Live Review: Skindred - The Academy, Manchester
14th March 2024
Support: P.O.D. and As Everything Unfolds
Words: Matthew Williams
Photos: Tom Atkin
Walking into a rapidly filling up venue, you could sense the anticipation from the sold out crowd at the Manchester Academy, that this was going to be a special night, watching a band who have been together for 23 years, just released their 8th album, and are finally getting the recognition that they deserve.
Before the Welsh powerhouses take to the stage, we are treated to two support acts, one of whom, As Everything Unfolds, are completely new to me, but they kick off at precisely 7.30pm with a big drum beat and violet lights. “Slow Down” is the opening track from the High Wycombe 5 piece and they sound really good, with Charlie Rolfe belting out some quality vocals.
They rip through their debut single “Hiding from Myself” and follow this up with “Flip Side” which shows Rolfe’s vocal range from melodic to growling aggression. They dip into their latest album with the title track “Ultraviolet” which goes down really well before giving a massive shout out to Skindred and POD. “This is a jumpy one” screams Rolfe as they crack on with “Felt Like Home” before thanking the crowd for supporting live music and rounding up with the excellent “On The Inside”.
A great way to get the crowd warmed up but kudos to whoever picked the music in between bands, as most people were singing along to System of a Down’s “Toxicity” to add to the party atmosphere.
There was no fanfare, introduction or support music to greet the main support act P.O.D. as they get straight down to business with “Drop” and remind people of their nu metal credentials. It’s a huge slab of a single and sets the tone for their set, which is relentless and gets the crowd moving.
“Show us what you got Manchester” screams dreadlocked vocalist Sonny Sandoval, as they hit their stride with another huge song “Boom”, this is met with the crowd moving and singing along, before the party people in the place to be are encouraged to bounce along to “Rock The Party” and bounce they do!!!!
“It’s been a while England, thanks for having us back” as they deliver the powerful “Satellites” followed by “Soundboy Killa” and then inform us of their new album due out in May and POD “are back on the scene!!!”
The crowd have another blast from the past with the brilliant singalong anthem that is “Youth of the Nation” and you can see people recapturing their young in front of their eyes as it’s such a powerful and poignant song, that is still prevalent today. New single “Afraid to Die” is given its debut live performance and goes down really well.
They introduce the band before we get asked, “Where are you from Manchester? I’m from Southtown” and tear into that number, before ending with their most famous song, “Alive” which was just epic. They genuinely surprised me as to how good they were, and as Sandoval said earlier, “POD are back!”
The party vibe was kept going with some brilliant tracks from Slipknot, The Beastie Boys, Thin Lizzy, Queen and The Ramones being blasted over the PA, but when AC/DC’s Thunderstuck started up it was time to get prepared, and the whole crowd is clapping and singing, the blue lights turn to red as the Imperial March begins, and one by one Skindred appear on stage.
Carrying the Union Black flag, Benji Webbe commands attention and boy does he get it throughout the night. He’s like a court jester, a comedian, a spokesperson and a ringmaster all in one, cajoling the crowd through what can only be described as one hell of an experience. “Set Fazers” kicks off the show and straight away he’s off “Manchester, you are too fucking tame man!!” in that delicious Newport accent. “Let me see you bounce” as “Pressure” with a bit of “Back in Black” sandwiched inside, is blasted out, and the crowd do exactly as Webbe commands.
Taking centre stage, Webbe begins one of his many, many monologies across the night, insisting that “tonight is a celebration of life” and we should “dance for friends for should be here “as they bathe the crowd in yellow light and blast out “Rat Race” with a quick rendition of Oasis` “Wonderwall” where the crowd take over the vocal, and Benji, quick as flash comes out with “fucking shut up” with great laughter. “Get your lenses up” as the sublime “World’s on Fire” hits up the crowd with a bit of Nelly’s “It’s getting hot in here” and yes it is, as the crowd are packed in and bouncing along to the rhythm.
“Turn the lights on so I can see who isn’t taking part” as Benji leads the crowd in a chant of “whoop whoop” and then “That’s my jam” and after hyping up the crowd he jokingly says, “this next song is called” to which the crowd reply with “That’s my Jam” and like a comedian he replies with “fuck off, this is called “Nowhere” before they start “That’s my Jam” And this is what makes Benji Webbe one of the greatest frontmen around as he knows that the crowd are eating out of the palm of his hand.
We are then treated to “Ninja”, snippets of Van Halen’s “Jump”, House of Pain’s “House of Pain” before possibly the best song of the night “L.O.V.E (Smile Please)” which brings that party vibe to Manchester and he tells a story about playing next door with 36 Crazyfists and a bottle of champagne, but they don’t take this for granted and thank everyone for attending. It’s genuine, sincere and heartfelt for a band who are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Then the best story, how as a teenager he was watching TV with his big brother Clifford, and he saw a band that brought black and white people together, The Specials, and turning to his brother said “I want to do that” and his brother replied “shut the fuck up” which leads to the words of “don’t listen to people like Clifford” do what you want and “Kill the Power”
With the acoustic intro for “Life That’s Free” and the recognition that as parents you love your kids unconditionally but sometimes you might not like them, it’s a powerful reminder of how low things can get, before Benji emerges in a white leather jacket with full tassels as “Nobody” is sung with the heavy dub reggae bit at the ned, and “Gimme That Boom” energises the room once again.
The end is almost upon us and with “Our Religion” finishing it signals that there is one more song left and it’s time for the Newport Helicopter to rev up and the crowd, as it customary at a Skindred show, demonstrate this perfectly, with hundreds of items of clothing swinging in the air at the finale to what has been a stunning performance.
Skindred might just be the best British live band around at the moment, and they have such an enigmatic frontman that the other three can just sit back and enjoy what they love doing best and let the success they richly deserve come to them.
Photo Credit: Tom Atkin
