The Skids Dunfermline gig review

The Skids at The Alhambra Dunfermline News Of The World Review

March 14th 2010
THE SKIDS, Alhambra, Dunfermline

FIST clenched, standing four- square in the centre of the stage, Richard
Jobson is belting out the lung-busting chorus of the classic Into The Valley.

And as Bill Simpson drills out the song's trademark bassline, the sell-out crowd is going MENTAL.

In scenes that'd rival even the mighty Barrowland, this hometown show - in one of Scotland's best venues - sees both fans and band going for it big-time, expending enough energy to power the national grid.
It's a reminder that The Skids, who last reunited in 2007 for their
incredible 30th anniversary show on the main stage at T In The Park, have lost none of their power.

 In an action-packed 24-song set - full of pulse-quickening hits like Masquerade, Working For The Yankee Dollar and, of course, The Saints Are Coming - they constantly spring surprises. Not the least of which are the songs themselves. As they rocket into Charles - originally penned by a teenage Stuart Adamson back in 1977 - it's clear the track hasn't gathered dust at all. Its spiralling guitar riff and lyric about the creeping depersonalisation of corporate culture, still sound radical now.
With Adamson's Big Country bandmate Bruce Watson depping for the much-missed guitar hero, old favourites like Out Of Town and Melancholy Soldiers are delivered with the force of a runaway train.
Drummer Mike Baillie - who joined the Fife band in time for 1980's Absolute Game album - is a revelation too, sticks skipping around the kit as he hammers out the rock solid beat of a blistering Circus Games.
There's a neat moment when those on stage salute original sticksman Tam Kellichan, who's among tonight's crowd. But while the music (including a rare romp through the much-underrated and never-before-played-live 1981 Fields single) is the undisputed star of the show, Jobson himself runs it a pretty close second.
He's a magnetic presence, leaping into the air one minute, spinning round with a boxer's finesse the next, all the while bellowing out those king-size choruses. As a frontman he's up there with Daltrey, Lydon and Strummer.
That's summed up as they launch into Of One Skin - the 1978 hit that inspired both U2 and The Cult - Jobson sailing through the air like he's 17 again, still striking a blow for the newest of the new wave.


from The Skids website