Skindred –Norwich UEA LCR
Review 31/10/2021
By Andrew Mackenzie
This has been a long time waiting and it’s finally here!! LIVE MUSIC!!
Entry to the venue took a few moments longer than usual, due to Covid-19 guidelines, but this gave me the opportunity to take photos of the great Halloween costumes that people had dressed up in to come to this awesome show. It was great to get back into a music venue filled to the brim with people who love music. I have defiantly missed it and I hope this tells how I felt.
The first band to grace our presence were, Renegade Twelve who is an energetic 4-piece rock orientated original band formed in Suffolk, England made up of Josh Barnard -Vocals and bass, Jacob Mayes -lead guitar, Dan potter -Lead guitar, Jack McSloy -Drums I’ve never heard of them but I’m up for new bands and music!
These guys played a good variety of classic rock starting with a cover of CDC’s “TNT” This was a good song to start with it’s one that get the crowds involved this meant that the crowds energy grew momentum, throughout their set they played a mix of covers some which I knew and their own tracks which were good. They remind me of ACDC, Airborne this kind of classic rock genre which I like the sound of. Their last song was one of their own “One for the Road” the band got the crowd bouncing and clapping for this and this was a great ending to their set.
Next up to grace us with what I wasn’t expecting but was great; Trash Boat St Albans’ quintet Trash Boat has long since established themselves as one of the UK’s most exciting up-and-coming bands. Across two albums –most recently 2018’s critically acclaimed ‘Crown Shyness’ –they have effortlessly blended punk rock and post-hardcore: soaring choruses and searing lyricism.
I wasn’t too sure what to expect but I was happily surprised! Heavy, screaming, and a dam good drum beat. One of their songs was “alpha omega” from their album. A great track lyrically and rhythmically with such good vocals! In the middle of their set, they threw in a Linkin Park cover of “Given up”, I knew immediately from the drumbeat and that in the original song Chester does a 17-sec screamin this, the longest I knew, and the lead singer didn’t do bad at all, at 14sec (I timed it) but in a great cover which all their loved.
They played an amazing set they really help keep the momentum going for the headliner after the guys left the stage and I awaited the headliners, I headed outside to take some photos of the crowd members’ Halloween costumes which I liked best.
The Headliner’s Skindred is a Welsh heavy metal band formed in Newport, Wales in 1998. Their musical style mixes heavy metal, alternative rock, and ragga. The band also integrates elements of punk rock, hardcore punk, reggae, dancehall, jungle, ska, hip hop, drum and bass, dubstep, and various other influences into their music. They are well known for their energetic and involving live performances and have won several awards including “Best Live Band” at the 2011 UK Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards and the “Devotion Award” at the 2011 Kerrang! Awards. –Wikipedia
Skindred is made up of; Benji Webbe –Vocals, Mikey Demus –Guitar & vocals, Daniel Pugsley –Bassist and vocals, and Drummer –Arya Goggin
I’ve listened to these guys since the days of “Babylon” and I’m now photographing and reviewing them. They did not disappoint; the room blew up into this amazing energy that I personally haven’t felt in so long the high I get off live music is indescribable. The guys came out in Halloween costume and kicked off their setlist with “Stand for Something” everything just got insane from there the atmosphere was the most electric I’ve felt, these boys put on a show like no other with that unique sound of rock and reggae which until you hear it you won’t know. The songs kept coming; “Rat race”, Sound of the Siren” and then the doom riff which they made their own with a twist.
When I heard “pressure”, it brought me back to the first time I heard them this was what I first heard of them where my love for this band began! They blew this track out of the water the crowd just going mental at this stage. “That’s my jam” was next which was a laugh to start as Benji got the crowd fully involved with one side doing one part and the other doing the other half of the chorus! Ninja up next and this was funnier with a guy coming out doing ninja moves chasing and fighting Benji around the stage.
The night was in full swing everyone enjoying themselves and Skindred just pulling rabbits out the hat even more when the crowd heard House of Pain’s –Jump this was the start of something I’ve not seen at a show before they got a guy from the crowd on stage for a challenge the guy “Ben” was very up for it and his challenge was to eat a meal deal sandwich in 30 seconds and this would “win” him tickets to slipknot in New York…. But it was really for a T-shirt free of charge and the fun of it all He managed to eat this in around25 seconds and made everyone laugh when he nearly threw up on stage. Next was “kill the power” that great reggae 80s sounds like another corker.
Benji got real with the crowd and remembered those who we have all lost the past 2 years. Benji sang ” Saying it now”acoustically. This really hit home as looking back it’s been a tough year for everyone bands and fans and we’ve all lost people. The band didn’t want the crowd to go home in a sad tone, and They finished their set with “Nobody” they let loose with this tune the amazing mix of rock metal and reggae the room just turned into this mosh pit dance floor bodies bouncing and everyone loving life.
This was an amazing show to attend after 23 months of not going to shows! This was Skindred last night of their UK tour. I can’t wait for them to get back into the swing of things and I will see them again in the future. P.s I left, and they played 2 encore songs the setlist can be found below
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