Skinny Lister + Life Aquatic Band + The Molee Shakes
Skinny Lister had an absolute ball delivering a set that is high on energy and audience participation. They are greeted like returning heroes. Almost all of the audience mouth along word perfectly to all of the songs, even those from one month old, new album Shanty Punk
It is a cold, very cold, evening and I need warming up. Opening proceedings, local duo THE MOLEE SHAKES don’t quite do it. The first half of their set is downbeat country whilst things take a bluesy turn in the second half. There’s clearly some talent here – a more than decent voice over some gorgeous lap steel (everything sounds better with lap steel) and moody resonator guitar plus some good tunes. There is however something missing and, for me, the set never really gets going. On this showing, they need something - keys, rhythm section, I dunno just something - to spark things into life. Ah well, there’s definite promise here and I will certainly check out the Molee Shakes again.
LIFE AQUATIC BAND have been compared to a mix of Talking Heads and Paul Simon. Bizarre as that may seem, it is pretty accurate, at least initially: think Byrne and Co backing Simon on the Graceland album and you won’t be a million miles away from the first couple of songs. LAB are actually better than that implies. There’s also healthy doses of tropicalia, Los Bitchos-style cumbia, electroclash and dubby, post-punk bass to give LAB an identity all of their own. It doesn’t always work. Some of the vocals are a little wayward and some of the time changes are a touch awkward but those are minor niggles. LAB make me smile – a rare thing – all the way through their set and I really hope they come back to the fine city soon.
SKINNY LISTER have been through a few changes since I last saw them back in 2019. Although my memory is failing, I am fairly certain they were a six piece back then. Now they are a five piece and there is a new drummer in place. And, whilst they are still firmly folk-punk, the emphasis seems to have switched from the punk to folk. What hasn’t changed is that Skinny Lister have an absolute ball delivering a set that is high on energy and audience participation. They are greeted like returning heroes. Almost all of the audience mouth along word perfectly to all of the songs, even those from one month old, new album Shanty Punk. Highlights include new songs Arm Wrestling In Dresden and the distinctly Beautiful South-ish Mantra, along with older track Geordie Lad which singer Lorna dancing in audience. Being absolutely honest, folk-punk is not my favourite form of music and I find the set three or four songs too long but I am very much in the minority and those that love Skinny Lister REALLY love them.
FULL GALLERY HERE
