A Review: Skunk Anansie at the Round House in 2025

Apparently ‘So Good’ stood in at the last minute for someone else who couldn’t make the tour. I know established bands like to help out new bands, and that’s to be applauded, but So Good’s reinvention of Shampoo with worse lyrics should probably have been passed over. Having said that, they gave it their all and they clearly believe in what they’re doing.

Skunk Anansie, for me, were at their best with Stoosh. Post Orgasmic Chill and Sunburnt and Paranoid are good, but it’s always the singles that stand out. A good third to a half of their set went by before I recognised anything. It didn’t matter though, it all sounded so good. Ace is a better riff writer than he is a live player. His playing didn’t sound right in lots of places and for one song his guitar was clearly out of tune.

The crowd didn’t care though. Every song received an enthusiastic response. Skin jumped into the crowd on several occasions, catching her minder out the first time - his face was a picture. At one point she rode around the crowd on a giant inflatable pig! Early on she fell off and was caught by the crowd.

Skunk Anansie are still solid thirty years on, but it’s not like it was in the 90s and the old songs are still the best.

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Paul Grenyer

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