A welcome break from my usual boring Sunday, as Aussie surf-rock legends Skegss brought the punch to The Classic Grand in Glasgow. With a sold-out crowd and a fiery setlist, Skegss proved why they remain ones to watch- and sat down for a little pre-show chat with yours truly.
They stopped off to visit us Scots in Glasgow as part of their 2025 EU/UK tour, and the band certainly delivered. “We want the crowd to have a good time and feel like they can really escape their world”, said vocalist and guitarist Ben Reed.
Over ten years after their first release, I met with the boys before the show to discuss inspirations, creative processes, and tour anecdotes- so here are the highlights. When asked whether their approach to songwriting or recording has changed since their early days, they explained that a big learning curve has been avoiding getting overwhelmed by trying to juggle too many new tracks, stating, “We’re trying not to throw too much on the plate at once”. I asked if any recent tour stories stood out, and was swiftly shown Ben’s very swollen hand due to a skateboarding accident in Birmingham a few days prior, naturally making it more difficult to play the tracks – that’s dedication.
Their sound has always been raw and energetic, big with fans of garage-rock and punk revival scenes. I asked what is coming next for the band and was met with this answer: “We’ve got a new EP coming out, it’s a bit more raw than our last release. There’s one song about to come out that’s more Latin-esque, so that’s sort of a new thing”. They then further explained that they are brainstorming and experimenting a lot more. Exciting times for fans of Skegss.
Ben Reed, Jonny Lani and I, post-interview
One word comes to mind when I reflect on their live performance- mega.
Under the soft blue lights of The Classic Grand, the packed audience roared as the boys stepped on stage. The floor practically shook as they tore into their opening track, Valhalla, and for the next hour, the audience at The Classic Grand never stood still. They delivered us an array of their sun-kissed punky tunes and were ringmasters of the chaos that erupted in this beautiful venue. Drummer Jonny Lani was a real driving force behind these tracks, playing with thunderous precision that gave even their heaviest songs a razor-sharp edge like Slayer– the track that gave us the first mosh-pit of the night.
The sound was crisp and very well balanced, with a mix that brought out every layer. Performed live, these raw tracks felt even more powerful and stripped-back in a way the studio versions only hinted at. Lit with an extravagant lighting plot, it was an immersive experience from start to finish and the sweltering venue didn’t stop the gig-goers from really letting go. It was a sea of bouncing bodies all singing along and giving it their all, I thoroughly enjoyed being amongst this raucous, particularly in the big tracks like L.S.D, Up In The Clouds, and my personal favourite, Under The Thunder.
It’s safe to say that Skegss gave Glasgow a night to remember. Between the sweat-soaked sing-alongs, tight musicianship and a set that never lost momentum, the band proved their power and gave us Scottish fans a perfect excuse to ‘go mental’. With new material on the horizon and a live presence that is both gritty and electric, Skegss are charging forward– and going by this performance, fans should prepare themselves for the ride.
Ella Jay