Skunk Anansie / The Chemists

After seeing Skunk Anansie at the Electric Ballroom at the start of this tour, there was no way I was going to miss the final night at the O2 Academy, Brixton. I just wondered if there was going to be a change in feel from the 600 capacity ballroom to the near 5000 at Brixton. Having not released a record for nearly 10 years there was a lot to prove for lead singer Skin returning to Brixton for her homecoming gig.

Arriving in the venue for the final song of tonight's support, The Chemists, didn't give me any real impression of them. To hear a bizarre cover of Britney Spears 'Toxic' - requested by Skunk Anansie – doesn't give you a great feeling for a band. Not so fussed, it gave time to head to the bar and savour the taste of a £4 beer, sweet as nectar. Just a short wait for the main attraction.



A dubstep intro mix of 'Yes, Its Fucking Political' silences the crowd before the band come on stage causing an eruption of cheers. The first buzzy notes of 'Selling Jesus' are barely audible as a bouncy ball of gold and silver tinsel bounces on stage. That has to be Skin, right? Right. Thrashy guitars, slap bass, tight drumming and Skin. Yep, Skunk Anansie are definitely back. Screaming down the mic, not holding back a thing, Skin captivates you from the moment she opens her mouth and the rest of the band keep everything driving forward.

A bass guitar driven amen break can only mean one thing... 'Charlie Big Potato' tears in. Taking off the tinsel, Skin starts racing round the stage even more, glittering off the lights with a shiny sequinned costume. The first of the band's new songs 'Because of You' from the greatest hits album follows up, calming the now buzzing crowd down a little, listening to a more mature singing style from skin holding notes for longer and holding out 'til the end of the song before breaking it down to her more usual passionate half-shouted lyrics. Introducing the newest Skunk Anansie song 'I Don't Want To Kill You' as "all about fucking" brings a good cheer. Simple refrain, driving beat, and lyrics to make you drool. Blunt and effective "...I don't want to talk cos I just want to fuck you..." leaves nothing to the imagination. Moving straight into 'Weak' after, Skin then walks out over the crowd on peoples shoulders while still singing, not that you could really hear over the chorus from the crowd. Pure class.



Finishing the set with a trio of angry hits 'On My Hotel TV', 'Tear The Place Up' and 'The Skank Heads' gets everyone on the balcony standing – much to securities annoyance. Leaving everyone so charged that there's not a quiet moment before the band come on for a slightly more chilled encore. Dedicating 'Squander' to their manager seemed to show a little tension between them. "...Why take everything you see, you'll have nothing left to squander. If you keep pushing me away, you'll have no-one left to love..." Ouch.

Inviting a stage invasion for 'Little Baby Swastikkka' basically brings the gig to an end before the sedate second encore of 'Secretly'. Not many bands have impressed me so much from a gig that I've wanted to see them twice on a tour but Skunk Anansie have shown their quality back catalogue, new songs and amazing stage presence are something not to be missed. Hopefully they'll be back in the new year with even more to show.

Setlist:

Intro (Yes, It's Fucking Political)
Selling Jesus
Charlie Big Potato
Because of You
Charity
100 Ways to Be a Good Girl
I Can Dream
I Don't Want To Kill You
Weak
Brazen (Weep)
Twisted (Everyday Hurts)
Cheap Honesty
On My Hotel TV
Tear The Place Up
The Skank Heads

encore:
Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)
Squander
Little Baby Swastikkka

encore two:
Secretly

FUTURE GIGS