Into Live Music Review: Skinny Lister
If there’s one thing worth doing on a Tuesday night during a storm, it’s going to see a band from England who play music that sounds a little bit Scottish and a big bit Irish. I’m talking about Skinny Lister, London’s finest punky-folk five-piece, who were at the tail end of their extensive European tour.
As Storm Bram started throwing itself around, mixing the wet, the dark and the cold with the exceptionally windy, I’ll be honest and say that, at one point, I felt like staying home, lighting the fire and hiding away from the elements. I’m delighted I didn’t though, because the band put on one hell of a show.
After the gale blew me all the way from Queen Street to King Tut’s, I bought a pint and found a place in the crowd, where support band Vandoliers were just finishing up with an energetic, gender-neutral, folky take on The Proclaimers’ classic, ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’. Cagoule still dripping and jeans a tad damp, I sipped my drink and awaited the arrival of the increasingly popular headliners. Looking around, the audience gave no indication it was a stormy night with yellow weather warnings and train cancellations. It’s testament to the Glasgow (and beyond) crowd and their ability to shrug off any potential disruption in the search for fun.
For a band who’d been on tour since mid-November and were on show number twenty-three, I wondered if Skinny Lister would be a bit knackered. Well, if they were, they certainly didn’t show it! It was one of the most energetic, dynamic performances I’ve ever seen on that wee Glesga stage. The professionalism was off the scale, the band so tight and note-perfect that it felt like a masterclass in live performance and audience engagement. It was so damn entertaining that I grinned through the entire set, my face slightly sore by the end. The band members were like Duracell bunnies throughout. Melodion player Max Thomas and vocalist Lorna Thomas jumped into the crowd on a number of occasions, ensuring everyone was involved in the party. During one song, Lorna challenged crowd members to an arm wrestle, something I’d never seen at a gig before and doubt I ever will again!
Another thing I happened to notice was how much the band members resembled actors in a film, like their own version of The Commitments. They were all cool looking and had great hair, especially double bass player, Scott Milsom, who didn’t simply plod away in the corner, intermittently lifting his double bass off the ground, holding it over the heads of the fans in the first few rows, and even touching the ceiling with it a couple of times. Everything was so well-rehearsed and polished that it allowed the band to add these extra bits of engagement, which contributed to their performance being unique and memorable. To advance the involvement further, the band asked for requests at one point, showing how much they care about their fans.
In terms of their music, it would seem too obvious to compare them to the likes of The Pogues or The Mary Wallopers as I’m sure others have. It’s folk music that does what folk music is meant to do, though with some songs there’s a punkier edge. It doesn’t have to be a revolutionary new sound or genre to be effective though. Folk music works because of its winning formula, and it’s a genre that will always be loved. You only have to look at the success of Falkirk band Brogeal to see that it’s a sound that’s as popular as ever. Indeed, I’d say it’s down to the genre being embraced in its entirety that bands like Brogeal and Skinny Lister have found such success, nationally and internationally, upon which they can add their own twists.
With songs like ‘Wanted’, ‘This Is War’, ‘Bristol Bound’, ‘Bonny Away’ and ‘Company of the Bar’, it’s no surprise how popular Skinny Lister are. The standard of songwriting is high, covering the political to the romantic to the playful, each and every time delivering earworm hooks and infectious melodies. It’s all very well being a solid musician but without quality songs, what’s the point? Skinny Lister certainly don’t have this problem. They also know how to work a mix of fan favourites and newer material. The best thing is, said newer material is every bit as strong as their older stuff, ensuring there are never any dips in the set that see crowd members checking their phones for travel updates.
Regrettably, I had to leave slightly early for that very reason. An 11.10pm finish on a Tuesday is fine for folk who live in the city, but not for those whose last train is 11.07pm. So, I missed about fifteen minutes’ worth, which was disappointing, but I’m sure not the band’s fault. The only other thumbs-down aspect was the sheer number of times the band shouted GLASGOW! into their mics. After about the twelfth time, I was like, Yeah, I know where I am. It’s something that’s always confused me. When I go to see a band, I don’t go to celebrate the city or town they’re playing in, I go to hear the music. Also, given the great transport links, there would’ve been plenty of people travelling from elsewhere. I have no issue with it a couple of times, but after pretty much every song (and sometimes mid-song) is excessive. A minor quibble though, because Skinny Lister were hugely entertaining and I can’t wait until they’re back in GLASGOW! again, or anywhere else in Scotland for that matter. If you like punky folk music in a turbo-charged mode and you haven’t seen them before, get Skinny Lister on your list – and if it’s stormy outside, the party inside will make you forget about it instantly.
For more on Skinny Lister, head over to their website here.
Dickson Telfer
@DicksonTelfer
Photos courtesy of D.Telfer
Links: