SGNLS

Last night I was massively fortunate enough to see the London show off the current 'In Solvent See 2010' tour of the mighty Skinny Puppy. Not only was it the first time I'd seen them, but I had been looking forward to it well before actually booking the tickets back in February. Needless to say, I wasn't at all disappointed.

Support came from a UK band called 'Hounds'. They weren't a bad band; generic punk rock with elements of synthesisers here and there (obviously over-tracked or played off stage as it wasn't any of the visible band). Why they were supporting Skinny Puppy, I don't know. Maybe it was last minute, maybe it was completely intentional... Either way, for me and a fair few others, it didn't work. We wanted to see Skinny Puppy, and if we'd had something remotely similar or even completely different that did the trick it'd have been superb. As such, we were treated to a rather generic but not hugely regrettable performance. They lasted the standard 30 minutes, before it then took 55 minutes for the stage to be set and the guys to take to the fold. It was a long, beer-fueled hour or so until the first sights of Skinny Puppy (I did however see cEvin outside, but that doesn't count).

Now, the basic background is that I love Skinny Puppy but I was yet to see them; I was eager as a beaver-bitch to be quite frank about it.

The lights finally went down at about 21.25; after a small whirl of atmospheric synthy-magiga they came out to 'Love in Vein', a classic from earlier times. Nivek was his amazing self, and whilst I didn't get any photos I'd deem worthy to share, he had exactly the same outfits, in order, and they used the same stage setup to this gig in 2009.

Now, let it be known if you do not know already; Skinny Puppy are famed for their incredible performances. Their 'stage-show' is nothing short of a work of beauty; mesmerising visuals coupled with the ambient or aggressive or out-right head-wobbling unique music and the theatrical activity of Nivek makes for an incredible experience.

This time in no way did they falter; Nivek hobbled onto the stage wearing the cone-domed outfit demonstrated in the pictures linked above to the sounds and sights of an effortless yet meticulously brilliant backdrop. His writhing and swapping of outfits into what can only be described as a lunatic mummified Jack Frost only aided the rumours of their impressive live show.

I could explain the evening and what went on throughout every song they played, but I'd only be repeating myself about what went on. I was sure as soon as they played 'Deadlines' that tonight was not just going to be a memory that lived forever, but that I was about to witness one of the best gigs I had been to (and believe me, it's hundreds. Might need to try and list all the buggers one day...).

Whilst the omission of personal favourites 'Smothered Hope', 'Tin Omen' and 'Knowhere' dampened my spirits every moment one song finished and the next begun in the Encore, I could not find fault with anything about the evening (save for Hounds; alas). The fact they finished with the hauntingly angry 'Shorelined Poison' with Nivek now simply in a sweaty vest and trousers, stamped an experience that nearly had me to fly to Gothenburg a week later. Fucking sold out gigs; what a ball-ache.

Setlist

1. Love in Vein
2. Hatekill
3. Addiction
4. Dogshit
5. Deadlines
6. Politikil
7. Pedafly
8. Rodent
9. Tormentor
10. Pro-Test
11. Morpheus Laughing
12. Ugli
13. Assimilate
14. ---
15. Worlock
16. Brap
17. Shorelined Poison

An below, a lovely video of the 'Worlock' performance, complete with Nivek (sans outfits).