Saturday nights are often famous for being the ‘night out’ with the city of Glasgow being busy with lots on but the one party that you had to be at was taking place at the Garage as we welcomed the multi-genre Welsh party rockers – ‘Skindred‘!
CC: @jaydavison_ // @codyfrostmusic
First up, opening for the four-piece was Cody Frost, a young singer with unique flare with a punk rock look added with a poppy sound. Performing, you couldn’t take your eyes off Cody, who has also supported other amazing bands including ‘You Me At Six’ and is returning to Glasgow the end of this month again supporting ‘Meet Me At The Alter’. Cody Frost is definitely one to watch!!
Next up supporting were Londoners, ‘Black Gold‘ who really got the crowd prepared. They, like the others also carry a uniqueness that is their own as they are dressed in various masks and bring the energy to the stage. Their NU Metal sound reminded me how welcoming it is to hear new music and that it is ever-growing. They aren’t afraid to enter the Nu Metal genre bringing their own style and creativity to it and the crowd at the Garage were here for it!
Now the anticipated moment where the jam-packed Garage for this sold-out show where the crowd eagerly waited for ‘Skindred.’
I understand when a band opens with their first song, naturally a crowd is on a high and ready to kick off the night, but these guys opened with a banger!! ‘Set Fazers’ has a build-up where the reggae style beat pulls you in, and gets you moving, yet somehow the guys just burst into a spicy riff that satisfies the metalhead heart! This song builds in various ways, almost taking you through a journey of who Skindred are as you hear the different genres, but it has something for everyone!
The exciting live act is made up of Arya Goggin (drums), Mikey Demus – the guy who looks cool AF with his hat and glasses (guitar and vocals), Daniel Pugsley (bass), and of course the frontman Benji Webbe.
The four-piece work so well together, they all complement each other with their different strengths, yet their own personalities. Benji has been given a gift not only for his incredible reggae rap, and metal music but he is a born showman as he has this incredible talent of drawing you in and making you feel like you are a part of the band!
He got the crowd participating from start to end of their 13-hit-after-hit setlist, and he absolutely can handle the Scottish banter!
At one moment they teased the crowd with the riff from Pantera’s ‘Walk’, and when Benji cut this the crowd did not hesitate on ‘boo-ing’ making know how they felt but the party animals then burst into ‘500 Miles’ met with Benji’s elaborative, and (quite possibly) heavily- exaggerated adventurous story about how The Proclaimers contacted Skindred asking for their ‘bruvs’ to help them out.
The banging energy continued as fan favourites were played from ‘Nobody’, ‘Gimmie That Boom’, and one of their newest releases ‘L.O.V.E (Smile Please)’. The mighty riffs this band bring along with their rhythmic beats are met with jazzy costume changes from Benji featuring fluffy pink hats, jazzy white leather jackets with tassels, long shiny trench coats and more.
What I appreciated was not only their rapping, metal and reggae sounds but hearing the vocals from Benji that are complimented amazingly well by Mikey particularly emphasised in ‘World On Fire’ and ‘If I Could’ it is lovely to hear the tone and sound of Benji singing.
Ending with a Skindred trademark staple was for the encore of ‘Warning’ where of course the famous Newport Helicopter moment happens where fans hold their t-shirts in the air waiting for the countdown ready to swing their t-shirts in the air as the breakdown riff beats into your whole body!
The banging energy these guys bring is phenomenal. It was a party from start to finish. They look cool, they sound cool, but they leave you feeling like they are your friend!
Skindred are clearly born to perform and bring the world music, and they are seriously one to watch as I suspect they will continue to draw in more fans, expand the Skindred family and continue to produce more hits and sell out bigger venues!
