The Blueskins @ Cockpit
By Andy BuchanUnlike the stoners who often use them, The Blueskins barely give you time to breathe, let alone skin up.
Striding onstage and confidently announcing themselves, the band launch into the frenetic splendour that is "Girl". Rollicking from the "Come with me baby, you can do what you want refrain," to a Doors-esque, hammond led breakdown, the pace and tonality is unrelenting and unforgiving from the start.
With the crowd's jaw only just back in place, the blues tinged abandon continues, replete with Jurassic 5 Kazoo's and Bob Dylan harmonica on "Change my mind." The bewildering comination of Beach Boy harmonies, pounding and insistent drumming as well a voice which has been matured on deep South rock'n'soul, helps create a thoroughly unique yet instantly classic sound.
Their playing style is louche and relaxed, reminiscent of The Beatles, but without the intended hyperbole whilst the whole performance is continually driven by their musical passion and overwhelming intensity. If any confirmation was needed of their inherent popularity and capabilities, the chorus of "Change my mind" echoes and resonates around the capacity Cockpit for a full 10 seconds after it's finished.
Amazingly, the pace only increases, with the vitality and urgency of the band perfectly complimented by their playing abilities. Highlight of the night is "Love Boat," with the understated cool of the Clash's "Rock the Casbah," colliding with the studied 70's of the Coral, producing a guitar fuelled, highly distinctive and catchy as funk epic.
Throughout, the authorative and skunk-soaked vocals rasp and soar, howling out the words as if the future of the Blues depended on it. However, the whole band gel and fizz together, with all the components of a truly great band present. Visceral, captivating and consistently tuneful front man? Check. Ball busting drum rythms? Check. Cascading, ampheta-fuelled guitar crescendo's? Check. Four to the floor, foot stomping bass lines? Check.
The incendiary set is closed by live favourite, "Magpie Blues." If you closed your eyes for just a second it could be Jim Morrison presiding over Brian Wilson, Bo Diddley and Keith Moon. But it's not, just four lads from Wakefield. How amazing is that?
