Skunk Anansie @ Cambridge Corn Exchange

Skunk Anansie

A packed-out Cambridge Corn Exchange is always a joyous site, made even more joyous when it is possible mid-week, but that is the kind of response you will get when rock royalty are passing through town. This is exactly what happened last night as the legendary Skunk Anansie brought their UK Tour to the city, being met by a sellout crowd ready for a night filled with some of the best rock music this country has ever produced. As the lights dimmed on the spike-covered set, the capacity crowd became electric, erupting into applause to welcome Ace (guitar), Cass (bass) and Mark (drums) to the stage. The trio tore into an extended intro of the fiery 'This Means War', before being joined on stage by lead vocalist Skin, completing the line-up and allowing the night of riotous music to kick into full flow. A blistering playthrough of their opening track turned the venue's floor section into a mass of limbs. 

Things would slightly calm momentarily for the second song, 'Charlie Big Potato', whilst everyone took a step back, enchanted by Skin's breathtaking vocalwork, backed up by the punchiest of instrumentals. If the vocals on 'Charlie Big Potato' weren't enough to blow you away, then they undoubtedly would've been on follow-up track 'Because of You'. It is easy to hear on Skunk Anansie's tracks just how powerful Skins' vocalwork is, but the sheer scale of it has to be seen live to truly be understood. The start to this performance was beyond mesmerising, yet gave just a small window into the musical excellence that would follow over the next 2 hours.  

As 'Because of You' came to an end, Skin took the opportunity to welcome the audience to the show, in potentially the most Skunk Anansie way possible. "Well well well, what have we got here? A bunch of mother fuckers?". This would then lead into a rightful promotion of the band's upcoming album 'The Painful Truth', which is out on May 23rd, before playing the lead single from the record, 'An Artist Is An Artist'. Speaking about the new album upon its announcement, Skin said “I don’t care that we were big in the Nineties. Creatively it’s irrelevant because in my rock bible the first commandment states, If thy rest on them laurels thy shall wither up and die artistically, musically, mentally. And then financially". This was a bold statement of continual growth and development which the band effortlessly managed to back up by playing just one song from it, and would only ring truer as further offerings were provided later in the set.

However, Skunk Anansie stand for so much more than just good music. They are outspoken voices addressing political and social issues, speaking out against anything that stands in the way of love and equality. Perhaps nothing showed this more than the impassioned speech about tackling social injustices that preceded 'God Loves Only You'. With every line spoken by Skin, she would receive cheers and applause of validation from her band and audience members alike. This then led into a sensational playthrough of the song, backed up by the most incredible light display, which was a consistent theme throughout the night.

As the set progressed, more and more of the hits would pass, with some of the bands biggest and best tracks falling into the middle of the setlist, a testament to the depth of back catalogue they possess. A goosebump-inducing rendition of 'Secretly' was swiftly followed by a rapturous rendition of the timeless classic that is 'Weak'. It would be so easy to follow every song expressing how incredible Skin's vocals were throughout, having undoubtedly become one of the best vocalists I have ever seen live, but her stage presence was just as captivating. In fact the presence was so great that at one point the stage wasn't enough to hold her, instead heading to the centre of the audience to deliver a scorching performance of 'I Can Dream', finishing the song by crowd surfing back to the stage.

Whilst I truly cannot understate the excellence of Skin, definite attention also needs to be given to how sensational the rest of Skunk Anansie are. Mark's skilled drumming was one of the most impressive sights I have seen in a long time. Cass' basslines drove straight into the heart of all in attendance, elevating each song with every note played, whilst Ace delivered some of the most mind-blowing solos that you couldn't take your eyes off. But it is not just individual greatness that makes Skunk Anansie so special, it is the effortless manner the four members bounce off one another to create the most blissful cacophony of sound

The night continued with an era-spanning setlist, showcasing several fan favourites alongside previews of the upcoming album, before the main set came to a close through a thunderous performance of 'Little Baby Swastikkka'. This particular song upped the chaos inside the Corn Exchange to a whole new level. There was people dancing everywhere, circle pits opening in the centre of the venue, all joined together by some of the night's loudest singalongs. 

With such a high-energy ending to the main set, it was going to take some impressive encore to be able to top it. Luckily, the band reemerged with a string of five-songs, creating an epic finale that capped of the night in the most perfect way possible. Much like the main set, the encore was a mix of old and new, blending timeless classics such as 'Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)' with offerings from the new album like 'Cheers'. In fact, there was even time to squeeze in a cover as the four-piece mastered their way through their take on Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love'. The night would evetually be brought to a close by the song which the band released on that very same day, 'Lost and Found'. If ever there was proof that Skunk Anansie are better than ever, it is the fact that they can close a night this special with a song released less than 24 hours ago, and it not seem remotely out of place.

There can be no doubting the cultural and social impact Skunk Anansie have had over the last 30+ years, but the one thing that last night proved indubitably is that they will continue to do so for years to come, and will do so without having to rely solely on their past material. The new music is some of the best they have ever made, feeling tailor-made for the stage when delivered in a live show this special. As a four-piece they create a once-in-a-lifetime act that truly are must-see at any given opportunity.