It’s no surprise the Band of Skulls are supporting the behemoth that is Wolfmother, as they are cut from the same cloth. In that they rock like bastards. They are a tightly-knit unit that should go far.

Say what you like about Wolfmother (and people do), but their powerful rock is unique at the moment. Far from original, in fact bordering on pastiche, true. But in the live arena that doesn’t really matter as long as people are having fun. Given that this crowd consists of roughly 40% Australians with their infectious enthusiasm, you can rest assured, they are enjoying themselves.

‘Dimension’ opens proceedings with suitable bombast, and ‘Woman’ tears the place a new one. You won’t be surprised to learn that their new stuff sounds, well, just like the old stuff. New single ‘Bad Moon Rising’ offers nothing so taxing as progression. It’s not bad, just... predictable. Subtlety is not the band’s forte. It’s telling that, aside from frontman Andrew Stockdale, this is a completely new line-up, but they are basically Stockdale clones, just happy to be there.

The fact that I listened to Led Zeppelin on my way home says it all.

Richard Bowes
Photo: londontourpix