Halloween at Alexandra Palace, three cracking bands and a headline set from one of Britain’s finest live acts. What more could you ask for?
Night of the Living Dred brought together Spineshank, Alien Ant Farm and Skindred for a night of heavy music, nu-metal nostalgia and plenty of entertainment.
Spineshank got the evening underway, bringing their unmistakable nu-metal sound and plenty of heaviness. Next up were Alien Ant Farm, delivering a nine-song set that included ‘Courage’, ‘Wish’, ‘Wrong Things’, ‘Movies’, ‘These Days’, ‘Last dAntz’, ‘What I Feel’ and ‘Storms’, before closing with their brilliant take on Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’. A welcome trip down memory lane and a reminder that they’ve got plenty more to offer than just that one huge hit.
Skindred
Then it was time for the main event.
Skindred kicked off with ‘My People’, immediately setting the tone for what followed. It was clear they’d gone all out on the production for this one. The stage setup was seriously impressive, with a huge lighting rig, lasers and plenty of effects creating a real spectacle. The confetti added to the occasion, and it was obvious this wasn’t just another headline gig. Skindred had pulled out all the stops to make their biggest Alexandra Palace show a night to remember.
The set was a strong mixture of familiar favourites and newer material from You Got This, with ‘This Is The Sound’, ‘Set Fazers’ and ‘Rat Race’ keeping the energy high. The mash-up of ‘Pressure’ and AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black’ was another great moment, showing just how naturally Skindred bring different musical influences together.
I have a bit of personal history with Skindred. I remember them in their early days, playing S8UK club nights when I was DJing them. To see how far they’ve come, from those club nights to headlining Alexandra Palace, is pretty special. It’s always satisfying watching a band you’ve known about from the beginning go on to achieve something like this. Seeing them command a venue of this size, with a production to match, made the occasion that little bit more special.
Benji Webbe is still an absolute force of nature on stage. His personality, humour and ability to get an audience involved are a massive part of what makes Skindred so good live. Add to that his flamboyance and seemingly endless outfit changes throughout the set, and there’s never a dull moment. Each new look brings another bit of theatre to the performance, all delivered with the confidence and swagger that only Benji can pull off. He’s as much an entertainer as he is a frontman. Backed by Mikey Demus, Arya Goggin and Tommy Gleeson, the band sounded as confident and tight as ever.
Newer tracks including ‘Big Em Up’, ‘You Got This’ and ‘Broke’ fitted perfectly alongside the older material. There was also a change of pace with the reggae version of ‘If I Could’, before things got heavier again with ‘Kill the Power’, ‘Can I Get A’ and ‘Nobody’. ‘Gimme That Boom’ and ‘Warning’ helped bring the set to an explosive conclusion.
What makes Skindred such a great live band is their ability to make a huge venue feel like one big party. There’s a genuine connection between Benji and the crowd, and the energy coming back from the audience only seems to push the band harder. Add the music, the production and Benji’s unpredictable stage presence, and you’ve got a winning combination.
With Spineshank opening, Alien Ant Farm bringing the nostalgia and Skindred delivering a headline performance complete with spectacular production, this was a seriously enjoyable night from start to finish.
For me, though, there was something extra special about seeing Skindred at this level after remembering those early S8UK club nights. They’ve come a long way, and deservedly so.
Skindred
Set 1
- My People
- This is the Sound
- Set Fazers
- Ratrace
- Pressure / Back in Black
- That's My Jam
- Big Em Up
- You Got This
- Broke
- If I Could
- You Got This
- Broke
- Kill the Power
- Can I Get A
- Nobody
- Gimme That Boom
- Warning