The Skinner Brothers, still trying to cool down!

The temperature in Southampton was up to 32C degrees (89F), so what’s the best thing to do, go to a 200 capacity sold out gig at The Joiners to see The Skinner Brothers when you know it’s going to be packed, hot, and high energy. It was the best thing to do by a long shot, I just still haven’t cooled down 18 hours later! It was an immense night, rescheduled from the 26th of November last year and worth the wait.

@we.will.trampoline.gigs @HandsomeRat|indieband at @TheJoinersSouthampton what a great opening act #handsomerat #livemusic ♬ original sound – we.will.trampoline.gigs

HandsomeRat

The evening started off with HandsomeRat, a rising Manchester-based indie band known for gritty lyricism, alternative energy, and an atmospheric sound with an underground edge. Face coverings are the order of the day here as well with singer Patrick Hagans going for an olive deerstalker with face cover and sunglasses.

The band say via their website they run on a rotating cast of musicians, all I can say is those on stage on the night were brilliant. Great tunes an unexpected detour into trance anthems with Hagans joking the crowd for a dance (see our Tik Tok). A great start to the night. I didn’t know them before, I certainly do now.

https://handsomerat.com

@we.will.trampoline.gigs @TheCheapThrills fantastic and hot At @TheJoinersSouthampton #waltonvale #indieband #livemusic ♬ original sound – we.will.trampoline.gigs

Cheap Thrills

Next up was a band that’s been on my bucket list for a while but stars have not aligned until now. That band is Cheap Thrills. My algorithm made me aware a while back and they looked great, they are. Starting off with Walton Chase as an opener, a synth led pop rock anthem. It was already oven like in there, this track turned the grill on as well, Singer Lewis Pike stating he’d only be about 6 stone by the end. Cheap Thrills are an English indie rock band from Liverpool, England.

Formed in 2010 so the fact I’ve only just seen them live, well I’ll be having words later. They hammered through an energetic setlist with careless abandon but superb musicianship and couldn’t fault the vocals, I’d say effortless but breathing must have been hard up there. Chatted to Lewis and bass player Callum Fitzpatrick after and sound lads as well, that or just happy delirium to be near a door with a draft.

https://www.thecheapthrills.co.uk

The Skinner Brothers

The Skinner Brothers came on about nine, by which time it felt like someone had plugged in a series of 3 bar heaters as well. One thing I’ll say is I’m a sucker for branding having worked in the industry for a long time and to be greeted at the door by two of the band already head to toe in Adidas trackies, hoods, facemasks and sunglasses was a nice touch. 

They came on stage and smashed straight into XL Bully to the delight of the audience, to cliche a phrase ‘it went off’ and didn’t stop ‘going off’! If you look at the image of the setlist, they didn’t make it all the way through, calling not long after Chelsea Boy just due the the volcanic heat, the crowd was soaked to the skin with sweat, water was being handed out like skittles, the band were shooting water out over the audience as well. Singer Zachary Skinner must have poured 3 or 4 full bottles over himself, must of been hot under that mask. But, before they called it they raised the heat even more with a killer rendition of Off my Nut, a few songs shy but that cannot be seen as a negative. This was indie punk, hip hop, drum and bass energy done the way it should be, fierce, brutal and taking no prisoners. 

The performance despite the heat was faultless, they are masters of their craft. Their notoriety jumped last year with collaborations and an EP with Welsh singer songwriter Ren with fantastic tracks Truth or Dare and Ctl Alt Delete, both played on the night with supported vocals. Truly memorable doesn’t cut it, it was a night of volcanic proportions (yes another heat reference). Left wanting and will, need, to see them again. Thats all im writing tonight, go see them you will be far from disapointed although if your thinking the `Electric ballroom in Camden, I hear its sold out, that place is going to bounce the town. Just to add, did my best with the photos and videos for Tik Tok but glases were fogging up, the phone was fogging up and trying to wipe it on my clothes was semi sccessful, it was HOT!