The 4 Skins
East Coast Oi Fest
May 2008
Text & Pixs By Jillian Abbene
(SugarBuzz Wash DC/Richmond)
SugarBuzz Magazine
It doesn’t matter that it’s been 30+ years since Gary launched a new dose of angst to an American crowd. Today, at the East Coast Oi Fest, you can cut the anticipation with a knife. The crowd is on pins and needles, craning their necks, and fired-up for this historical event. Pushing forward, the venue is packed—leaving no elbowroom.
Out walks Gary and the IndEx Crew. The crowd is already shouting requests before the first note. Gary has a look of intent, as he stands relaxed and in command. ‘1984,’ starts the set, with sharp guitar chords as the drums break in the bass intro. Although Gary is stationery, his vocals are more guttural live than I expect. The crowd is bobbing in time, as everyone is clearly totally stoked. Even Tom’s guitar squeals are more profound (apart from the cruder ‘70’s mixes from years ago). This live set is even sharper. The crowd is chanting in the chorus as fists are flailing from all sides. Wherever I turn, punks are reciting the lyrics. A great guitar riff propels the song into a crash. Followed erupted claps and cheers come from the audience.
With Gary’s teenage daughter and wife looking on the sidelines, ‘Yesterday’s Heroes,’ has Gary animated, and Tommy, half through the song, darts across from one side of the stage to the other. Again, at the end of this song, there are big claps.
The standout song is, ‘I Don’t Wanna Die,’ as Gary’s beginning commentary, “I don’t like wars…You don’t wanna die, do you? [the crowd answers No!] …and I don’t wanna die!” as the first notes of the deep bass smashes the commentary starking in guitar chords for the lead chorus. Further, despite the all- encompassing instruments, you can hear the crowd shouting in full-tilt, “I Don’t Wanna Die!” As intense as the topic, the tune is as catchy as it was written long ago. Timeless…
It was at this point, that arising from the nucleus of the circle-pit, (almost seemingly floating on top of arms), is Andrea from Psyko Punk Productions, hoisted high above with one hand on the video camera, and the other balancing in the air. Despite the movement, she isn’t flinching and is catching the fury that not many can bravely venture into—the nucleus of the furied-pit. It was awesome—as Symond, from Concrete Jungle Festivals is filming Andrea who is filming the pit! It was truly a defined moment.
A rougher-cut version of Slade’s, ‘Cum On Feel The Noize,’ has the crowd cheering. The precise guitar riffs in the middle maligned with heavy-handed drums, has me chuckling at the clever insertion on the chorus, “Cum On Feel The Noize/Girls Grab The BOi!z / We Go Oi Oi Oi!” Again massive participation with lots of cheers.
With the bouncers of the club in hot pursuit of crowd surfers “conveniently” flopping over the stage barricade, ‘Evil,’ is vaulted with Gary’s abrasive vocals, heavy in accent, pronouncing the chorus, “Evole” – a far more noteworthy live piece than on CD. Gary syncopates the chorus with the crowd echoing the chorus repeats slotting in between. Excellent!
One by one, The 4 Skins crank out all the staples, ‘ACAB,’ ‘Wonderful World,’ ‘Never Sorry,’ and closing with, ‘Thanks for the Memories & Chaos,’ wrapping up the jam-packed angst with one screaming guitar note at the end.
Standing in front of history has me actually quite touched by the camaraderie. Not everyone can witness the connection. Between the big claps, cheers, shaking drunken fists, and sweaty smiling faces, there was something electric. No write-up, no photo, no video can accurately capture…live.
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