Skindred

DonDaddyD

(My avatar is Skindred's Union Black album cover)

I went to a Skindred gig at the London HMV Forum on Saturday and I'm having some serious withdrawl symptoms.

It was everything I could have hoped for. The only thing that could have made it better is if I was a teenager (again) and had the energy and recovery powers to jump, bounce and mosh indefinately from the intense start to the intense finish.

I actually don't want to be at work today. When I get home I'm going to put on the t-shirt again.

Mosh pits (encouraged by the lead singer), the "crush" at the front, people having feinted carried over the top of the crowd to the barriers, girls stripped to the bra dripping with sweat from the sheer heat of awesomeness. I myself even had to buy a T-shirt as the one I wore was absolutely soaked with sweat due to heat of awesomeness I just mentioned.

This gig had it all.

It even had a Metallica, Rihanna skits (with mosh pits) the original Pass Out (Tinie Tempah) dub and Benji dressed as Flava Flav at one stage. It had everything, it was everything I could hope for. It was fun, the energy of music at its absolute best.

And lets talk about energy for a moment as Skindred have it in abundance, only energy and passion can so perfectly fuse Ska, Drum and Bass, Jungle, Metal, Ragga and Reggae into the musical symphony that Skindred so brilliant dish out. And Benji the lead singer, I've seen him four times now, he has been around for years but he keeps getting better, stronger and better. He owned every inch of that stage and every moment of the night.

I loved every single moment of this gig. Everything, there was even a moment when the lights shone down and cast a tone through the dust, sweat and smoke I swear to you with no word of a lie, it looked like I was standing in a scene from the Smells Like Teen Spirit video.

It was so amazingly awesome I just want to go back to that moment.

Amazing gig, amazing band, an amazing moment in my life.

I feel at peace with myself.

Agent57

Never heard of them. I'm probably very out of touch as I'm an old man (42). The mention of ska, ragga and reggae attracts me. Drum'n'bass and jungle put me off.

The last new band I listened to was The Penny Black Remedy.

DonDaddyD

Just youtube Skindred, first and foremost they're metal with influences from the musical genre's I've listed.

veronese68

I agree with Agent 57 about the music, but then I'm of similar vintage. I felt much like Ds did after I saw The Specials at Brixton a couple of years back.
We had the chance to go and see them again at Hammersmith Odeon, or whatever it's called now, but declined because we didn't want to lose the feeling that we'd been to the best gig in the best venue. I'm grinning like a kid just thinking about it.
In my 40's I learnt I can still jump around like a twat, I just pant like the old dog that I am between tracks.

Agent57

Veronese68 wrote:

In my 40's I learnt I can still jump around like a fool, I just pant like the old dog that I am between tracks.

Heheh, me too. I went to see Madness in Blackpool for my birthday last November. I felt it the next day.

As far as gigs go, the one that left the greatest emotional imprint on me was when I saw Prince at Wembley stadium in the early 90s. I was really close to the font, and it was incredible. So much so that I went out the day after and bought all the Prince material I didn't already own.

Gussio

Not seen a live band that has matched the thrill of my first ever gig; Pixies in Cardiff c.1989. Outstanding.

dhope

Gussio wrote:

Not seen a live band that has matched the thrill of my first ever gig; Pixies in Cardiff c.1989. Outstanding.

To be fair you didn't give many other bands a chance by setting the bar so high.

sketchley

Best gig for me was The Stooges "Raw Power" Hammersmith last yea, talking about energy that gig had loads of and what a noise it was too! I hope my best gig every is about to be surpassed at the O2 on Thursday when I see Roger Waters performing The Wall.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Are they a popular beat combo?

Would I most likely watch them and them asking if they are in some sort of pain? And do they call "that" dancing/singing these days, etc?

UndercoverElephant

Greg66 wrote:

Are they a popular beat combo?

Would I most likely watch them and them asking if they are in some sort of pain? And do they call "that" dancing/singing these days, etc?

Before ruffling your cardie and telling them to turn it down, because it's just a noise?

CiB

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Greg66 wrote:

Are they a popular beat combo?

Would I most likely watch them and them asking if they are in some sort of pain? And do they call "that" dancing/singing these days, etc?

Before ruffling your cardie and telling them to turn it down, because it's just a noise?

Correct form is to nod approvingly, slip your hands in your cardie pockets and say 'hey, it's got a good beat' ((c) The Mary Whitehouse Experience, some years ago).

