Skindred?s live show is beyond infamous. If there?s a negative review of a Skindred gig online, in the press, anywhere, then I?m yet to see it. The praise for the ragga-metal overlords is universal, and maybe because of that (coupled with the fact that personally, I?m a massive Skindred fan), I approached tonight?s gig and the writing of this review with added scepticism.

We?ll get to that in a minute though. Proceeding them this evening were the Australia prog-metal behemoth that is Karnivool, who to be completely honest, are probably not visible on the average Punktastic reader?s (or indeed average Skindred fan?s) radar. More of a stand-and-watch band than a let?s-get-fucking-rowdy affair like tonight?s headliners, they are still a sonically wonderful experience. Setting aside the awkward stage persona of frontman Ian Kenny, ?Simple Boy?, ?Goliath? and ?Set Fire To The Hive? help the Aussies to win over an initially reluctant crowd. In single songs they dart from disgracefully heavy chug-along riffs to gorgeous harmonies and choruses – each song is a journey in itself. Despite nine minute tracks and a ?prog-metal? tag, Karnivool?s music is ultimately a lot more conventional and appealing than their time signatures or genre classification might suggest.

When Benji Webbe waltzes on stage in his half militant, half nu-rave, yet fully awesome outfit circa ten o?clock, the Concorde II literally erupts; bodies fly stagewards before barely a note had been played. New single, ?Stand For Something? proves to be a fittingly bombastic opener, and despite a mixed response from the critics, the fans here certainly aren?t disappointed with it, or indeed the rest of the new material being aired tonight. Mixed in with the golden oldies like ?Pressure? and ?Ratrace?, the set – for which a small part of me wanted to be a let-down – was anything but. I have categorically never, ever, EVER seen a band put on a show like Skindred did tonight (and yes, I did see RATM at Reading festival last summer). The bass is thunderous, the drumming and guitars are flawlessly balanced and Benji?s voice…oh, Benji?s voice! It?s other-worldly ? the man is truly blessed. How he has got such a range, such a malleability in his mortal voice box, we will probably never know.

OK, so they didn?t play ?Babylon? and the set did end rather strangely (twenty-odd seconds or so of Sean Paul being played when we?re all expecting another song or two?), but overall Skindred?s performance tonight cannot be faulted – I?m merely fishing for negative points here in the interest of balance. Punktastic is not usually one to follow the journalistic herd, but when said herd has been declaring Skindred the best live band in the UK for several years now, we don?t really have a choice.

Absolutely fucking brilliant.

Andy R

?You think our New York shows are these big cool things but they?re mostly like this,? informs Vic Ruggiero. ?Except sometimes there?re meat-hooks. You?re never quite sure how a show?s going to go when there?re meat-hooks about.? If there?s one thing you can be sure of at a Slackers show it?s that you?re not going to be force-fed generic onstage remarks. No ?this is our favourite place to play? and no ?you guys are better than [insert town name] last night?. Everything is honest, unique and far from the ?robotic? banter that so many others bring over the Atlantic. You might even say it?s a little peculiar.

Bad puns aside, this evening is an odd one. For starters, a nasty storm is whipping across Brighton, huge gusts making it somewhat challenging to even get to the seafront Engine Room (well, if you?re walking anyway). Ska music is perfect for the summer rays, but they?ve decided to take a leave of absence. Secondly, The Great Escape festival is sprawled across the city this weekend making this little number seem slightly out of place amongst the indie droves. Finally, opener The Meow Meows has been allotted a near 45 minute support slot, a rare treat for a support act.

