ShareSkunk Anansie performing at Rock City Nottingham on Thursday 3rd April 2025
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
With an utter explosion of life affirming energy, the extraordinary New York City based Skin and her band, Skunk Anansie, were at Rock City on Thursday night and immediately captivated the crowd.
Arriving on stage in a huge black padded coat which by the end of the third song was on the floor, she launched in to opener This Means War, which saw her voice soaring and snarling as the crowd bounced around, forming early mosh pits.
Along with Cass, Ace and Mark Richardson she delivered a master class in raw energy, political anger and undeniable showmanship. With a set list that was a perfect balance of new and old songs like Charlie Big Potato which sent long time fans into a state of wild excitement, it was also the perfect opportunity to showcase songs from their new album, The Painful Truth, particularly their first single, An Artist Is An Artist.
Other new songs, Animal and Lost And Found, proved that Skunk Anansie haven’t lost their edge with their lyrics still biting into social injustice and personal defiance, and that they can still deliver songs that are an eclectic mix of styles.
After the lovely Secretly they were up and running with huge hits like Weak, I Can Dream, and Twisted (Everybody Hurts) which turned the room into a huge mosh pit. Finishing the main set with Tear The Place Up, the crowd rewarded them with thunderous applause that brought the band back onto the stage as they continued to showcase their masterful musicianship by delivering their seminal hit, Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good) that ignited a deafening sing along.
There is no denying that Skin is an incredible charismatic front woman, with her big powerhouse voice that served to add to an impassioned performance from an incredibly tight and skilled group of musicians.