Was it like Perry Como, only more so?

veronese68

My brother in law, a retired Gloucestershire policeman, went to see The Prodigy live. Said he falt that he stood out like the proverbial sore thumb.

spasypaddy

benji is one of the best front men in the business. i havent seen him live for a few years now but when i did it was incredible.

him and the guy out of killswitch engage are two of the best front men ive ever seen.

(neither hold a candle to Tom Arraya though)

roger_merriman

I remember when they where Dub War! in Blackwood workings men club, Benjj (the lead singer) always did have the right personality for it. only met him a few times seemed nice enough.

sketchley

spasypaddy wrote:

benji is one of the best front men in the business. i havent seen him live for a few years now but when i did it was incredible.

him and the guy out of killswitch engage are two of the best front men ive ever seen.

(neither hold a candle to Tom Arraya though)

IMO Iggy beats them all. Pure energy on stage and he's still only 64!

hmbadger

God, your enthusiasm actually made me look them up on youtube. Absolutely shocking, really dreadful. I am pretty old though.

veronese68

Just YouTubed Skindred. I liked it. Need to be in the mood for it I suspect. I did find the wearing of a tank top by the shouty man in the first video a little disconcerting though. Good cover of Electric Avenue as well.

stuaff

Sketchley wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

benji is one of the best front men in the business. i havent seen him live for a few years now but when i did it was incredible.

him and the guy out of killswitch engage are two of the best front men ive ever seen.

(neither hold a candle to Tom Arraya though)

IMO Iggy beats them all. Pure energy on stage and he's still only 64!

+1. The greatest front man on the face of the earth.

PBo

StuAff wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

benji is one of the best front men in the business. i havent seen him live for a few years now but when i did it was incredible.

him and the guy out of killswitch engage are two of the best front men ive ever seen.

(neither hold a candle to Tom Arraya though)

IMO Iggy beats them all. Pure energy on stage and he's still only 64!

+1. The greatest front man on the face of the earth.

Whilst NOT on the face of this earth anymore, watched a documentary on Live Aid last year, and remembered just how good Freddy mercury's performancewas - just stunning!

Anyone can have energy - charisma and the power to hypnotise an audience like this is something else. Notice how at the end, when he says "all right!" - as if to say - "good job, all done now", LOADS of the audience still repeat him, as they are transfixed.

Clever Pun

you don't gig much do you... you sound like a dad rediscovering something when taking his kids to a show

oh and Skindred are toilet...FACT.

Glad you enjoyed it though

PBo

DonDaddyD wrote:

I went to a Skindred gig at the London HMV Forum on Saturday and I'm having some serious withdrawl symptoms.

It was everything I could have hoped for. The only thing that could have made it better is if I was a teenager (again) and had the energy to jump girls stripped to the bra dripping with sweat from the sheer heat of awesomeness.

.

FTFY

DonDaddyD

Clever Pun wrote:

you don't gig much do you... you sound like a dad rediscovering something when taking his kids to a show

oh and Skindred are toilet...FACT.

Glad you enjoyed it though

I've been to:

Forever Never/Skindred - Southend Karnivool - 02 Islington (Skindred were there) Forever Never - 02 Islington Forever Never - Croydon Skindred - HMV Forum

5 gigs. My metal loving gig going mate loves Forever Never see. I like them too! They're awesome.

jedster

+1. The greatest front man on the face of the earth.

Maybe 40 years ago.
I reckon Howlin' Pelle Almqvist is hard to beat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vultqbl9 ... re=related

Clever Pun

DonDaddyD wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

you don't gig much do you... you sound like a dad rediscovering something when taking his kids to a show

oh and Skindred are toilet...FACT.

Glad you enjoyed it though

I've been to:

Forever Never/Skindred - Southend Karnivool - 02 Islington (Skindred were there) Forever Never - 02 Islington Forever Never - Croydon Skindred - HMV Forum

5 gigs. My metal loving gig going mate loves Forever Never see. I like them too! They're awesome.

this year? month? week? tour?

stuaff

DonDaddyD wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

you don't gig much do you... you sound like a dad rediscovering something when taking his kids to a show

oh and Skindred are toilet...FACT.

Glad you enjoyed it though

I've been to:

Forever Never/Skindred - Southend Karnivool - 02 Islington (Skindred were there) Forever Never - 02 Islington Forever Never - Croydon Skindred - HMV Forum

5 gigs. My metal loving gig going mate loves Forever Never see. I like them too! They're awesome.

Five? Ever?.......