Taxi traumas... 30 minutes late and with much swearing… it finally turns up and I arrive slightly disorientated and not in the best mood. I grab a drink and can hear Holocene, a singer-songwriter and guitarist aka Sian Kelly sounding great, but sadly she finishes as I am about to watch. Having caught up on YouTube I’m really disappointed to miss her as I’m sure she gave a brilliant performance; powerful vocals (think slightly Taylor Momsen-esque from The Pretty Reckless), melodic guitars, all a bit reminiscent of a chilled version of Garbage. This is not surprising as her Facebook bio states she “was bred from the grunge scene but found her voice as a young musician singing jazz. Holocene twists these two at-odds worlds of music, creating a new gut-punching melancholy”. Certainly worth a listen. 

Next up is Gen and the Degenerates whose energy has a big impact on the slightly chilly environs of Victoria Warehouse. No wonder Gen is wearing a huge black and white fur coat… brrrr. A few songs in and the coat is removed to reveal a striking outfit including sparkly black skirt and leopard print chiffon top, simply wonderful. Gen is absolutely full of body confidence and I am full of admiration. With immense stage presence and great interaction with the crowd, they are a perfect support band for our headliners. Bold and bolshy Gen shouts out to ask if anyone in the audience is “queer and non-binary” and is, of course, greeted with loud applause. Gen’s vibrant personality and booming vocals steal the show. 

The average age of this audience is probably between 35 and 45, so I’m delighted that this band of young whippersnappers get to perform in front of this audience tonight and throughout this tour. New music is, and always will be, the lifeblood of the rock and metal scene, and we must support it wholeheartedly. The band certainly have something to say with songs including the ever-so catchy new single ‘Girl, God, Gun’, ‘Wild Thing’, ‘Underwear’ and the finale of anthemic and angry ‘Burn Your Pedestals’, which ends with Gen and the Degenerates dramatically throwing themself on the floor. Their EP “Only Alive When in Motion” came out 30 March. One to watch.

And then… Skunk Anansie are finally here for our entertainment. Oddly I have never managed to see them live despite being a fan since hearing ‘Weak’ back in what seems like yesterday but was actually 1994!!! Gulp. The band come out and lead singer Skin is absolutely stunning in a magenta suit with maleficent-style headdress. ‘All animals are created equal but some are more equal than others’ booms out across the room and they are straight into ‘Yes It’s Fucking Political’. The scene is set for the night. A timely reminder that rock music is political and always should be. An awe-inspiring light show, with hypnotic strobes accompanies the whole performance and the crowd are immersed. The volume is definitely set to 11. You can feel the bass in your chest and even my jeans are vibrating around my legs. As the song comes to an end Skin shows us her skill with the unexpected addition of a theremini! Superb!

This tour was set to mark 25 years of Skunk Anansie but here we are in 2022, marking 28 years of this epic Brit Rock band. And it’s heartening that despite the mileage they have put in, and facts such as Skin appearing on BBC Breakfast that morning, they are still playing the slightly smaller venues, rather than the impersonal arenas that would definitely lack the intimacy of tonight’s show. A few days prior Skin had lost her voice and a few European dates were cancelled, so I had been like a hawk watching their Facebook page to ensure the gig was still going ahead and am relieved to see she is fighting fit and her voice is as powerful as ever. 

I expected an awe-inspiring show, though I was slightly worried I wouldn’t enjoy the angrier, noisy stuff as I’m definitely more attuned to the emotive and soulful parts of their discography; but I am in for a treat as the vocals and musicianship is perfection. It’s essentially a greatest hits tour and next up is ‘I Can Dream’ from the debut album “Paranoid and Sunburnt” into ‘Because of You’ and ‘Twisted (Because of You)’ from the second, my favourite album “Stoosh”. Then it is back to ‘Weak’ that first song I ever heard… and for a moment I am lost in the music and wonder where I heard this first, Top of the Pops, Radio 1 Top 40? And think to myself how old am I again?! Lyrically and vocally sublime.

“Weak as I am, no tears for you. Deep as I am, I'm no one's fool. Weak as I am”

For those of you who are not familiar with Skunk Anansie they are a four-piece band from London. Formed in 1994, they parted ways in 2001 only to reform in 2008. Members are Skin (vocals, guitar, theremin), Ace (guitar), Cass (bass) and Mark (drums). For the tour they are also accompanied by Erika on keyboards. They have an impressive six studio albums and have just released “25live@25”. Throughout the evening the performance is punctuated by Skin providing insight into the songs including ‘Ugly Boy’, ‘Can’t Take You Anywhere’ (the latest single), and a few songs later Skin gives an impassioned speech about religion before they perform ‘God Loves Only You’ detailing the hypocrisy of religion.

For someone who is ever so softly spoken it seems slightly surreal and somewhat of a juxtaposition to hear the inner force of the vocals that emanate from Skin, not to mention the swearing, totally badass! I cannot sing, or make music but I understand lyrics, choosing to live in a world of songs and next up is one of my favourite songs, most definitely my favourite Skunk Anansie song (seemingly true for many of the crowd given the vocal accompaniment) ‘Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)’. 

“Just because you feel good. Doesn't make you right, oh no. Just because you feel good. Still want you here tonight”

Throughout the night I keep thinking when will I hear something from 1999 album “Post Orgasmic Chill”? The band’s third album and the one I have listened to the most because in a previous life I spent that summer in Ibiza with that album and only one other CD that I won’t mention!!! So I am delighted when I hear the thundering riff of ‘Charlie Big Potato’ the album opening track. What is quite striking despite the age of these songs, not one of them sounds dated, not in the slightest. Ignoring how old I feel right now, I am ecstatic at hearing this song live and my only grumble about the whole night is that no other songs from this album are played (‘Secretly’, ‘Lately’, ‘You’ll Follow Me Down’ and ‘I’m Not Afraid’- all highly rated).

As the band exit the stage we are wondering what is left to play for the encore? Suit gone, Skin is now more casual and explains the next song was studio produced with a 52-piece orchestra but this original stripped back version is being performed exclusively tonight. And with that, the unmistakable opening to ‘Brazen (Weep)’ fills the room with almost overwhelming pathos. 

Total change of tempo and they are coming to the end of the set with recent single ‘Piggy’, another in-your-face critique of the government and everything they should be doing but aren’t. Then a rendition of ‘Highway to Hell’ with obligatory sing-along and final song ‘Little Baby Swastikkka’. A triumphant end… but wait what is this… it’s not quite over. Suddenly there is a collective gasp of breath as ‘Best of You’ by Foo Fighters is carried across the airwaves. It is a very moving and poignant close, halting my tears I hide behind my phone, filming the band on stage looking to the sky and paying their respects to the much-loved Taylor Hawkins. No words needed.