Skunk Anansie in Norwich last night delivered an absolutely incendiary performance to a sold out 1500 fans, who to a man and a woman, will probably concur with me that this may well go down as one of the very best gigs of the year.
Singer Skin, guitarist Ace, bass player Cass and drummer Mark defied their 31-year career as a band and there was zero sign of fatigue or being off the boil and only there for the pay cheque, and had the energy, passion and the fire in their belly of a brand new band.
The set delivered 20 songs, including the four-song encore, and for me there was not one poor choice of song or any time in the set where the energy dipped and they lost the crowd. No sir. It was all bloody marvellous.
THE PAINFUL TRUTH
1. An Artist Is An Artist
2. This Is Not Your Life
3. Shame
4. Lost And Found
5. Cheers
6. Shoulda Been You
7. Animal
8. Fell In Love With A Girl
9. My Greatest Moment
10. Meltdown
Skunk Anansie plugged their forthcoming new album, “The Painful Truth” which is due on 23rd May via FLG, with a good chunk of the songs on the record in tonight’s set. [See the full set list at the bottom of this page] The latest single, “Lost And Found” was released same day as this Norwich gig, and left to the penultimate song of the encore.
It is a dramatic song, opening with Skin’s lone vocal before a staccato piano motif starts to accompany her – a striking example of “the beauty and drama” contained on “The Painful Truth”.
The video – which you can see on this page – for “Lost And Found” was scripted and directed by Skin. Shot in Munich by the band and India Fleming, the video tells the story of Skin splitting into two personalities after bumping into a demon (Mark Richardson) disguised as a human. The story is told backwards starting with ‘Lost’ Skin; bloody, bruised and broken, intermingled with her as ‘Found’ Skin performing with the band.
She comments: “We wanted to evoke the loneliness and desperation that can occur in a split second by one tiny mistake. Any of us at any time can lose the security built up over a lifetime whether it be via an accident, or a sudden twist of fate.”
“The Painful Truth” is a mesmerising, provocative and powerful affair, demonstrating a band at the peak of their powers, yet with everything to prove.
Currently on a sold out tour of the UK to a rapturous reception, following an equally packed-out and jubilant tour of Europe, the band have just been announced as the headline act for The Independent newspaper’s stage at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton on Friday May 16th. Their Norwich gig comes half way through the current tour.
At the end of “Because Of You”, the third song in the set in Norwich, Skin noticed someone at the front of the crowd had a copy of her book, “It Takes Blood And Guts”. She said, I can’t sign it now, I’m kinda (sic) busy!
Maybe book girl was lucky enough to have won the chance to meet skin and get a signed set list [and her book signed] after the show, as announced over the PA after the support band’s set, where fans had go to a website to enter.
Skunk Anansie, formed in 1994 in London; one of the first multi-racial British rock bands, they are known for their powerful sound and thought-provoking lyrics. Fronted by the charismatic and dynamic vocalist Skin, who is also just as good to watch as she is to hear…the band blends alternative rock with elements of punk and metal. They remain one of the most important and influential bands of their era.
Their debut album “Paranoid & Sunburnt ” in 1995 and its follow up “Stoosh” in ’96) both hit the Top 10 of the UK album chart, and with hits like “Weak” and “Hedonism – both in the set tonight – established themselves on the international stage, helped by their stunning live performances. In 1999, Skunk Anansie closed the decade off in style by releasing their third studio album, “Post Orgasmic Chill” and headlining Glastonbury Festival, before surprisingly going on a lengthy hiatus in 2001.
The band reconvened in 2008 to embark on the second chapter of their career, releasing three acclaimed albums: 2010’s “Wonderlustre”, 2012’s “Black Traffic” and 2016’s “Anarchytecture.” In 2019, the band marked their 25th anniversary with “25LIVE@25”, a live album that brings together the greatest songs from their six studio albums.
Skunk Anansie have sold more than five million records around the world and the band’s international prominence continues to thrive today, selling out live arenas and headlining festivals across the continent.
If you only go see one band live this year, my best advice is make sure it is Skunk Anansie – and you can thank me later. Truly awe-inspiring in Norwich last night.
The support band So Good, were in fact very good! Lead singer Sophie and two female dancers and backing singers, with two male guitarists and a male drummer, the players all wearing pink jogging bottoms and hoodie, and pink balaclavas.
During their fun set they dedicated a song to Donald Trump called “Hate”, asking the audience to give POTUS the middle finger, and en-masse the band and the fans did just that – don’t write in! – and they also featured a song which explored what it would be like if they (the females in the band) had “dicks” – don’t write in, again!
The vocals were aggressive and more rap meets punk than singing, but it worked well. Very well. Like to see this lot in their own right sometime.
Skunk Anansie Setlist – Norwich
This Means War
Charlie Big Potato
Because of You
An Artist Is an Artist
I Believed in You
Love Someone Else
God Loves Only You
Secretly
Weak As I Am
I Can Dream
Twisted (Everyday Hurts)
My Ugly Boy
Animal
Yes It’s Fucking Political
Tear the Place Up
Little Baby Swastikkka
Encore:
Cheers
Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)
Lost and Found
The Skank Heads (Get Off Me)
Live Photos by Liam Battersby
Band portrait shot by Rob O’Connor
Words by Les Howard
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