LIVE REVIEW: Skids, O2 Academy, Newcastle, 8th June 2019

Richard Jobson of the Skids at the O2 Academy in Newcastle. Pic: Gary Welford.

Skids were never your typical 100mph punk band, thanks mainly to the lyricism of singer Richard Jobson and musicianship of guitarist Stuart Adamson.

The Dunfermline band crafted some of the most memorable tunes of the late 70s – a time when exciting new acts were everywhere in the charts.

Adamson, sadly, took his own life in 2001, which most people thought ended any chance of a Skids reunion.

But they reformed in 2007 to pay tribute to him, with Big Country bandmate Bruce Watson and his son Jamie sharing guitar duties, and, to their fans’ delight, became a going concern again in 2017 for a 40th anniversary tour.

They also released a highly-acclaimed new album, Burning Cities, and have continued to play live, mixing old material and new.

This gig was a warm-up for a big show on June 21 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Who would have guessed that in 1977?

First up were a couple of local bands to get the crowd in the mood, and they both did that.

Teesside band Zeitgeist 77 opened the show for the Skids at the O2 Academy in Newcastle. Pic: Gary Welford.

The room was very sparsely attended when the opening band, Zeitgeist 77, took to the stage, but the Teessiders’ brand of melodic punk went down a treat with the early arrivals.

It was the first time I’d seen the band, who mix a ’77 punk sound with some melodic post-punk, and songs like End Of Days and Just An Illusion certainly hit the spot.

Jarrow streetpunks Crashed Out were the main support for the Skids
at the O2 Academy in Newcastle. Pic: Gary Welford.

Next up were Crashed Out, and anyone who has seen these Jarrow lads will know just what to expect – punked up street rock ‘n’ roll of the highest order.

They didn’t disappoint, wheeling out classics like The Jarrow Song, The Town That Died and even a cover of Motorhead’s  Ace Of Spades, as well as a couple of new songs from the work in progress that will be their next album.

Time then for the main attraction, and it was clear the Skids were in crowd-pleasing mood from the off, with the opening salvo of Animation, Of One Skin and Charade taking us all back to our youth.

Bruce Watson and Richard Jobson of the Skids at the O2 Academy in Newcastle.
Pic: Gary Welford

Jobson was in fine form, dancing dervish-like around the stage while the Watsons picked out some coruscating riffs, and drummer Mike Baillie and bassist Bill Simpson laid down a thunderous rhythm.

The band were clearly loving every minute of being on stage in front of an adoring audience, which may have been down on previous visits numbers-wise, but they were preaching to the converted.

New songs were present and correct in the form of Kings Of The New World Order and One Last Chance, and they were greeted like old friends.

The Skids rolling back the years at the O2 Academy in Newcastle. Pic: Gary Welford

But it was the oldies the crowd wanted, and the Skids obliged, with The Saints Are Coming, Working For The Yankee Dollar, Hurry On Boys, and Masquerade.

There was a medley featuring their own TV Stars (with updated lyrics, including “Boris Johnson – what a wanker!”), the Sex Pistols’ Pretty Vacant and the Buzzcocks’ What Do I Get).

Richard Jobson of the Skids giving it all he’s got at the O2 Academy in Newcastle.
Pic: Gary Welford

And they left the best to last, ending with Into The Valley followed by one of my own personal Skids favourites, Out Of Town.

A two-song encore comprising Happy To Be With You (from 1980’s The Absolute Game album), and another fan favourite, The Olympian (from 1979’s Days In Europa) left the crowd begging for more.

Jobson, who performed the entire gig with a smile on his face as wide as the Tyne, said the band are taking a break (for an acoustic tour this autumn), but promised to return next year.  On this form that can’t happen too soon.

Gary Welford
gary.ipamusic@gmail.com
ipamusic.co.uk owner