The first open air gig of the year as part of Depot Live at Cardiff Castle and it's a 90's grunge/alt rock feast for Generation Xers, before all that though was the opening act Du Blonde (7), the stage name of British musician Beth Jeans Houghton.
This was just the right sort of music to kick off the evening as Du Blonde play gritty grungy, punky, pop with confessional lyrics and high energy power rock. Having collaborated with Laura Jane Grace, Ezra Furman and Shirley Manson, there's no doubt why she was chosen to open the show.
Dean:
Dean:
A great person, I have no idea who, once stated “There are levels to this”, and whilst it’s a quote which has been refused for many scenarios, I can only assume that the real origins of the quote came from somebody who had just seen Skunk Anansie (10) live and had realised that in the live sphere there are virtually none their equals.
This is a band who have headlined Glastonbury (1998), survived cancer (seriously, look up the story about bassist Cass’ journey and eventual all clear), founded charities, stood up for human rights and been on a 32 year journey and in that time have pretty much mastered the live show.
Taking the stage as the first of the headliners Skunk Anansie smash through opener This Means War in such an intense manner that you know frontwoman Skin is using this as a declaration of the next 80 minutes, prowling the stage whilst delivering a vocal assault that most singers wish they had the pipes to belt out.
And for the next hour and change the band deliver over and over, hitting every make musical food group with powerful singalong anthems such as Weak, Shame and Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good), going hard with belters like Yes It’s Fucking Political, Cheers and Charlie Big Potato, and bringing main party vibes with Twisted (Everyday Hurts), I Can Dream and An Artist Is An Artist. During all of which guitarist Ace is tearing through some incredible riffage, Cass is hitting every bass note perfectly and drummer Mark simply doesn’t miss a beat. This is a live band that has everything honed to perfection, but can improvise as a unit with zero hesitation.
And improvise they have to, as the queen leading the group is not afraid to take the show elsewhere and as such the band have to play around this (and do so, perfectly). Skin is, put simply, an icon and legend of the alternative world. For me there isn’t a single frontperson on this planet who comes even close to the levels of charisma, talent and being as much of a sheer force of nature as her. She crowd surfs for fun, she heads to the middle of the audience to create a female-only mosh pit and she carries her “Skin-cam” around with such style that by the end of the show everybody remembers why this band deserve all their flowers.
Ending with seminal belter Little Baby Swastika the band exit the stage and the crowd are left to catch their breath. Special.
As impossible to follow as that is, Garbage (8) grab the reigns after an interval and take on the task in fine style. Bring brutally honest, I’ve seen Garbage many times and whilst some shows have been earth shattering, I’ve come away from equally as many slightly flat and that has always been down to what I can only describe as some very odd setlist choices (except that one time somebody thought it would be a good idea to book them in the concourse of a football stadium, but that’s another story).
Thankfully tonight is not one of those nights as Shirley Manson takes to the stage on a mission to absolutely lay waste to Cardiff castle with menace in her eyes and a band of musical royalty in the form of Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker (with Veruca Salt’s Nicole Fiorentino on touring bass duties) to give maximum firepower so she can do so.
Tonight we get a far stronger setlist from the band, with some heavy hitters like Vow, Stupid Girl, I Think I’m Paranoid and Push It being delivered to maximum effect, and keeping the crowd happy whilst they worship at the altar of Shirley.
There are still a couple of odd choices, such as The Day I Met God closing out the set instead of Only Happy When It Rains (which is played just before, and it is noticeable how many are making an early break for the exit afterwards, instead of staying for the last song) but this doesn’t detract from a phenomenal night in one of the best outdoor venues in the UK.
Seminal.
This is a band who have headlined Glastonbury (1998), survived cancer (seriously, look up the story about bassist Cass’ journey and eventual all clear), founded charities, stood up for human rights and been on a 32 year journey and in that time have pretty much mastered the live show.
Taking the stage as the first of the headliners Skunk Anansie smash through opener This Means War in such an intense manner that you know frontwoman Skin is using this as a declaration of the next 80 minutes, prowling the stage whilst delivering a vocal assault that most singers wish they had the pipes to belt out.
And for the next hour and change the band deliver over and over, hitting every make musical food group with powerful singalong anthems such as Weak, Shame and Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good), going hard with belters like Yes It’s Fucking Political, Cheers and Charlie Big Potato, and bringing main party vibes with Twisted (Everyday Hurts), I Can Dream and An Artist Is An Artist. During all of which guitarist Ace is tearing through some incredible riffage, Cass is hitting every bass note perfectly and drummer Mark simply doesn’t miss a beat. This is a live band that has everything honed to perfection, but can improvise as a unit with zero hesitation.
And improvise they have to, as the queen leading the group is not afraid to take the show elsewhere and as such the band have to play around this (and do so, perfectly). Skin is, put simply, an icon and legend of the alternative world. For me there isn’t a single frontperson on this planet who comes even close to the levels of charisma, talent and being as much of a sheer force of nature as her. She crowd surfs for fun, she heads to the middle of the audience to create a female-only mosh pit and she carries her “Skin-cam” around with such style that by the end of the show everybody remembers why this band deserve all their flowers.
Ending with seminal belter Little Baby Swastika the band exit the stage and the crowd are left to catch their breath. Special.
As impossible to follow as that is, Garbage (8) grab the reigns after an interval and take on the task in fine style. Bring brutally honest, I’ve seen Garbage many times and whilst some shows have been earth shattering, I’ve come away from equally as many slightly flat and that has always been down to what I can only describe as some very odd setlist choices (except that one time somebody thought it would be a good idea to book them in the concourse of a football stadium, but that’s another story).
Thankfully tonight is not one of those nights as Shirley Manson takes to the stage on a mission to absolutely lay waste to Cardiff castle with menace in her eyes and a band of musical royalty in the form of Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker (with Veruca Salt’s Nicole Fiorentino on touring bass duties) to give maximum firepower so she can do so.
Tonight we get a far stronger setlist from the band, with some heavy hitters like Vow, Stupid Girl, I Think I’m Paranoid and Push It being delivered to maximum effect, and keeping the crowd happy whilst they worship at the altar of Shirley.
There are still a couple of odd choices, such as The Day I Met God closing out the set instead of Only Happy When It Rains (which is played just before, and it is noticeable how many are making an early break for the exit afterwards, instead of staying for the last song) but this doesn’t detract from a phenomenal night in one of the best outdoor venues in the UK.
Seminal.
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