Fortunately, the hometown nonet has enough to ensure time flies by. Packed onto the small stage (and I mean packed) the band plays a gentle blend of reggae/ska highlighted by dual vocals, that have as much soul in them as ska, and a three-piece brass section. It?s been five months since the band?s last performance and tonight marks the first show for a new drummer, so things could have easily gone horrible. Not the case. The Brighton faithful dance and sing along to a band that?s really found its identity and is well worth checking out. (3.5/5)

It?s hard to argue against The Slackers being the best band in its field (by a country mile). It?s refreshing then to see the band set up instruments, test microphones and generally do its own dirty work. The NYC sextet is humble to say the least, a trait that comes across throughout the set. ?We always seem to play these basements,? states Ruggiero. ?They put us underground in these musty, dank rooms. We love it.? Tonight?s musty, dank room is crammed. It?d take a shoehorn to get anybody else in. It?s hot, sweaty and rife with exultant punters. The absolute opposite to the inclement weather outside, you might say.

It?s got to be hotter on stage. The band dons its traditional shirts and suits (bassist Marcus Geard in a gleaming whiter than Daz white number) and sweats through what ends up being a set of somewhere between 90 minutes and two hours. Now that?s a long set, but the band has no trouble filling the time with a near 20 year back catalogue. In fact it feels as though the surface has barely been scratched. Last year?s long-player ?Self Medication? is the basis of this tour but even that?s not borrowed from too heavily.

Amongst the songs picked out tonight, ?Ever Day is Sunday?, ?What Went Wrong? and ?Married Girl? are included whilst the likes of ?Watch This?, ?Don?t You Want a Man? and ?Propaganda? (?I need to rewrite that,? quips Ruggiero. ?We like our president now.?) are missing. It?s inevitable with this sort of catalogue some songs aren?t going to make the cut. But there?s no disappointment from the crowd. This is a night of glee. From Ruggiero?s oh-so-cool vocals and Glen Pine?s more intense, rabble-rousing singing, not to mention aggressive trombone, to Dave Hillyard?s amazingly accomplished saxophone, everything seems spot-on. Touches of soulful jazz sit amongst the ska whilst a carnival atmosphere lurks menacingly below the surface. It?s cool. It?s so well delivered. And it?s danceable. Highly danceable!

It?s all closed out by a cat-and-mouse, will they/won?t they game that finally results in ?Sarah?. The band has taunted the crowd all night that they?ll be no such performance but finally abides the calls. A sing-along ensues that defines everything that has come before: the band has smiles whilst the crowd is ecstatic. It?s the sort of response The Slackers has received for years: devoted and heartfelt. And don?t even get to thinking this is going to change anytime soon. (4.5/5)

Alex

By the time Hey Monday kick off the evening, The Brighton Centre is almost full to capacity. It seems people REALLY wanted to get here early for Fall Out Boy, especially considering the doors opened at half six. Doing jus that definitely paid off though, as newcomers Hey Monday set the room alight with their PG-rated brand of pop-punk. Perfectly tailored for the audience demographic present, they?re a polished act. Most of all though, leading laydee Cassadee Pope is extremely capable of getting a party started (and stealing a few young men?s? hearts as she does it, too).

Kids In Glass Houses keep the bar raised high for the evening, with a set that has been honed to perfection in the last year or so on the road. With singalong delights appearing in the forms of Give me what I want and Saturday (although not the best song called Saturday to be heard tonight), their all-too-short set is a perfect example of just why this band are so bloody huge now. We?ve been following the boys since they first made their mark on the scene back in 2006, and it?s incredibly satisfying to see them playing stages like this now.

At some point around nine, the pop-punk juggernaut that is The Fall Out Boy Show parks its wheels on stage, and doesn?t stop until East Sussex?s entire supply of pyrotechnics is safely exhausted. With the exception of the usually dreadful cover of Beat It and a thirty second attempt at the irritating American Boy , it?s a near-flawless set. Newcomers such as Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes fit in perfectly next to the old favourites of Grand Theft Autumn and Sugar, We?re going down , and there?s no doubt this band know how to please both new and existing fans. By the time Pete Wentz has thrown himself into the crowd at the end of Saturday, the job is done and Chicago?s finest have proved their worth.

