Words by Dave Martin Photos by Dave and Emma Martin/Faversham Photography
Skillet returned to London for the first gig of their European headline tour accompanied by French alternative rock band Storm Orchestra. In their first visit since they supported Black Stone Cherry, the Tennessee based four-piece packed out the iconic Brixton academy.
As we arrived at the venue, those with tickets circled the entire block that encapsulated the O2 Academy showing the huge following Skillet have acquired in their nearly 30-year existence. Upon entering the building, the room was packed ready for the Parisian band for their first foray onto the British Isles. The energetic 3 piece struck a chord with the audience from the off. Loïc Fouquet entering the stage and mounting his drum riser stood hand aloft to be greeted by cheers followed by bassist Adrien Richard and the white suit clad Maxime Goudard bursting onto the stage to start opening song Bright Soul. The band interacted well with the crowd getting them clapping along and doing the time-honoured tradition of seeing which half the audience could be louder with Maxime and Adrien taking responsibility for their respective sides. Throughout the set the band were animated, headbanging, jumping to the music and making the most of the large Brixton stage. As their allotted time was coming to an end, Maxime addressed the audience “Okay London! Let’s finish this all together, I wanna hear all your beautiful voices” before conducting the crowd for final song Suspect. The band left the stage to huge cheers in an evening they are not likely to forget.
1. Intro (Jojo Regie)
2. Bright Soul
3. Piece Of You
4. Drummer
5. Superplayer
6. Tones Of The Thunder
7. Suspect
As we stood poised in the pit area at the in front of the barrier ready for Skillet to take to the stage, it was clear we were in for a treat. At the front vertical canons had been set up and at the rear of the stage was a huge drum riser as high as I’d ever seen at a gig. Jen Ledger was going to be able to see the whole audience clearly from her lofty vantage point. The room was packed, and they were all anticipating an electric show, they weren’t disappointed. From the very first song Surviving the Game those in attendance were treated to quite the show. The CO2 canons on the front of the stage roared framing John, Korey and Seth in their relative positions at the front of the stage and making the photographers at the front jump in the process. A personal highlight me came in the second song Feel Invincible as John saw me singing along while photographing and pointed straight at me and then posed pointing his bass towards me. As a photographer it is such a great feeling when the artists interact with you, and I have been lucky enough to have several of these moments at Brixton over the years. The vertical CO2 jets were not the only jets to be used as John strapped canons to both arms and proceeded to spray the area with the gas, covering all of us in range. Not to be out done Korey and Seth each mounted one side of Jen’s drummer riser to reveal moving hydraulic podia on either side of the drummer. There was absolutely no doubt that Skillet had come to entertain. The set had everything from the high energy music, stage production or the more emotional and touching sections. John recounted a heartfelt story about his mum’s death and how his best friend helped him through it, “Sometimes music was all I had. No matter who you are, what you’re going through, where you come from, the colour of your skin—we want to see you survive another day, I want to see you survive, keep fighting.” Jen then descended from her lofty position to sing with John at the front of the stage with drum duties being passed to a member of the crew.
What I love about Skillet and their music is the ability to take their lyrics and make them personal to you. They can fit into how you view the world and it make sense. The band are a Christian band and this was alluded to in the into to song Hero but no matter your own beliefs the song resonates with you and anyone who has helped you in a difficult time.
During the set John spoke of how the band had been going for nearly 30 years and upon looking at the younger members of the audience, said “I want you to thank your parents for forcing you to listen to skillet” which was met with sniggers.
This was only my second time of seeing Skillet live but on both occasions, they have blown me away with their energy, their production, their talent and their humanity. They are a truly special band and I can’t wait to see them again.
1.Surviving The Game
2. Feel Invincible
3. Rise
4. Awake And Alive
5. Sick Of It
6. Legendary
7. Ash In The Wind
8. Never Surrender
9. Whispers In The Dark
10. Lions
11. Those Nights
12. Hero
13. Not Gonna Die
14. Unpopular
15. Psycho In My Head
16. Comatose
17. Monster
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