Skinny Lister bounce into town on the back of their new well regarded album Down on Deptford Broadway. Full of manic energy as soon as they step on stage, they are now harder and more powerful than I recall from last year’s Cambridge Folk Fest club tent. Reminiscent of the Pogues but more poppy and less drenched in whisky and cigarette smoke. Most of them sing but its Lorna, in the band with her brother, who is the most animated although she does has competition when the double bass player surfs into the crowd complete with instrument. Not to be outdone she joins him, waltzing with anyone who will dance…which is most of the crowd, who love her and the band and know every song.
Mind you, all their originals sound like you have known them for years after a few listens – a very good sign. Highlights include the new album’s title track, Trouble on Oxford Street, Rollin Over, slower number What Can I Say, old sea shanties John Kanacka and South Australia, and my own favourite, Six Whiskies, just made for singing drunkenly in a bar… With their London gig at the O2 Academy sold out, and a big stage performance at this year’s Cambridge FF to come, this band could go far.
Excellent support in Sean McGowan, not the famous one, as he points out early on. Nonetheless he’s a great writer, singing from the heart in a way that would make his namesake proud. First song My England (not yours!) could be an anti-UKIP anthem, then there’s the autobiographical Millbrook Road, and the powerful unaccompanied inspirational rap All the Best that ends his set.
Frank Turner, an obvious influence, has sung with him and may well do again at the London gig. Onstage he announces he’s just had a call from Billy Bragg, giving him the support slot for his 2 June gig in Southampton, Sean’s home town. He’s as pleased as punch! Comes across as a real honest young guy, not gobby, just full of passion and self-deprecating humour – it's no surprise when Skinny Lister makes him one of the band for their many encores. His is the kind of voice that those insincere ‘heartfelt’ EDM acoustic numbers by people like Avicii really need.
Kevin Hand