Andy R

By the time Punktastic arrives at the Freebutt tonight, Not Advised are mid-set and showing a reasonably-packed room how high the standards of UK pop-punk are at the moment. The Southampton fivesome are a slick and energetic act, and with tunes such as ?Right Now? and ?Jane Says Left?, watching them onstage is a punch-your-fists-up kind of sing-along experience.

Current Punktastic Band of the Week and local boys The Auteur take to the stage next. It?s always great to see a band that you love on record really shows some balls live, and The Auteur, fortunately, did just that. New track ?To Cut a Short Story Shorter? kicks off proceedings, and for a first live airing, it?s bloody flawless. ?Welcome Home? and ?Hey! Watch this? sound bloody massive, and are perfect examples of why these guys are ones to watch out for in ?09.

With 84mm, things get substantially rowdier, as they bring their brand of Alexisonfire– meets-The-Blackout screamo to the stage. Despite suffering from throat problems, frontman Luke Henton can produce one hell of a scream. They do what they do better than bands with decades experience over them – don?t let their young faces fool you, 84mm are a bloody talented bunch.

2008 has been a brilliant year for Attack! Attack!. They?ve released their debut album, they?ve played Reading & Leeds are are currently wrapping up the last few dates of their epic tour with Funeral For a Friend. While their recent London date with Funeral saw them on an off day, tonight they?ve brought their ?A? game. Ploughing through the majority of their LP, they?re energetic, warm and musically excellent. ?Honestly? and ?Lights Out? sound incredible, and by the time they?ve brought things to a close with the epic ?Too Bad Son?, things are over far too quickly. I anticipated perfection from Attack! Attack! tonight, and they damn well delivered it.

Andy R

I must admit, I don’t know Houston Calls all that much. They’re one of those bands that I enjoy on occasion, but never got really into them, for no specific reason really. After tonight’s performance, they’ll be hitting my speakers a lot more frequently, as they really do impress. Tom Keiger’s vocals are frankly extraordinary, and he’s got a range that I don’t think their recordings ever really lets on to. They’re entertaining to watch, and keyboardist Okie Okamoto is a real livewire. After another sizeable set, ‘Bob and Bonnie’ ends proceedings on a high note and the crowd is suitably satisfied.

So, to You Me At Six then. The show comes at a time when ‘Take Off Your Colours’ has been out long enough for the crowd to be lyrically perfect on every song, and tonight really is a sing-along. Josh looks comfortable as a frontman, and the band as a whole look, feel and sound like veterans. They perform pretty much all of the album, with old culprits ‘Save it for the bedroom’ and ‘Gossip’ getting the biggest rises. The real highlight though was when Josh’s sister comes on stage to add her vocal talents to the harmonies on ‘Always Attract’. It works so well, and makes the whole affair seem personal and intimate. Overall, You Me At Six seem to have the world at their feet at the moment, and it’s shows like this that make you feel they’re every bit deserving of their success so far.

Following them, The Xcerts take to the stage, and it’s for them that most people are here tonight. This is a local show for a band that have been jaunting around the country all summer and the rapturous welcome they receive is completely justified. I throw around the word ‘passion’ to describe bands as much as Jeremy Clarkson does to cars, but passion is something The Xcerts have by the bag load.

Between songs, frontman Murray McLeod is a shy, nervous and awkward character that looks uncomfortable as the centre of attention. However, once the songs kick in, he is a completely different creature altogether. When he sings, you feel like he’s singing the words as if he just wrote them, there’s that much emotion in his eyes and his voice. The Xcerts are already making a formidable name for themselves, and the release of their debut album in the new year will only build on that.

And so, to Twin Atlantic. Their set gets off to a shaky start, with technical troubles making it look like they may only be able to contine with just one guitar. However, frontman Sam Mctrusty’s quick thinking means we’re treated to a beautiful acoustic number while technical issues are resolved.

