LIVE REVIEW: SKINDRED + FUTURE STATIC + GRIZZLYSHARK @ THE TRIFFID 06/09/26

Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi Photos Charlyn Cameron

The boys, Skindred, are back in town! Benji Webbe’s band - Mikey Demus, Arya Goggin, and Tommy Gleeson were unleashed on a sold-out crowd at The Triffid. It was an end-of-tour blow-out gig! Skindred is a band that need to be experienced live: they are the best fun you can have with your clothes on or with your t-shirt off!

Skindred’s music transcends age and barriers and their music is like the best fun you have ever had: sunshine and happiness rolled into one, with serious messages scattered throughout their lyrics, with stories about Abdul at the market, the post office, hating your kids and having a time machine. Benji Webbe is the master and controller of the party and he had the crowd totally within his control. And, as Benji Webbe said to me: “If you wanna be a sad sack – there is a pub across the road – our gigs are about having a f**king good time.” And, that was the start of what happened…

The Triffid was almost full and the crowd was warmed up by two of Australia’s finest, diverse, up and coming bands, in Future Static and Grizzlyshark.

“We are Grizzlyshark from Brisbane. Let's get it f**king started!” And get it started they did, immediately jumping into a high-energy performance.It was “play that funky music” as the band started delivering their songs at full-throttle speed. The headbanging drum patterns had the crowd in the mood from the start. And by song three, the circle pit had started as the heavy beats hit.

Grizzlyshark is a local Brisbane band comprising of Andrew Taylor, Joey McClennan, Jackson Barnes, Sean Puxty, and Nik Slattery. They were given the task of getting the crowd warmed up. It had been a 34c day in Brisbane and they got The Triffid crowd moving with hands in the air, blasts of speed that shook the barrier and told jokes about sore throats. It got bouncy and sweaty fast!

Grizzlyshark’s musical style shifted from emo-pop-punk style with bouncy guitar riffs and infectious vocal melodies to blistering and aggressive hardcore breakdowns and back again. Their songs like ‘Desire’, ‘Brand New Tragedy’, ‘Waiting for Y2K’ and the great ‘Jurassic Narc’ showcased Sean Puxty’s furious drumming and Andrew Taylor’s vocal versatility. It was a great set that established the fun party tone of the night.

After a quick changeover of pieces of drum kit, new guitar leads and other paraphernalia, it was “time for Brisbane to let go” with Future Static.

Melbourne’s dazzling Future Static came to the stage and rocked the place. The band Amariah Cook, Kira Neil, Ryan Qualizza, Jack Smith and Jackson Trudel, kicked off their set with ‘There's Nowhere Else To Go’ and then followed it with the pop-punk of ‘Plated Gold’. The hardcore nu-metal with metalcore of ‘The Hourglass’ and ‘Chemical Lobotomy’ were delivered as the band’s energy detonated onto the crowd. The drums were pounding and the guitars were swinging and crushing.

Future Static’s song delivery was underpinned by heavy rock grooves: dynamic drums and bass as the engine room. This setup allowed the lead vocalist to shine, with the two other vocalists, Kira Neil and Ryan Qualizza, bringing a lushness to the vocal layering as they weaved their voices together. Amariah Cook’s amazing vocal control and range broughta rich melodic sound aligned with the guitars as her sweet ‘angel’ and dark devil’ vocal fry entranced the crowd.

Amariah Cook took control and had the crowdin the palm of her hand as the headbanging, the circle pit and the mosh got into full swing.The band’s new songs ‘Ornaments & Memories’ and ‘State Of Mind’ were big, melodic and haunting tracks that allowed their vocalists to shine. Then, Future Static had the crowd going wild with their tribute to Skindred with a cover of Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee’s ‘Gasolina’. The place lit up!

Future Static performed the aggressive songs of ‘Venenosa’ and ‘Roach Queen’ as the guitars delivered the huge riffs and melody lines and the band high kicked and jumped. The band closed out their set with a new song, ‘Swing’, that comes out next week. The song had everything: melody, aggression, a wall of death and the classic ‘mic-drop’ moment. The new songs that were performed tonight show a band in the midst of change and they effectively created a bridge between their older music and what comes next on their new album due in November. The crowd were blown away by the flair of this band. Future Static are a band to put on your ‘must see’ radar!

