I wrote one of these
things a while back (here
and here),
complaining (like I do) about the lack of suitable headliners for
rock festivals. All of the 'big' bands, capable of drawing a big
crowd are getting old and surely soon to retire (Sabbath are bowing
out next year, Metallica are already complaining about their health).
This is no good and rock, as a genre, needs new heroes. Six studio
albums in and Skindred are staking their claim. They're already big,
but that these guys aren't huge
is a national travesty.
I'd seen them once
before and so good were they that my personal heroes, Therapy?,
weren't the best band to play that night. So much so that I made
this the latest in a long line of weird gigs I've brought my wife
along to. Given that she endured the likes of Every Time I Die and
Vista Chino and still married me says something about her resolve, I
think... Skindred, however, I had promised were nothing but fun. No
screamed vocals, no complicated time signatures and breakdowns, and
no stoner rock wig-outs. Just fun. And fun is exactly what they
delivered.
We walk in following
some cultured pub conversation in one of Newcastle's finest
establishments, The Bodega, to find Crossfaith well into their set
and the floor of the academy in a somewhat chaotic state. A Japanese
crossover band, Crossfaith had eluded my attention until now.
Probably because whenever I saw them I was convinced that they were
more interested in cool haircuts than doing anything musially
interesting, but it serves me right for judging a book by the haircut
on the cover. While I still don't think I'd rush out and buy their
records, they are an alarmingly intense live act. Fusing heavy
guitars with dance and synths is hardly new (elements of
Pitchshifter, The Prodigy, Die Krupps), but the sheer energy that
goes into tonight's show is infectious. Ending their set with
'Wildfire', for which they are joined by Benji from Skindred, and a
cover of The Prodigy's 'Omen', the crowd are eating out of their
collective hand and the headliners suddenly have a job to do.
AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck'
blasts over the PA and the lightshow starts. This then segues into
'Imperial March' for the band to walk on. Singer Benji Webbe is a
natural showman; sporting a red sequinned jacket and sunglasses he
epitomises the band's energy, positivity and confidence. He has a
hell of a voice, too. Equal parts Freddie Mercury's flamboyance and
Bruce Dickinson's boundless enthusiasm, there are few frontmen about
these days that can match him.
The don't get off to
the best of starts and I'm immediately worried that I've invited my
wife to witness a damp squib. Opening with recent single 'Under
Attack', it's apparent that the Academy's legendary sound system is
up to its usual tricks and they sound kind of tinny and light on
bass. The song itself also fails to ignite somewhat, perhaps a
little bit too new to get the crowd on side. This is all rectified
within the next two numbers, 'Roots Rock Riot' and 'Stand For
Something', punctuated by some hilarious banter from Webbe (including
the priceless line “Stop fucking smiling, you cunt!” delivered to
an audience member). From that point on, they sound massive and the
crowd has well and truly warmed to them.
Musically, Skindred
meld together a few different styles, borrowing from reggae, ragga
and hip hop but usually their songs are built around a huge, bouncy
riff. On record, I can sometimes find this a little repetitive
however the formula makes them an ideal live band, with songs
designed to make you dance, bounce and headbang, often all at the
same time. It's hard not to get involved, even if you're bordering
on “too old for this shit” as I very nearly am. Personal
highlights were the brilliant 'Doom Riff', whose soaring chorus,
'woah-oh' singalongs and, well, doom riff are the stuff of genius, as
well as new tune 'Volume', which sounds immense.
Set-wise, they play a
good chunk of songs from their new album Volume, a
surprising number from Roots Rock Riot
and only 2 tracks from 2011's brilliant Union Black
record. Obligatory early singles 'Pressure' and 'Nobody' are belted
out, the latter bringing the main set to a close. They return with
help from the support acts to close with a frantic 'Warning'.
Benji's inter-song banter is great; universally positive,
funny and appreciative. The admission that he and drummer Arya
Goggin were missing Downton Abbey to play for us had me in
stitches. It's this kind of charisma that should be propelling them
to the upper echelons of the rock scene. It's the kind of positive
message that needs to be heard, without the band being overtly
political and po-faced about it; if they declare world peace
tomorrow, this should be the band they book for the party.
So why aren't Skindred
huge? They're certainly big, probably on par with the likes of
Bullet For My Valentine or at least Twin Atlantic, but nowhere near
as popular as the likes of Bring Me The Horizon or Biffy Clyro. And
why is that? They're a peerless live band and a lot more fun than any
of the others I've just mentioned. Sadly it may be that too many
people in the metal scene are purists and just won't accept the
stylistic mix. If that's the case then guys, please, get over
yourselves. This is the next big band to fill out a festival;
Benji is destined to be stood there, probably wearing a top hat and
jodhpurs, demanding 'Scream for me, Donnington!” We just need to
buy their records and make it happen. Go on then, what are you
waiting for?
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