When the show continues, it becomes clear that Twin Atlantic are a very, very tight act. Their sound is much meatier live than on record, and Mctrusty’s Scotch-as-you-like vocals are absolutely spot on. Honestly, I really wasn’t expecting them to be this good. New single ‘What is Light/Where is Laughter?’ sets the crowd afire, while ‘Crash Land’ shows how Twin Atlantic can slow things down and tug on your heartstrings as well as rock your balls off. They close with ‘Audience and Audio’, which, being their poppiest and most uplifting track to date ends the evening on a high, with many a wide smile leaving the room. With a live show as impressive as this, it’s little wonder they’ve been requested to support The Subways on their full tour next month.

Andy R

Before heading downstairs to the main event, Upstairs at Audio is the launch party for Brighton?s newest festival, Beachdown Festival. Amidst the flurry of journalists, PR representatives and industry fat cats are a band I thought were worth a mention before covering the gig below deck. Doll and the Kicks treat a select crowd to an acoustic set of their own brand of indie pop. Stripped down to bongos, acoustic guitars and one hell of a lead vocalist, they?re worth a listen if you like your Stars and Blondie as much as you do your Green Day and NFG.

Right, on to the pop-punk. Kicking off the party are Brighton and Punktastic Recording?s very own A Man Down. The curse of seeing a band play as much as I do them, is you can be extremely critical of every set. Unfortunately, the sound of tonight?s venue wasn?t swinging in their favour, with frontman Sam Sweda suffering worst. He practically had to shout to be heard above everything else, while his guitar was only audible when it was the only instrument being played. Still, a valiant effort that went down a treat with tonight?s crowd. (3.5/5)

Next up, Sherwood take to the stage, and it?s clear they?re still struggling to make their mark on UK soil. Maybe it?s because their music seems to fall short of most typical genres ? it?s not punk enough to be pop-punk, it?s too soft to be proper rock music. It?s music for the Nickelback/Matchbox Twenty generation ? uninspired and forgettable. Still, they?re not a messy live act, and for that I?ll give them some credit. (3/5)

Last time Zebrahead hit Brighton, they were playing on the Get Happy Tour back in December. Anyone who saw that performance will surely agree that they were quite frankly, awful. Pleasingly, they rip the downstairs of Audio a new rectum tonight, with an astounding set that really has a bit of everything ? massive sing-alongs, soaring guitars and a frontman that literally propels himself to every corner of the room. While the set was mainly constructed of material from ?Broadcast to the World?, they do treat us to a new track, which does little to quell anticipation for their upcoming sixth record, ?Phoenix?. Zebrahead are a band that suit smaller venues, and tonight confirms just that. Here?s to hoping they can recreate a show like this at Download this weekend. (4.5/5)

Andy R

Tonight at the Freebutt, entry is free and evidently a few of the locals have taken advantage of that offer, as by the time Go & Come Back hit the stage, the venue is commendably populated. Understandable, considering the openers are from down the road, and the band manage to thrive off their popularity here on stage. Dynamic, passionate and full of energy, they produce a satisfying blend of hardcore riffs and melancholy vocals which ends up being fairly impressive. If only their bassist didn?t have such peculiar stage moves? (3/5)
Whisper the Image are unfortunately less impressive. Generic, and tedious, they?re not bad per se, rather they come across as clich‚?d and choreographed. With little They?re not helped by the sound engineer?s apparent inability to work a mixer either. (1/5)
It?s hard to be impartial where Punktastic bands are concerned. I?ve never actually seen the Misnomer before and tonight was a great introduction to Ellis and Co?s live experience. Filling their setlist heavily with yet-to-be-released material, we?re treated to what?s in store in the coming months, and honestly their new tracks are stellar. As with Whisper the Image, the venue?s soundman didn?t do them any favours, but they still managed to win over a surprisingly sombre crowd.(3.5/5)
Above all of this, tonight is totally about Failsafe. Considering it?s only their second ever Brighton show, it?s no surprise at the crowd?s size and many people here have clearly been waiting a very long time to see the Preston fivesome. Jim is an absolute treat to observe on stage, and his energy levels perpetuate throughout their forty minute set, in which they manage to squeeze some quality renditions of ?Cities and Headlights? and ?Fire at Will?. However. The highlight of their set lies in ?To Deny Yourself?, which has the crowd screaming along in unison. A band that shouldn?t be overlooked, I?m personally crossing my fingers for 2008 being their year, as tonight?s performance displays how worthy of it they are. (5/5)