After a quick drink and an attempt to regain some energy, it was finally time for the main act.The beautiful rainbow guitar and other instruments had been warmed up and the stage was clear for Skindred: one of the most unique and electrifying live bands in the United Kingdom’s rock scene. The band formed in Newport, Wales, and they take the genres of heavy metal, punk, reggae, drum and bass and electronic influences and blend them into a sound completely their own.

However, tonight Skindred started their performance with a distinctly Australian sonic flavour, with AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ blasted out of the PA. Then, a reggae version of ‘The Imperial March’ from Star Wars brought themto the stage. Tonight, wasn’t simply a gig in Brisbane: it was one massive party. Skindred were our DJs and MCs for the night. It was knowing, fun and showed the crowd the band’s sense of humour and deep love of music. 

Lead vocalist Benji Webbe was dressed like a 1970s drug dealer or pimp with a heavy jacketwrapped around himself on a very hot spring night. He had the shades, the bling and the flowers. As the band launched the crowd and themselves into a frenzy with ‘This Is The Sound’, as the wonderful security guard Tyson was battered with flowers. Skindred then quickly followed it with ‘Set Fazers’ as Tyson again was singled out to sing. Benji Webbe is a whirlwind of energy as he got the crowd going at every opportunity.

Skindred delivered ‘Rat Race’ and it included an a cappella section of Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ that had Brisbane singing and bouncing along before being told to “f**k off”. The band instantly slipped back into the original song as if nothing totally off the wall had just occurred. It shouldn’t have worked, but it did. Then, Skindred did it again with ‘Pressure’ as AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black’ was mashed through the song by guitarist Mikey Demus. The crowd loved every minute of it!

The crowd had singing lessons before Skindred detonated the ragga metal of ‘That’s My Jam’. Benji Webbe segued into Skindred’s ‘Radio 01633’ halfway through the song as a keyboard appeared on stage and he played the intro to Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ and House of Pain’s ‘Jump Around’.

Skindred were feeling the heat as they frequently towelled down and had mini-breaks. Benji Webbe had more costume changes than Kylie. I have to give snaps to the band for holding the controlled chaos together and delivering that Skindred sound as Benji Webbe ordered them to “play that shit”.

The band’s set was really moving. It was great to hear the new songs such as the title track of the new album, ‘You Got This’. Then, there was a “bass” break as Tommy Gleeson undertook an extended solo in which Queen’s ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ and The White Stripes ‘Seven Nation Army’ were woven together and pulsed through the venue. Then, the band returned, Benji Webbe had a new outfit and it was fists in the air for ‘Kill The Power’, that took the crowd up another level. It was then time for the feelgood song ‘Can I Get A’ and it demonstrated that Skindred’s new songs are absolutely fabulous with lyrics and choruses so infectiously catchy.

Skindred brought the energy, enthusiasm and passion to their performance. The setlist was full of bangers and it seemed like every song was a highlight as the set ratcheted up to the riot that was ‘Nobody’. The crowd was having so much fun that “nobody” noticed the time passing and that the regular set was over. It had finished on a high with one of the band’s defining songs and it was a perfect way to finish the perfect main set.

Skindred left the stage and everyone had a chance to catch their breath. The chant for the band started. And, Skindred returned to the stage, Benji Webbe had changed again into a fringed coat and they launched the encore into the rafters with ‘Gimme That Boom’. He then led the crowd into a heartfelt tribute to Ozzy Osbourne by getting the crowd to sing a Black Sabbath song, “You know this, Brisbane”as he told the crowd about the importance of that band to modern music.

The end was here and Skindred finished with an unhinged delivery of ‘Warning’, or has it become known, the ‘Newport Helicopter’ theme! The crowd stripped off their t-shirts and twirled them like a Newport helicopter around their heads. Amariah Cook of Future Static joined the band onstage to help deliver the vocals and demonstrate the moves, but only when Benji Webbe gives the say so!

The gig ended! And as Carly Simon’s ‘Nobody Does It Better’ played, the band were applauded and the love in the room was huge. Skindred had reminded the crowd why live music matters. Benji Webbe has always said he wants people to come to have the best possible time at a Skindred show and it was mission accomplished in Brisbane tonight.

There have been so many great gigs this year in Brisbane. But I think this was one of the most fun gigs of the year: Skindred brought the tunes and the crowd brought their energy. It went off and the crowd surfers, the moshers and circle pit fans all had “a real good time” as Skindred left us “floatin’ around in ecstasy” – hot, sweaty and exhausted as we all staggered out of the Triffid and into the night. Brilliant!