Skunk Anansie & So Good – Live Review – Manchester O2 Apollo.

So Good

Londoners ‘So Good’ secured this support slot at short notice, merely days before the Skunk Anansie tour after the original support pulled out unexpectedly, in what must be a dream gig opportunity for them. I hadn’t heard of them before, and a quick googling on the way to the gig tells me they play ‘Ignorant Brat Pop’, to use their phrase. Let’s find out exactly what that means . . .

The first thing I noticed was that there were lots of musicians up on stage, with the guitarists and drummer clad in pink jumpsuits and balaclavas. In stark contrast to the thuggish looking backing band, out front we have beret clad frontwoman Sophie Bokor-Ingram, flanked by two dancers/backing singers.

Musically, it’s an unsubtle fusion of many genres – all of them provocative and abrasive! Primarily punk, mixed with elements of pop, drill and maybe hip hop. In terms of song titles and lyrics, Sophie is keen to use her time on the microphone to address issues like gender equality and politics, conveyed with a tongue in cheek sense of humour and more than just a slight tip of the beret to Mr Johnny Rotten.

The rendition and performance routine of ‘If I Had A…’ was entertaining and hilarious – It’s a song about what it would be like to be a man for the day, and tackles toxic masculinity head on. Mid set, Sophie invites the crowd to dedicate their middle fingers in the air to Donald Trump, and the audience willingly obliges, in a show of pop-punk defiance.

Their short set will have won them plenty of fans in the Manchester crowd – although I would say at times they did seem slightly miss-matched as support for Skunk Anansie. They had the punk attitude but perhaps not the depth and grace of what was to follow. Musically, I don’t think I’ll be going home and listening to them every day, however as a live act they are great at what they do, certainly entertained the crowd well and I’d recommend catching them if you get the opportunity.

Skunk Anansie

Skunk Anansie are a band that have sometimes attracted the label ’90s Rock’, however anyone who has delved into their discography knows that this whitewash tag can do them a disservice. Whilst the rest of the country was getting wrapped up in the ‘Battle of Britop’ – fighting in pubs about whether Blur was better than Oasis (of course they’re not)…. Skin, Cass, Martin and Mark were doing something different. They knew when to be heavy, loud and obnoxious. They knew when to do a ballad, be subtle, or let Skin’s sweet voice soar.

The intro tape fades, and Skin emerges clad in a black cape, strutting all over the stage, and the sold-out Manchester Apollo goes bonkers. The crowd is seriously hyped up for this. They kick off with ‘This Means War’ – a real punch in the gut of a song.

Skin is constantly moving and commands the stage confidently. Guitarist Ace and bassist Cass are less animated, instead oozing a calm coolness, and Mark on drums keeps it all rock solid. The setlist tonight is representative of their whole timeline and four tracks in we get the first of the new songs – ‘An Artist is an Artist’. A lyrically provocative song which rails against the modern culture of online ‘keyboard warrior’ style criticism. The band have spoken over the years about their frustrations with mindless comments and criticism from people who don’t ‘get’ what they’re trying to achieve, fearing that creativity in the industry could be at risk of being stifled and compromised. These days of course, the rise of social media has given a louder voice to these cretins.

Another new song ‘Cheers’ is an upbeat number with a signature catchy vocal hook, which went down a treat. Yes, for many there’s a lot of 90s nostalgia here, but the new songs are great and the band’s mantra of never resting on their laurels has served them well. ‘Because Of You’ was a vocal highlight of the evening, proving that some 30 odd years later, Skin’s voice is still as amazing as it ever was, and I’m eagerly awaiting the new record.

Skin gives a high energy performance, and is constantly moving – throwing herself into the mosh pit for the sledgehammer chorus of ‘I Can Dream’. She’s graceful, elegant, and as beautifully punk as they come. I’m sure she won’t mind me saying this – Skin’s got a big mouth and ain’t afraid to use it. They always had a message in the lyrics that went beyond just the words; that’s how it was in the 90s and judging by the new tracks showcased tonight, that’s still how it is today. “Look after all those in our society. It’s about basic human empathy” Skin implores the crowd in one of several emotional between-song speeches.

Thanks to Skunk Anansie for a captivating and truly sublime performance tonight. New album ‘The Painful Truth’ is set for release May 23rd 2025.

Setlist:

This Means War

Charlie Big Potato

Because of You

An Artist Is an Artist

I Believed in You

Love Someone Else

God Loves Only You

Secretly

Weak

I Can Dream