Experiencing Jackie Leven (Rock Review: Jackie Leven)

Doug Anderson, an English fan, accompanied Leven through Germany for two weeks in October 2001 as merchandiser – he got the job through a call in an email group. His report for the Classic Rock Society's magazine (January 2002, “slightly altered” as a web version) first describes the daily routine of the tour: short drives anticlockwise around the country, late soundchecks, often poorly prepared equipment, up to seven hours of work per evening. At the merchandise stand the Haunted Valley CD Deep in the Heart of Nowhere sold best, because the audience mostly already owned the new studio album.

The second part describes the concert: Leven and Michael Cosgrave opened with “Call Mother a Lonely Field”, after which the programme varied according to mood; fixtures were “Billy Ate My Pocket”, “Jim O'Windygates” (introduced with memories of Leven's work in the Haig whisky factory) and a train story of up to ten minutes. There were no encores (“Jackie doesn't believe in them”). Shows lasted almost two hours. Anderson compares Leven to a mixture of Billy Connolly and a bass-baritone Bob Dylan. Also included are a complete setlist and the December 2001 dates. Enthusiastic fan tone.