Skindred Make New Fans Opening For KISS At The O2

by | Jul 7, 2023

So I have a confession to make. Despite a lifelong, enthusiastic and eclectic appreciation for all sorts of music, including the heavier stuff, this reviewer had never seen or listened to Skindred. Just one of those acts that I’d heard of but had always passed me by. So, ahead of tonight’s show I do a bit of homework on Spotify. 7 tracks in and I’m still trying and failing to identify what genre this band is. The internet tells me it’s ragga-metal. I don’t know what it is but I like it. A lot.

Skindred @ The O2

Skindred @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)
Skindred @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)

Tonight at The O2, as Star Wars’ Imperial March signifies their imminent arrival, I’m excited to see if the 2011 Metal Hammer ‘Best Live Band’ winners can still do it in 2023. Singer Benji Webbe, a hulking bear of a man in his shiny black trench coat, dreadlocks, studded sunglasses and glittery scarf, immediately catches the eye as he saunters onstage and takes in the modest crowd. Guitarist Mikey Demus, black hatted with an impressive beard, looks like he’s on loan from ZZ Top. And as drummer Arya Goggin settles in behind his kit- bass drum emblazoned with an image of the villainous Lo-Pan from Big Trouble In Little China – I get the feeling we’re in for some fun here.

There’s clearly some love for the Welsh rockers in the crowd, albeit mostly in the busy rear-standing section as opposed to the somewhat bemused, sparser golden circle. Perhaps the band see the scores of empty seats around the arena as a challenge, it certainly doesn’t seem to bother them as they kick off a raucous 40-minute set of thrilling, eclectic noise. Opener Set Fazers followed by Ratrace is a strong one-two punch, prompting some respectful nodding from the audience and even some pogoing from the standing throng. Charismatic frontman Webbe tricks everyone into clapping a nursery rhyme… then promptly tells us to “F*ck Off!” with a twinkle in his eye. Twice. It’s all good fun and the crowd is warming up nicely. The singer instigates some rival call-and-response singing and good-naturedly scolds the audience when we mess it up, before they swiftly tear through the thrilling That’s My Jam and straight into L.O.V.E. Is it reggae, drum and bass, dubstep, metal, ska, a bit of everything? I just know I’m really, really enjoying this.

The arena crowd are on board now, lots are singing along, throwing horns as demanded by the talismanic vocalist. A short interlude of Jump by Van Halen, complete with comedy prop Casio, is the aperitif for a searing run of Kill The Power, Nobody and Gimme That Boom. I’m all in. Webbe keeps up the charm and the chat throughout, though his efforts at convincing people to crouch, insistently repeating “This is the Get Down”, fall on mostly deaf ears. A handful of die-hard, (s)kindred spirits do indeed crouch down, shirts in hand, ready to launch their ‘Newport helicopters’ at Webbe’s command. We finish on the barnstorming Warning, and then all too soon the fun is over, as they take their leave to the gentle tones of Carly Simon’s Nobody Does it Bettera highly appropriate choice.

Consider me thoroughly chastened to have slept on Skindred all these years. This was a brilliant show, a perfect warm-up (albeit a hard act to follow) for the main event, KISS. These Welsh ragga-metallers have earned themselves at least one new fan tonight and by the looks of it, I wasn’t the only one.

  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2
  • Skindred @ The O2

Review of Skindred @ The O2, London by Sarah Kavanagh. Photos by Kalpesh Patel.

Guns N’ Roses At BST Hyde Park 2023: Rock On A Scale Only Legends Could Achieve

Tim Wheeler of Ash @ Wembley Arena (Kalpesh Patel)

Ash Share Their Raucous Take On Harry Belafonte Classic ‘Jump In The Line’

Perennially exuberant Northern Irish noiseniks ASH have returned with their new single, a suitably vibrant version of the Harry Belafonte’s 1961 staple Jump In The Line. Fans will have caught the band playing the song live on their recent tour with The Darkness.

Crymwav bring American Carnage to London

Heavy rock and the Cart and Horses are the perfect combination: after all, the historic East London bar is well known...
Djo (CJ Harvey)

Djo Shares New Single ‘Potion’ Ahead Of Tour Including UK Headline Dates & Glastonbury Festival Appearance

Djo – the musical project of actor / producer / songwriter Joe Keery known for his work in blockbuster projects as Stranger Things and Fargo – will release his highly anticipated new album The Crux this Friday, 4th April. Before the album drops, he shares one final preview of the record with Potion. Showcasing a different side of the record to the BBC Radio 1 playlisted single Basic Being Basic, and its Hottest Record In The World follow-up Delete Ya, Potion finds Djo in Laurel Canyon.

Wet Leg (Iris Luz)

Wet Leg Announce Second Album ‘Moisturizer’ Alongside Tour News

Wet Leg – the Isle of Wight five-piece founded by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers – have announced their eagerly...
Chloe Qisha (Lillie Eiger)

Chloe Qisha Announces 2025 UK Tour

The UK’s next global pop star Chloe Qisha has announced her forthcoming 2025 UK & European tour. Tickets are on...
Nick Mulvey (Liam Maxwell)

Nick Mulvey Returns WIth New LP ‘Dark Harvest (Pt. 1)’ Alongside Single ‘Radical Tenderness’

Nick Mulvey has announced his fourth studio album, Dark Harvest (Pt. 1), out 6th June via Nick’s own independent label titled Supernatural Records. It also marks the release of the LP’s first single, Radical Tenderness, and the announcement of the Dark Harvest – World Tour, with dates across UK, Ireland, Europe, North America and Australia.

The Pale White @ Oslo (Louise Phillips)

The Pale White Share Euphoric New Single ‘Final Exit’

Newcastle alt-rock trio The Pale White have unveiled their new single Final Exit. The latest release comes from their...
Kasabian - BRITs Week For War Child 25 @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire (Aaron Parsons)

BRITs Week 25, Delivered By DHL For War Child Announces Money Raised Through 2025 Shows

BRITs Week 25, delivered by DHL for War Child, has announced details of the money raised from this year’s series. An...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing