Tuesday 13th October 2009 @ Academy, Bristol
With Support From: Karnivool

I was pretty excited to be called up an hour before the Skindred gig by my friend, Emily, who’d won a pair of free tickets on the Bristol Academy website! Packed like sardines in the outdoor smoking area, we missed most of the support act - Karnivool? - although what we heard was alright, if all done before. We emerged from the-area-most-likely-to-make-you-want-to-kick-the-habit to an excited, catchy atmosphere.

Skindred came on led by their ginger-bearded baldie and Commander-kitted-out Chief Benji to a riot of applause. The (predominantly male) audience lifted their arms in the air and gave grunts and whoops of satisfaction, some of them sweating and smelly before they’d even begun moshing. I’d definitely worn the wrong shoes…

They started with a mild track as is the way, before launching into an immediate crowd pleaser. Patois mixed with a clear, Welsh accent and good humour made Benji a good compère for his band and the mix of metal and reggae (or ragga-metal as the band dub it) was unlike anything else. It was brilliant for Bristol who love their ragga/reggae music more than a lot of cities.

I revived my moshing skills – a mix of being able to push grown men a distance from myself and blocking — so I’d survive the onslaught. I was impressed at the orderly pit forming and chivalrous rules of the moshing itself. Forming a perfect circle and then apologising to anyone you hurt after you’ve jumped into them.

There was a lot of jumping up and down as well as side-to-side stepping and positive energy. It was unlike anything I’d seen before and I really enjoyed it for that as well as for being good feel good music.

www.skindred.com

Sophie Collard