16-02-2010 Skindred

Supports: Forevernever, Intwine; Venue: Melkweg, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
By: Sabine van Gameren

Three bands in Melkweg, Amsterdam tonight. It’s a cold Tuesday night but some people gathered in front of the venue a bit before the door opens.

Already before any band had entered the stage there was already a mosh pit going on the stage. In the venue there were half a dozen idiots that made a sport of it to annoy everyone with their drunk, hyperactive behavior that started way before any of the bands played. During the performance of Forevernever, the band that started this evening, they kept this going, but at least they seemed to be a bit more respectful towards others. The band performs nu metal with a tiny emo edge. Their job to warm up the audience seemed an easy one but they did even a better job in controlling them. And when the attention is on their music the band has some guitarist that set a damn nice collection of riffs in front of you. Don’t count out the vocals either, quite steady and balanced harder that you might have expected. Vocalist Renny stays wisely away from the highest notes and therefore leave up a sound that suits him and the band well. Interesting support!

Intwine was next. Not really unknown in The Netherlands as the band had various hits. They are a bit calmer than the previous band, but nevertheless played a set with some of their heaviest work. “Perfect:” was played quite in the start, a song that brought the perfect bridge from Forevernever to Intwine. The band had gone through various line-up changes and seemed a bit down today. The band played well and performed their music well, but for those who have seen this act before, it seems like the band did not enjoy their time at all. Even though this, Intwine succeeded in getting the audience to get along and join in frontman Roger’s repeat-me game. The band played besides their most known work also some recent work and entertained the audience well.

Headliner Skindred got on stage and it looked like a bomb exploded. There was plenty of energy left at the audience and it all came out. Formed in 1998 the group from the UK makes a mix between metal, rock and reggae. If you think these reggae influences flatten the sound to something quiet you can’t be more wrong. Skindred gives power and fire on stage. Vocalist Benji Webbe brings electronic beats to you as well and so come that there is hardly anyone staying in his place this evening. The band is fully aware of its following and seem to enjoy their selves with seeing how far can they go with getting the people involved. The characteristic Benji is everywhere on the stage, but does leave some space up for the guitars and the bass to impress.

After about 50 minutes the band left the stage and although the audience clearly cheered for more they left them for quite some time. Eventually the band came back and the party went on a little longer.

The evening had been quite an active one, all the three bands were worth to see and many people left the venue satisfied. On my way out people were talking about it everywhere.

Photo’s by: Sabinevangameren.com

Links:
Forevernever MySpace
Intwine Official
Intwine MySpace
Skindred MySpace