rivers2cross

The last time I saw Skinny Lister was at The Garage in Highbury before Christmas, where I got to meet the band and see the sound check as part of the chapter on the band included in my forthcoming bowel cancer fundraising book. With the release of the bands 4th studio album, The Story Is… I made a 400 mile round trip to see them at The Key Club in Leeds.

My previous Skinny gigs had been in London, and I must admit when I got to the venue I wondered how the whole band would fit on the compact stage. Well fit on it they did, and at times they hung from the ceiling – yes Max! How Scott didn’t impale the ceiling with the double bass I’ll never know. Lorna went crowd surfing as is her way, and it was joyous mayhem throughout. This was as good as I have seen the band. They were on top form, and the new songs sounded great live, and more than held their own with the more established classics with the band striking a perfect balance between old and new material.

This was the first time I had been to a gig in Leeds, and I have to say that it didn’t disappoint. The crowd were about as enthusiastic as any audience I’ve seen, and would give most Skinny Lister audiences a run for their money. For anyone going to see the band on this tour, you are in for a treat, and if you haven’t yet seen them you are missing out on something special.