SKUNK ANANSIE - BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY, 22 APRIL 2022

BY SHARI BLACK VELVET

‘All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others,’ a recorded voice exclaims. It’s the intro to Skunk Anansie’s show, part of their 25th anniversary tour, which was originally planned for 2020, but rescheduled, first to 2021, and then to 2022, due to Covid. Tonight’s event proves that the wait was most definitely worth it.

Opening with ‘Yes It’s Fucking Political’, which sees frontwoman Skin parade the stage wearing black devilish, horned headwear, the British band show exactly why they are so well-respected in the UK music scene. They are most definitely at the top of their game, and show that music can be not just entertaining, but also extremely vital, speaking up on important matters. With bright lights and a platform to walk backwards and forwards on at the front of the stage, this is definitely a show worth watching. The iconic Skin plays the theremin during the opening number, while Ace astounds with his scorching guitar playing.

The band have a whole host of emotionally-driven and very epic numbers, such as ‘Because Of You’, ‘Weak’, and ‘Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)’, which often see Skin’s vocals soar up and beyond and give you the feels no matter how many times you’ve heard them. ‘Weak’ gets the biggest cheer and sees the crowd singing along loudly. ‘You guys are amazing. You’re making my heart shine,’ the singer says at the end, after the song receives huge applause.

Cass Lewis’s funky bass opens the fantastic ‘Twisted (Everyday Hurts)’, while keyboardist/additional vocalist Erika Footman comes to the fore to join Skin to sing songs such as ‘I Can Dream’ and ‘Love Someone Else’, sprucing the set up.

Skin tells the story about ‘God Loves Only You’ – explaining that they have a T-shirt saying ‘God Loves Only You’ to match the song, and, when wearing it in certain countries, especially the USA, she’d have people coming up to her saying ‘God bless you, sister’. But the song is not a religious song, it’s the opposite. ‘Some crazy religious people believe that their religion is the only religion that should exist and everyone else’s religion is completely trash,’ says Skin. She adds, ‘The song is about respecting other people’s cultures.’

The haunting ‘100 Ways To Be A Good Girl’ was written about having strict parents who were very religious. Skin says you were always in trouble and trying to avoid getting the stick or belt. It’s about trying to escape and find solace. There’s a layer of unforgettable melancholy to it.

As the set continues, the band turns the heaviness up with ‘This Means War’ being dedicated to the people of Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and Venezuela, while Skin talks about the refugees and Brexit. ‘Intellectualise My Blackness’, with its fuzzy guitars, and the riotous ‘Tear The Place Up’, both do tear the place up.

New song ‘Can’t Take You Anywhere’ fits right into the set, while ‘Brazen (Weep)’ brings the chills. A fun cover of AC/DC’s ‘Highway To Hell’ (or part of it) precedes final song ‘Little Baby Swastikkka’, which turns the moshpit into a frenzy.

While Skin says ‘This is for Taylor’ before ‘Without You’, at the end of the show, Foo Fighters’ ‘Best Of You’ plays over the speakers and see the band stay on the stage to sing along with the crowd, while Skin says again ‘This one’s for Taylor’. It’s a poignant moment that wraps up the night and sees everyone leave with a fuzzy feeling inside. Tonight, we most definitely got the best of Skunk Anansie. Here’s to the next 25 years.

Read this review in issue 106 of Black Velvet with other photos