Andy R

Kicking off a night of ska action on this dreary Sunday night in Brighton are local boys Los Albertos. With a sound that combines the earlier influences of The Police and Madness as well as the likes of Capdown and Catch 22, they manage to get tonight’s festivities well underway. Despite being the weakest act on show, they manage to get a large portion of the crowd skanking along from the start of their set, and by the time they leave the stage the walls of The Engine Rooms are officially drenched in sweat.

After a quick turnover, it’s down to Guildford’s JB Conspiracy to keep the two hundred strong crowd smiling and dancing, and boy do they do it well. Despite being down one member tonight (Trumpeter Johnny has had to pull out of the show due to exam commitments), they still manage to play with a level of professionalism that’s almost unseen on the current underground circuit. Having brought along a fair few of their own fans for tonight’s show, they have a large portion of the crowd singing along to all but the latest of their musical offerings. One to keep an eye out for sure in the coming year.

Tonight marks the first night in history that Sonic Boom Six have managed to make it down to Brighton and perform. For one reason or another they’ve never made it here at any point during their career, and it seems absence really has made hearts grow fonder in this case. As energetic as their songs suggest they should be, Leila leads her sextet through a relentless set of old favourites and a few newies thrown in for good measure. It’s easy to forget how unique this band are right now, and with such a vast range of musical influences it’s hard to pin them down into one specific genre. From the reggae based ‘Monkey See Monkey Do’ to the grittier efforts of ‘Sound System’ and ‘Northern Skies’, they’re an impressive bunch, even if to vocals of their vibrant frontwoman begins to grate one’s nerves before the end of their set. Overall though, a solid effort that more than anything managed to bring Chelsea smiles to the faces of Brighton’s ska fans.

www.myspace.com/sonicboomsix
www.myspace.com/thejbconspiracy
www.myspace.com/losalbertos

Andy R

Brighton’s leading intimate club venue is bursting at the seams tonight with Bayside fans who have travelled far and wide to see the band play their first ever headlining UK date. Being the only south coast date on the tour, there were kids travelling from as far as Devon to make it here to see one of the most resilient bands in today’s scene get back in the game.

Before the headlining act, we’re treated to quite the display of support act awesomeness in the form of Attack in Black. Travelling all the way from Ontario, they’ve brought with them their beautiful combination of punk, country and rock ‘n roll which wins the crowd over before the end of their first song. Closing on a superb singalong, they’re sure to be Hassle Records’ moneymaker of 2007.

Following them are fellow Canadians Moneen. There’s only so many times that I can express exactly how phenomenal this band are live without sounding like I need a lobotomy, but there’s truth in every word of it. Moneen have been uninventing music and reconstructing it in their own twisted way for almost a decade now, but they’re still as confusing and brilliant as ever. Here’s to hoping next time they hit these shores, we’ll be seeing them headline.

New York’s Bayside unfortunately struggle to live up to their predecessors in tonight’s line-up. With a set that lends itself heavily to their latest release, ‘The Walking Wounded’, they’re a competent band but ultimately end up lacking in that extra special something. Combine this with a disappointingly short set and no encore whatsoever, you can’t help but be left with the feeling that these four New-Yorkers are yet to find their feet in a headlining slot.

Andy R

www.myspace.com/bayside
www.myspace.com/moneen
www.myspace.com/attackinblack