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Local Leeds crew Mishkin are the ones who kick off the main part of the
proceedings tonight. With a sound reminiscent at times of System of a Down
and ironically, Skindred (in their heavier moments), their avant-garde
mixture of metal, funk and even a touch of jazz should be enough to take
them further in the near future.
Next up are Londoners Forever Never. Suitably dressed in wizard's
costumes for Halloween, they are warmly received by an ever-growing crowd. With some decent riffs and a singer very capable of knocking out a decent
melodic chorus or two, they go down pretty well. However, being sandwiched
in between two bands as musically diverse as Mishkin and Skindred, their
overall impact seems somewhat limited tonight.
So to headliners Skindred who, tonight, manage to further cement their
reputation as one of the best live bands in the UK right now. With an
award for best costume of the night, frontman Benji Webbe is on top form
from the word go, constantly moving around the stage like a blur, with a
commanding presence that resonates with the now standing-room only crowd.
From opener 'Roots Rock Riot' right until 'Nobody', Skindred never let up
and the rest of the band match Benji's enthusiasm and drive all the way
through, not to mention playing as tightly as an emo's waistband with 'Ratrace'
and 'Pressure' being particular highlights of the evening.
After tonight though, and whenever you see Skindred, one thing is always
clear - you leave the gig knowing it was damn good but it's not just the
quality of the songs, it's something else as well and that something else
is honesty. Skindred have never been a band who are 'in it for the money',
they do this because they love it and that feeling literally jumps off the
stage at you. Give me an honest, hard working and down to earth band like Skindred any day over so many that seem to be more obsessed with their
haircuts and their tight jeans than the quality of their performance.
Setlist included: Roots
Rock Riot, Babylon, Ratrace, Selector, Rude Boy For Life, Pressure,
Trouble, Destroy The Dancefloor, Bruises, Nobody.
Review by: Adam G
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