Scene and Herd by Doug “Igoto” Dresher
WHO:
Skinny Lister
http://www.skinnylister.com/
https://www.facebook.com/skinnylister/
Skinny Lister, Roseland Ballroom, NYC – 2013
WHAT:
The Devil, The Heart & The Fight Album Tour
New Album!
WHERE:
The Foundry at the Fillmore Philadelphia, PA
WHEN:
November 10, 2016
WHY:
Skinny Lister is touring to promote their new album, “The Devil, The Heart & The Fight.” Here is the link to the single.
THE GOOD:
I had the fortuitous opportunity to meet, interview, and then spend the evening with Skinny Lister. The band, a folk/punk outfit well versed in English pub songs and pub crawls, has been growing in popularity over the past few years. They have hit all the important growing milestones, from WARPed, to Tiny Desk Concert, to this current headlining tour.
Here is what I learned about Skinny Lister:
They are the calmest and most affable band I have every met. Of the six members, all but one are actually from England, with the bass player, Michael Camino, hailing from Hawaii, although I didn’t know if he was born there. And all that works – since Hawaii may be closer to England than to America. What do I know about maps?
You can click here to learn more about Skinny Lister – so many others have written about them, I don’t think that I could say anything about the band’s history that hasn’t already been documented.
Hanging out with the band was like spending time with long lost cousins who were in town for a holiday.
Actually, not cousins, if only because they all got along so well. They were soft-spoken and polite. Max Thomas, the multi-instrumentalist vocalist in the band actually seemed to nod off to sleep every so often. Michael Camino, the American, has a magical ability to appear and disappear in an instant. All of a sudden he pops up holding a comic book signed by Stan Lee. And then a moment later – gone. Poof!
While Dan Heptinstall seems to exert the most control in the band, it is Lorna Thomas who is the heart. She is both foul-mouthed and gentle in her tone, she has a soft 100% cotten aura about her, but I’m sure would kick your ass if you get out-of-line.
So, we ate dinner at a bar across the street from the venue. We enjoyed a lighthearted discussion about music, education, and the death of the American Dream. The drummer, Thom Mills, and I chatted about the music we listened to as kids. Sam “Mule” Brace, another multi-instrumentalist in the band has a great mustache. Each member of the band looks like they could be cast in any movie that takes place in the years between WWI and WWII. (Think “Boardwalk Empire” haircuts and clothes.)
Live at the Roseland Ballroom, NYC – 2013
This band is not made up of individuals, although each member of the band holds up their part with ease and skill. The sum of their parts is exponentially represented in their performance full with harmony and love. They communicate with nods and quick glances – words are needed only on stage, and those are for the audience. Each member of Skinny Lister seems to know exactly what the others are already thinking.
Here is what I was most taken with. As much as the entire band acted as if they needed a four-day nap – when they got on stage, they exploded with energy. The sleepy eyes, the sore throats, the missed showers, the lack of a bathroom anywhere near their dressing room – not one issue was brought to the stage. Instead, they kicked back and belted out their set. They shared the flagon and raised a glass. And the crowd knew every word, and sang along to every song, and caught Michael when he surfed the crowd.
When the show was over, the band stayed around chatting with the audience and signing posters. They took selfies with people who I am hoping had rides home, and they gave me a shirt for my daughter.
This is how a band earns their fans and this is how all touring bands should behave.
Here is an interview I did with the band.
SKINNY LISTER INTERVIEW 2016
THE BAD:
What could possibly be bad about a Skinny Lister show?
Actually — when I first arrived at the venue there were three large tour buses parked outside. I was so impressed that the band that I had seen and predicted would be huge, was actually big enough to need such a large touring company. There was security, and cabinets, and boxes, and people standing around. When I asked if I could go inside to meet the band’s manager, the security guard said that he didn’t recognize her name. I would have to wait. Another photographer arrived with a giant pack of photography equipment, more than I could ever want to own. He showed the guard a hard-pass and was let in.
I was confused. I was jealous, I wanted a hard-pass. A hard-pass is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much cooler than a “photo only” sticker.
The security guard asked who I was there to cover, and I proffered “Skinny Lister.” He said that he hadn’t ever heard of that band. I looked around to make sure I was at the right venue. Then the guard asked if I was there to see, “Good Charlotte.” When I said no, he suggested that the band I wanted to see was playing the smaller room on the other side of the building. I walked around to the back of the building to find the members of Skinny Lister all watching their bus driver try to execute a K-Turn. Not well, I must report.
THE UGLY:
I apologized to the band on behalf of the United States for what was going to happen over the next four years. They all agreed that Love Trumps hate.
Have some photographs:
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Skinny Lister Live Review 2016 by Doug “Igoto” Dresher.
