde 2 Pic By Andy Sturmey

Remaining faithful to the album versions, he was also happy to throw in a few Levellers' gems for good measure.

For some reason – maybe just a sign of the times – punter numbers were sparse. But that seemed to have little effect on Chadwick and his seasoned band.

But he has come a long way since his 16 year-old self was politicised by the reign of Thatcher and sickened by those his own age who raised their fists at each other and punched a divide between themselves.

Mark, meanwhile, sort a different way to live and express himself. He saw music as a unifier and accepted Joe Strummer's call to arms and heeded punk's ethos to 'learn a few chords and form a rock 'n' roll band.'

Having been brought up following his soldier father from one barrack to the next, Mark found a way out of one constrictive bubble and a way into another where the possibilities and personal rewards were seemingly infinite:"Army life is a very contained life. Suddenly there's all this music, all this subculture I knew nothing about. Bam, it blew my head off."

Soon he was settled in Brighton and subsidising dole money with a bit of local busking. From thereon in he one-by-one met the characters who would help him achieve his vision under the banner of the Levellers.

Formed with Jeremy Cunningham and named after a radically democratic faction of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army, Levellers went on to not only leave their mark on the top of the charts & play a historical set at Glastonbury, but also to successfully achieve their vision of heightening awareness of various anti-capitalist and environmental issues..

Now, at the not so tender age of 44, Mark Chadwick has unleashed his debut solo album, All The Pieces. Sounding a tad road weary and emotionally stretched, Mark has opened up and delivered twelve impeccably crafted reasons to believe that all the knock-backs and heartaches that he's seemingly accumulated along the way have benefited his songwriting and worldview into a prism of colour, where once he only saw in black and white.

The Great And The Dead is a classic homage to those who inspired and informed his working life: "I've been lucky enough to meet nearly all of my heroes - Strummer, Neil Young and even Johnny Cash who I worship. These people truly changed my life." He's never sounded better, more heartfelt nor more tender. It would be a standout on a Joe, Neil or Johnny album. A greater compliment I couldn't pay him.

Opener, Elephant Fayre, is catchy and flecked with a psychedelic homage to the way the collective feel at large youth-orintated gatherings. Indeed Elephant Fayre inspired the Levellers to start their own annual festival, Beautiful Days: "I never realised music could bring that many people together."

Title track, All The Pieces, is jaunty, almost sing-a-long, and is built on Mark's rather ominous and somewhat cryptic quote of: "A lot needed breaking, a lot was broken."

Satellite offers the dichotomy of being a large rock on a small planet. A good father, a righteous man and respected performer .. but what's it all worth? Big issues from the pen of a skilled writer.

He's not slow at being self-critical either. Of Say You're Gonna Be My Girl Mark says: "You want to be able to make things as easy and uncomplicated as possible. Because when you meet someone good you should do everything in your power to keep her. I have largely been fucking hopeless as that." Set to a danceable-singathon-of-a-tune, 'Girl is as radio friendly as the album gets.

Closer, Whispers, asserts that 'nothing is written in stone. Mercifully.' Seemingly about death being a relief from life's agonies. Again, All the Pieces, is big, bold and all grown-up. Much like Chadwick himself. Hopefully it will find the audience it deserves, and an equal place in musical history alongside the Strummers, Youngs and even Johnny Cashs. A quiet masterpiece.

Mark Chadwick's All The Pieces is out now via Stay By Records, and a his UK tour continues until 16th October. For more info visit: www.markchadwickofficial.co.uk

by: Mike Cobley

Whats on in Brighton today

Short Stories, Tall Tales: Adventures of an Ugly Ducklling
Thu 12 Sep 11.30am @Ropetackle Arts Centre

Oye Santana
Wed 28 Aug 8pm until Sat 28 Sep @Ropetackle Arts Centre

Swan Song: sing her to me
Sat 13 Jul 12.00 - 17.00 until Sun 22 Sep @Phoenix Art Space

BUFF BINGO BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH
Sat 02 Mar 12:00-16:00 until Sat 05 Oct @Charles Street Tap

BOY TOY BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH BRIGHTON
Sat 24 Feb 12:00-16:00 until Sat 26 Oct @Charles Street Tap

Clue The Looking Glass
Wed 06 Mar Duration: 3.5 hours until Tue 31 Dec @Presuming Ed's

ADD YOUR EVENT

Wed 11 Sep `24

Interview: Michael Palin Will Bring The Fourth Instalment Of His Diaries To Life On Theatre Royal Brighton Stage

Credit John Swannell

Here's an announcement that will delight Michael Palin's legions of fans: “I don't think I'm ever going to stop.”