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

Halestorm @ London Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

Halestorm Ignite London Stadium With Ferocity, Heart, And An ‘Everest’ Taste Of What’s To Come

Opening for British metal legends Iron Maiden isn’t for the faint-hearted, particularly at the London Stadium—in front of 80,000 fired-up metal fans! But Halestorm have never been a band to flinch in the face of pressure. On Saturday night at London Stadium, the Pennsylvania rock veterans delivered a blistering, defiant set that not only won over the die-hard metal faithful but teased the future of a band still ascending.

Iron Maiden @ London Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

Iron Maiden Keep On Trooping At London Stadium And Celebrate 50 Years At ‘Homecoming’

You have to feel a bit for Lzzy Hale and her band Halestorm this evening, warming up an Iron Maiden crowd is a...
Zach Bryan @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

Zach Bryan Brings Americana Thunder to BST Hyde Park 2025

BST Hyde Park 2025 roared into its second day with a headline set that will be etched into festival folklore. Zach Bryan, the Oklahoma-born troubadour, delivered a powerful 23-song performance that spanned his six-year career — and marked his triumphant arrival on the UK’s biggest outdoor stage.

Korn @ Download Festival XXII - Sunday (Carolina Faruolo)

Masks, Mayhem, And Metal Legacies: Korn Bring Download Festival XXII To A Triumphant, Tear-Up Finale

The third and final day of Download Festival XXII is here, and whilst we’re sad it’s almost over, we’ll save the mourning for tomorrow and dive headfirst into everything it’s got.

Billy Idol @ Wembley Arena (Kalpesh Patel)

Billy Proves He Is No False Idol, But A Truly Authentic One At Wembley Arena

Fresh from being well received at the inaugural Forever Now festival as well as a surprise appearance alongside...
Wide angle photo of Opus Stage and Arena at DownloadXXII

From Chaos To Catharsis: Sleep Token Silence The Doubters As Day Two Of Download Festival XXII Delivers Big Moments And Bigger Emotion

We’re back for Day 2 of Download Festival XXII. Would today live up to the great start we had yesterday? Let’s see…

Bludfest 2025 @ Milton Keynes Bowl (Ruby Boland)

Hello Heaven, Hello! Bludfest Returns Bigger Than Ever!

The elfin Elin Hall makes for the perfect entrance music, America swirling like the threat of rain overhead, as...
Nine Inch Nails @ Scala (Kalpesh Patel)

Trent And Atticus Nine Inch Nail It At The O2 Arena

Every act craves that strong connection with their audience – but how do you achieve this in a cavernous space like The O2 Arena, filled to the brim with around 20,000 fans (all, naturally, dressed in black)? Well, in typical belligerent style, Nine Inch Nails meet this challenge head on – treating us to a set by turns poetic and punishing, and despite the odd technical hiccup, really delivering that all important connection.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing