Source: Pick Your Teeth Up Photography ©
Skindred are too big, and have too dedicated a following to play small gigs like the Lemon Grove in Exeter, but it’s the appreciation from the fans that the band bother to come this far south to play in a little venue which probably makes it worthwhile for the band.
Full of energy as always, the reggae metal monsters hyped up the crowd from the second they came onstage. Arguably one of the most charismatic frontmen in rock music today, Benji Webbe made it very clear from the outset that he would only accept the loudest performances from the crowd.
The gig kicked off with fan-favourites ‘Under Attack’ and ‘Rat Race’ and Benji spoke about his memories of playing in Exeter in the past. This got the crowd riled up, and ready to go crazy for the whole set.
There were some very quirky parts to Skindred’s set – particularly when they played Justin Bieber’s ‘Sorry’ whilst encouraging fans to chant “Fuck Bieber” and other such insults. It’s always interesting to see what Benji has decided to wear to play a gig, and this was no exception. Starting off in all black and spike-studded sunglasses, he changed costume after the encore into a leopard print waistcoat and a crown, and proceeded to sing a short song in the voice of Peter Griffin from Family Guy. It was odd, but they crowd ate it up.
Source: Pick Your Teeth Up Photography ©
After a massive change of pace as Benji sang the heart wrenching ‘Saying It Now’ acoustically, they played ‘Pressure’ and ‘Nobody’ from their 2012 album Babylon which sent the crowd into a singing and jumping frenzy.
The band pulled the standard move of instructing the audience to get down low before jumping up, and the less common shirt-helicopter move. The night was rounded off with the massive ‘Warning’ which saw a new lease of life to the crowd.
Skindred are a band that you should go and see at least once. Regardless of if you’re a fan or not, the experience is a bizarre one, but a very rewarding one, and you’ll end up leaving with a whole new respect for the band.
