Gig review: The Smyths at The Level

The Smyths’ driving force comes in the form of frontman Graham Sampson, who would appear to have a spiritual link with Morrissey himself, such is the passion that he displays whenever The Smyths play. Radio presenter Jeremy Vine has waxed lyrical about the band on more than one occasion, and is quoted as saying that “Calling them a tribute act is an insult, I closed my eyes and thought it was 1985". 

Further praise has been forthcoming from Stephen Street, The Smith’s producer and Morrissey’s co writer who has vouched that The Smyths “were a most excellent tribute to The Smith’s music and legacy".

This gig formed part of the Meat Is Murder 40 tour celebrating the anniversary of this seminal album’s release in 1985. The first part of the performance featured the album played in its entirety, followed by a selection of The Smiths’ most famous hits. The Smyths are no strangers to Nottingham having played Rescue Rooms many times, their first gig being back in 2009, and so the band were really excited to be able play to a bigger venue in the city.

I spoke to Graham before the gig, and he was really interested to see a copy of LeftLion that I had brought along, which featured an ad for tonight’s gig. Graham described how he regarded The Smyths as more than a tribute by describing the band as a “legacy band,” having that tangible link to The Smiths keeping their music alive. He went on to explain that idea by stating that many younger people who weren’t around when The Smiths were going, are getting turned on to their music now, in the much same way that younger people are now “discovering” The Beatles, too. 

While many tributes have enough on their plates gigging as their chosen acolytes, Graham also has another string to his bow heading a London-based five-piece called Broken Horses. Graham’s eyes lit up as he told me of the band he’d put together to realise his love of bands like The Cocteau Twins, The Cure and of course The Smiths. Broken Horses have been making waves on the London music scene with a recent EP release and a couple of singles released at the back end of this summer to favourable reviews.

There really couldn’t have been a better support for The Smyths than the remarkable Keeley, a three piece band fronted by charismatic Dubliner Keeley Moss. The band, which also boasts former Morrissey drummer Andrew Paresi and bassist Lukey Foxtrot, have gone from strength to strength of late, supporting acts including Echobelly and Terrorvision. Keeley says that her music is influenced by The Smiths and The Cocteau Twins among others, and it certainly shows, with her innovative guitar work which is overlaid with her own personal stamp, with Indie themed beats incorporated into spacey and ethereal synth-derived soundscapes.

Keeley warmed up the crowd suitably with a 45-minute set comprising all her own penned compositions. Lukey’s fervent bass playing and Andrew’s solid drumming skills complemented Keeley’s animated guitar work, which had a definite Indie vibe to it. Furthermore, Keeley’s vocals had real fire in them, which reminded me of Sinéad O’ Connor in its delivery. I particular liked the last song they played, Trans Europe ‘81, which definitely nodded towards Kraftwerk with its themes of movement and travel, the synth sounds being augmented with the jangly guitar to great effect. Other songs played further underlined this theme, particularly Inga Hauser, a true story about a girl who disappeared while travelling from Germany to Northern Ireland.

I chatted to the band backstage after their set, where they said that they were excited to be in Nottingham for the first time. Lukey liked the idea of Robin Hood, as earlier during Keeley’s set he had suggested that we need a few more people like him to alleviate the inequalities in today’s society. These days Keeley lives in Bristol, another city like Nottingham which has a tangible energy about it along with a vibrant music scene. The band will be supporting The Primitives at The Flowerpot in Derby on Thursday, 20th November.

Excitement was rising noticeably now, as The Level was getting crowded with more people arriving to see the headliners. Downstairs people were queuing for the bar, with more people taking up pole position at the front and on the balcony above, with a building buzz of anticipation circulating around.

Bang on schedule, the band arrived on stage, with the band taking up their positions before Graham’s entrance; Simon on bass, Andy on guitar, and Tom on drums. Then Graham arrived, bounding onto the stage getting the show moving in dramatic style to huge cheers as the band struck up with Meat Is Murder. Graham had Morrissey’s movements down to a tee which almost suggested some sort of subconscious linking, but in truth probably just reflected his passion for the great man’s music, but then again, who knows such is the band’s commitment to their art. For example Andy had previously explained to me how he had worked hard to replicate the sound of Johnny Marr’s guitar with a combination of application and the use of effects, and for sure tonight’s performance was confirmation of that.

I thought of Jeremy Vine’s words quoted earlier, while stood on the balcony with my eyes closed imagining I was 40 years younger listening to The Smiths back in 1985, and the image was complete and real in the moment; I dare say that a few others there tonight were experiencing a similar epiphany to my own.

This was a first class performance by all, Tom’s relentless drumming driving the seemingly unstoppable show along, supported by Simon’s thumping bass and Andy’s guitar capturing the legendary sound of Johnny Marr perfectly. Graham held the crowd spellbound throughout, with a perceptible interchange of energy from singer to crowd and vice versa. People were dancing in any available space, either at the front of the stage, at the side of the stage or elsewhere such was the joy that hearing The Smith’s music was conveying to them.

After tracks from Meat Is Murder had been played, the band played a selection of The Smith’s best loved tunes starting with the ever popular Panic, which went down an absolute storm with everybody, as did There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, This Charming Man and Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now. After a rousing rendition of Big Mouth Strikes Again, the band left the stage, but of course, after much cheering the band came back to play the inevitable encore ending the evening in spectacular style with That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore and How Soon Is Now?

Graham thanked everyone for coming and announced they’d be back touring again next year with The Queen Is Dead tour, where, as tonight, they’d feature the whole album. You can rest assured that if the band grace The Level on that tour that it’ll be every bit as spectacular as tonight’s performance.

The Smyths performed at The Level on 7th November 2025. Photos below by Lisa Woolley.