GARBAGE + SKUNK ANANSIE + DU BLONDE - FRIDAY 19TH JUNE DREAMLAND MARGATE SCENIC STAGE
Before we start, I feel I should give some context. I’ve never considered the 90s to be my era. I know for many, it was the decade of grunge or Britpop, but for me, it was all about the Spice Girls. I can only apologise, but such is the nature of being born in 1991. And when I started to develop something resembling good taste, it was the classic rock and metal of the 70s and 80s that really floated my boat. As a result, it took me some time to discover Skunk Anansie, and even longer to give Garbage a whirl, a band who were never really on my radar until this co-headline tour was announced. So in writing this review, I cannot claim to bring any expertise, just the opinions of a music lover who is open to anything a bit ‘alternative’.
Wandering into Dreamland tonight, it’s clear that this is a different crowd to the ones I usually find myself in; Younger and dominated by women (a situation that makes queuing for the toilets a bit ridiculous!), there’s a real sense of girl power (wait… are we back on the Spice Girls?!) mirrored by first act of the evening Du Blonde. And though I initially assume that’s the name of the band, it’s actually the stage name of singer and guitarist Beth Jeans Houghton. A talented songwriter with a knack for delivering upbeat pop-punk with attitude, she has a likeable, modest presence, acknowledging that she’ll probably “f*** up” her guitar parts before doing just that! But it’s all part of the charm, and doesn’t detract from the genius of ‘Next Big Thing’, a song that takes sleazy comments made by men and twists them into something actually worth hearing; Cortney Dixon’s lovely harmony vocals bring a smile to your face, at least until you remember what she’s singing about!
Excitement is rising as inflatable spikes cut their shape across the rear of the stage. There’s a lady just next to me who’s struggling to keep it together, already throwing some unusual moves before the music has even started. But the unmistakeable, jolting riff of ‘Charlie Big Potato’ sends her into overdrive, and I almost get it. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a more compelling frontwoman than Skin, who radiates wild energy despite the sweltering heat (and her striking leather threads!). Her voice is something else, at times delicate and beautiful, at others full of power and aggression. Initially frustrated by a noise limitation and problems making her voice heard, ‘Because of You’ gets started again, and from there, Skin really soars. The audience is utterly captivated, and the communal singing during ‘Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)’ and ‘Weak’ is so loud that being part of it feels almost spiritual. Whether crowd surfing, encouraging mosh pits or talking about the importance of acceptance, you sense that Skin does everything with absolute conviction. It’s this conviction that ensures ‘Yes It’s F***ing Political’ still rages 30 years on, and that the anger fuelling ‘Little Baby Swastikkka’ is impossible to miss.
For me, Garbage feel a little subdued in the wake of the more explosive Skunk Anansie. Brooding and atmospheric, the cyclical ‘There’s No Future In Optimism’ is pretty far from my usual listening habits but delivered with an intensity that starts to win me over. The sinister, angular riff that anchors ‘Hold’ is better still, but unsurprisingly, it’s the classics that really build the momentum. ‘I Think I’m Paranoid’ kicks things up a gear before ‘Stupid Girl’ is dispensed early, with a dedication to Margate artist Tracey Emin who is somewhere in the audience. Shirley Manson is quite a talker, joking that it’s possibly the result of the “big whiskey” she had before taking to the stage; Given that she describes Margate as ‘dreamy’, I’m inclined to agree! Garbage are extremely good at what they do, and undeniably have some bangers in their arsenal. For me, ‘Vow’ and ‘Push It’ are the highlights, but I’m also enamoured by the darkness of ‘Have We Met (The Void)’. Though I’m not sure I’m ready to call myself a fan, I’m impressed, and sing along merrily to ‘Only Happy When It Rains’ with the rest.
Shirley Manson probably sums it up best, when she utters the words “f***ing iconic”. I still don’t think I’ll ever consider the 90s to be my era, but I can accept that there were women around who made far more exciting and important music than I ever realised at the time. Skunk Anansie and Garbage are still making great music now, and prove worthy of their legendary reputations.
Photo by Laura DQ
