Without a doubt, Skinny Lister are one of best live acts around right now and the full on party we got to enjoy at the Fleece in Bristol just reinforced those credentials.
First up was Hannah-Rose Platt with an eclectic mix of her beautiful voice and some seriously dark subject matter. Resplendent in green velvet and white blonde hair she cast an almost ethereal presence on the stage. And the set was just stunning, a mix of old and new, and for me track 1956 was just perfection.
Next up we had a change of pace, with the Noble Jacks, in duo format. They perfectly bridged the gap between Hannah-Rose and the Skinnies. Nominated live act of the year in the 2023 UK Americana Awards and hailed as the finest purveyors of folk-influenced Americana, they started at pace and didn't let up. Will sang, played harmonica, guitar and the kick drum, backed up by Ant on guitars and baking vocals. A brilliant set and got everybody moving and warned up as the crowd number swelled too capacity.
Then for the headliners. Skinny Lister are masters of their craft. On the final leg of their tour to promote their new album, Shanty Punk, they are perfectly in sync, which is a definite requirement as they launch into the first three songs at full whack, bouncing around the stage somehow not crashing into each other.
The new tracks sit so well alongside the old classics and even with recent lineup changes they really haven't missed a beat. The sound is first class and I think the Fleece have got some new lighting as it was incredible on the night. Lorna is full of the (Christmas?) spirit and had numerous sorties intro the crowd. Firstly for a dance, then to challenge the Geordie credentials of a punter with an even more exuberant dance routine, then for a spot of arm wrestling, a bit of crowd surfing, a short dance on the bar and then a crowd surf back to the stage!
And the fantastic songs kept coming. 'John Kanaka' raised the roof as usual and a couple of members from The Longest John's were spotted in the crowd and co-opted to get on stage and support. Party George (Lorna and Max's dad) even came up on stage and sang his track from the album 'William Harker'.
And the full house in the Fleece couldn't get enough. Max bounced around the stage like a jack in the box and Scott raised his double bass above his head and I thought lives would be lost. And Lorna didn't stop moving from the first note, and we even saw the flagon for the first time since COVID, where we all got to take a swig and pass it round.
For the encore, they filled the stage with a whole host of people and a rousing 'Six Whiskies' finished the night.
Skinny Lister put on one hell of a show and while my feet were sore and my voice hoarse, like everyone in the room, I left with a massive smile on my face. Words just do not do these shows justice, you have to get down and see them for yourself in 2024!
Words and Pictures by Glenn Morrison
