Pix by Sarah Gilpin Photography
Review by Kris Peters
I hate starting reviews with an apology, but that is exactly what I owe Grizzlyshark and Future Static after missing both of their sets opening for Skindred on the last show of the tour in Brisbane.
I do have a legitimate excuse (Father’s Day anyone?), but that still doesn’t stop me feeling like a bit of a dud for not being there to support either band and give them a write up for what was, by all accounts, sensational performances by both bands. On the plus side, Sarah did arrive on time to take some photos so hopefully they do both bands justice…
I arrived just before the mighty Skindred took to the stage, with the lights going out as AC/DC‘s Thunderstruck rang out over the capacity crowd, the twin assault of hearing an Aussie band coupled with just how damn good of a song it is combining to get things off on the immediate right foot. As the stage crew scurried in the near darkness putting the finishing touches on what was to be Skindred’s home for the next hour or so, John Williams’ rendition of The Imperial March took up the slack as the band members walked one by one onto stage.
Of course, the biggest cheer was saved for Skindred frontman and Champion Of The People, Mr. Benji Webbe, and the dimutive frontman stood proudly on a riser centre stage, lapping up the adulation of his loyal subjects.
Launching into This Is The Sound, Skindred had the crowd in the palm of their hands the moment the first note rang out, with the bands pollination of dubstep, EDM, reggae, rock and metal descending over the Triffid in a sonic haze of acceptance where music was the ultimate winner. Pausing to check if everyone was okay, Benji then ordered the crowd to bounce and the entire floor front to back and above on the mezanine responded as one, turning the area into a jumping sea of bodies that continued pretty much unabated for the duration of Skindred‘s set.
Set Fazers was next before Ratrace teased the room, well placed snippets of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now adding to the experience and by now Skindred had managed to musically mesmerize the assembled mass of fans, gripping them by the collars and not letting go for the next hour or so.
The crowd clapped without being prompted, sang back at the band without provocation and jumped and bounced in a continous wave of emotion that at times humbled even the normally unflappable frontman. As Benji explained, the night was one of nostalgia and love – a love that was thrown relentlessly from stage and returned in even greater volume by the crowd.
Throughout various costume changes Benji quipped with the crowd, telling jokes and fleshing out some of their songs, but it was a revolving door of sounds, triggers and music that provided the most entertainment. Back In Black was woven into the fabric of Pressure and Still D.R.E into That’s My Jam, but it was one series of questions that drew the biggest response. Benji paused to ask if the Reggae fans were happy – which they unanimously were – but then directed the same question at the heavy metal lovers – with even greater response.
This enticed a pre-recorded version of Skindred Radio to boom through the speakers, with an amalgamation of Master Of Puppets, Last Resort, Jump and Jump Around sending the crowd into raptures before Skindred continued with You Got This, Kill The Power and Can I Get A? before finishing the set proper with a rousing rendition of Nobody that resulted in a mass crowd sing-a-long and continued bouncing that threatened to shake the Triffid off its foundations. Not that anyone would have cared or noticed.
Returning to perform three obligatory encores, Skindred once again delivered a flawless performance, bringing unity and love to the full house in the simplest and best way possible. Via music.
And long may it continue!
