The Spitfires help warm a freezing Empire crowd with a jam-packed set of modern retro sounds. The band race through the gears and leave to a hard-earned, well-deserved ovation. The Skids are celebrating their fortieth anniversary by releasing the brand new, critically acclaimed album ‘Burning Cities’. Tonight they raise the spirits, the roof and thankfully the temperature. Richard Jobson owns the stage with an energetic front of house performance which includes his legendary windmill dancing. ‘Working For The Yankee Dollar’ remains a classic single and is bellowed back by an enthralled audience. The performance grows with each passing minute, this becomes evident on the Green Day/U2 covered ‘The Saints Are Coming’ which explodes with an all-engulfing passionate fervour that shakes the heart, head and soul. The late great Stuart Adamson is remembered mid-set and the emotion within the Empire transcends into a natural energy that organically rises throughout the set. ‘Scared To Dance’, ‘Charade’ and the Celtic clarion call of ‘Hurry On Boys’ are delivered with a tangible almost urgent tightness. Closing with the stunning trio of ‘Circus Games’, ‘Masquerade’ and the pogo-inducing ‘Into The Valley’ which is sung word for word by a now bouncing front four rows. The encore of ‘Charles’ and the beautifully simple (“If you ask for it we won’t play it”) ’TV Stars’ round off a night of five-star Punk, New wave and Scottish tinged Rock. The Skids aren’t reinventing the wheel but with a banging new album and a back catalogue of rebel rousing anthems, they are thankfully still rolling. Both these bands are a must see in 2018. “Who do we want…ALBERT TATLOCK!” (If you don’t know who he is google it.)
THE SKIDS/THE SPITFIRES
THE EMPIRE COVENTRY
9/10
