Rocking the House: Skindred’s Killer show at Nottingham Rock City. Gig Review
This year has been one helluva wild ride for Skindred. Their latest album, “Smile,” didn’t just make waves; it drop-kicked its way into our hearts and set up camp in the music scene’s VIP lounge. We’re talking about an album that shot up to number two on the mainstream album charts and snatched the number one spot on the Rock charts like it was the last piece of pizza at a house party. In my humble opinion, “Smile” is one of their best albums so far.
Skindred’s music is like a musical kaleidoscope on steroids, a mashup of genres that collide in a way that’s so mesmerizing. They’ve got everything in their sound salad, from reggae to metal, rock to pop, and dub to electro. It’s like they went shopping in every aisle of the music store and decided to take it all home.
Now, we all know Skindred knows how to throw a party on stage. Their recent chart-topping escapades and the online buzz they’ve been causing have cranked the anticipation up to eleven. The scene at Nottingham Rock City was so electric you could’ve charged your phone by plugging it into the air.
I have a confession to make; I kinda stumbled into the Skindred party fashionably late. It was only a couple of years ago, at Download Festival, that I first crossed paths with this extraordinary band. It was a bit of a serendipitous encounter – we were interviewing Ayron Jones, and bam, there’s Benji from Skindred! .
Now, for me, the top two live bands out there are The Struts and the Interrupters. But tonight, Skindred just barged into the party and knocked those two off the podium faster than you can say “rock ‘n’ roll.” The crowd participation was off the charts from the first chord to the last, and it felt like we were in a mosh pit of pure, unadulterated joy.
Ever since their formation in 2021 and their debut EP ‘Post-Genesis,’ Skindred’s been winning hearts and minds with their powerhouse live shows and infectious energy. Every gig and every new release draws in fresh fans like bees to honey, all lured by the sheer passion and dynamism of their music. Tonight’s show only cements this trend, leaving you wondering if there’s even a ceiling for how colossal this band’s future can be.
Right now, it seems like Skindred’s operating on all cylinders. They’ve even booked a headline gig at Wembley Arena for next year. Tonight, as they hit the stage, the audience welcomed them like the rock ‘n’ roll heroes they are, and they cranked it up with their new crowd-pleaser, ‘Set Fazers,’ setting the crowd on fire.
AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ starts blasting, followed by a Dub version of ‘The Imperial March’ – it’s like the band’s telling us, “Buckle up, folks, we’re in for a ride!”
Benjie Webbe, with his stage presence that could charm a grizzly bear, orchestrates the crowd like a rock ‘n’ roll ringmaster. And tonight, it’s like he’s wielding Excalibur or a big flag. The whole band casts a spell on the audience, weaving their beloved classics with their latest hits like a musical wizard weaving spells with an electric guitar.
Skindred’s always had a reputation for rocking the stage, but tonight, something’s different. It’s like they turned the volume up to eleven, and now it’s so loud even your neighbor’s cat is headbanging.
The encore of ‘Warning’ sees the customary “Newport Helicopter” in action, and the stage production is so mind-blowing that it feels like you just stepped into a rock ‘n’ roll circus. Flying t-shirts and perspiration.
If you haven’t seen this band live yet (though, honestly, who are you?), get a ticket ASAP. Because missing a Skindred show is like passing on free pizza at a party – you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.
SKINDRED UK HEADLINE TOUR DATES
2023
6th October: Northampton, Roadmender (SOLD OUT)
7th October: Leeds, O2 Academy
13th October: Cambridge, Junction (SOLD OUT)
14th October: Norwich, Epic (SOLD OUT)
19th October: Nottingham, Rock City (SOLD OUT)
20th October : Newcastle , NX
21st October : Glasgow , The Garage (SOLD OUT)
26th October: Margate, Dreamland (SOLD OUT)
27th October: Brighton, Chalk (SOLD OUT)
28th October : Bristol , O2 Academy
3rd November: Sheffield, Leadmill (SOLD OUT)
4th November: Lincoln, The Engine Shed (SOLD OUT)
10th November: Cardiff, Great Hall (SOLD OUT)
11th November: Southampton, O2 Guildhall
17th November: Belfast, Limelight 1 (UPGRADED)
18th November: Dublin, Academy
2024
14th March: Manchester, Academy
15th March: London, OVO Wembley Arena
16th March: Birmingham, O2 Academy
For tickets & more details go to www.skindred.net/live
Rocking the House: Skindred’s Killer show at Nottingham Rock City. Gig Review @ Rock News
You can check out more from Skindred here.
https://skindred.net
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