Friday 18th February 2011, the date, one of the greatest bands performed the maybe best concert of the present year. Skunk Anansie gave their first concert in Austria after 11 years, at the Gasometer in Vienna.

At 8 p.m. The Virginmarys, a very passionate band, started the evening. It was quite unusual seeing a band that good as an opening act. The crew heated up the crowd for Skunk Anansie. The energy this band brought up switched to everybody and we all were ready for Skin (voc.), Ace (guitar), Cass (bass) and Mark (drums).

While the stage make over, the cover of the new album ‘WONDERLUSTRE’ was projected on a white, nearly transparent curtain. It was surprising to see, how the crowd contained hardly 18 year-old kids as well as people who apparently had been adults by the time the band started their career. Beside a thrill of anticipation, it was hard to decide what to expect. At least it’s been a while since the band’s last album. With a rarely experienced punctuality, they started their show, by projecting the musicians‘ silhouettes on the curtain. The opening song was ‘Yes It’s Fucking Political’.

Skin, the singer of the band was wearing a skintight latex suit with a huge feather collar-something on her shoulders. Her fabulous appearance and the powerful voice enchanted the crowd. It took a few moments to realize the other band members beside her glamour.

After a few songs they did welcome the crowd. They wowed the people by playing a thoroughly thought through mix of fast and slow, political and less critical songs. During ‘The Sweetest Thing’, the singer was playing the guitar, as well as during the following ‘My Ugly Boy’. Next to that she told the crowd about her new guitar, which she bought in Vienna right before the concert. From then on they could have done anything, the show still would have been awesome.

While performing `Weak`, Skin climbed upon the crowd’s hands without falling or screwing anything. It was pretty impressive and funny to watch, that everybody was after touching her head, while they could have touched her anywhere. At that point, the atmosphere in the hall was changing. It seemed much more personal and intensive.

Another highlight was the announcement of a new song (‘I’ve Had Enough’), they only played once before and which they were going to record at the concert. Unfortunately the drummer Mark screwed the end of the song up, by starting the next title. Skin immediately reacted to that, and asked the crowd to wave it’s arms and keep on applauding so the band could finish the song again.

After 90 minutes of energy, emotions and damn good music Skunk Anansie left the stage, just to come back on stage, playing  ‘Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)’ and letting the crowd sing the chorus. After ‘You Saved Me’ the band was introduced. Skin started with telling, that it’s been way too long since they last played here in Austria. She introduced the band members with a few kind words. Cass, ‘the extremely beautiful and best bass player in the world with his snapping thumb’. Ace, ‘the very shiny and flexible, that day especially loved, because of finding Skin’s new guitar’. On drums, ‘the muscular, beautiful beast’ Mark. And finally, introduced by Cass, ‘the princess of punk, the queen of the queer and his favorite girl’, Skin. After coming back on stage one last time, Skin was holding knickers in her hand, asking who had given them to her. Actually after finding, out they were washed, she stuffed them in her bra.

The last song was a wonderful acoustic version of ‘You’ll Follow Me Down’ dedicated to the crowd, for being ‘so fucking amazing’.

At least they played a two-hour-long high class show. After all they totally exceeded all our expectations. We never dared to dream, that they could manage to continue where they left off. Finally I’ve got to admit, there was one criticisable point: The curtain at the beginning could really use an ironing. ;)

Official Skunk Anansie Homepage: skunkanansie.net
Official Skunk Anansie Youtube Channel on www.youtube.com/user/skunkanansieofficial
Recording of the Skunk Anansie concert at Gasometer, Vienna, on the 18th of february 2011 in HD on
www.youtube.com/user/galvanization

Text & Photo: Laura M. Zoder & Samuel M. Kiss