By: Alan Ewart
Photos: Alan Ewart |
Skinny Lister | website | facebook | twitter |
Bearded Theory Festival | May 23, 2015
It is no easy task to describe a Skinny Lister gig because a Skinny Lister performance is a performance like no other. A Skinny Lister gig is a kind of rum-fuelled, high-energy riot of punk edged folk rock that really does defy accurate description. The London based six-piece band creates a riot of noise that sweeps the audience away in a maelstrom of energy.
The madness is lead by vocalist Lorna Thomas who is aided and abetted by double bassist Michael Camino. Lorna is a pint-sized rum-swigging bundle of energy who bounces around the stage, in a blaze of flying skirts and bright red lipstick. If you want to see a crowd surfing double bass player then a Skinny Lister gig is the place to come.
There is a huge buzz around Skinny Lister at present and those who know about these things are tipping them for great things. Several of my festival buddies have seen then recently but until Bearded Theory last week I hadn’t had the pleasure. The buzz has been overwhelmingly positive so I was determined not to miss them.
What a treat they are. From the moment Skinny Lister came onto the stage they were right into it, their enthusiasm was palpable and within seconds they had the whole crowd in the palm of their hands. As you looked around the audience all you could see was people dancing, smiling and singing along to the bands mixture of sea shanties and punk style folk tunes. Think “Rum Sodomy and The Lash” era Pogues but with a much more attractive singer.
The set list rolls along from Celtic folk to rabble rousing folk rock numbers and from romantic folk ballads to crowd pleasing sing-a-long anthems. The style may vary but the energy on stage never drops. Lorna dashes to the side of the stage with a mischievous grin and grabs a huge stone cask of rum. After several lengthy draughts the cask makes its way into the crowd and is passed from person to person before eventually making its way (empty) back to the stage.
Shortly afterwards Michael is in the crowd on his back, his double bass in the air, as he is passed above the heads of the crowd without missing a beat. Make no mistake Skinny Lister are a band in a hurry to have fun, you just know that these guys love to party and party hard. That sense of fun is infectious.
I was having far too much fun to even consider writing down a set list but from memory Raise a Wreck, Cathy, Trouble on Oxford Street, What can I say and This is War from their recently released album “Down On Deptford Broadway” all got a run out. Cathy is a roof-raising anthem about a scarlet woman and brings to mind bands like Flogging Molly or Dropkick Murphys.
There is no doubt that Skinny Lister will be around for quite some time and their popularity will grow as more people see them live.
They will be a huge draw at this years Reading and Leeds festivals and are fast becoming one of the world’s great live bands. I can’t wait to see them again. I also suspect that their move to Xtra mile Recordings for their recent release will also be a boost to their career.
