Skids. Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 18.01.18.

The 2017 return of the Skids was an absolute triumph. A tour that filled decent sized venues with people who were genuinely ecstatic about seeing one of the great punk bands from 40 years ago. This response from people resulted in the release of new album Burning Cities on January 12^th and tonight Skids open with ‘This Is Our World’, a powerful, raucous, pounding song that has the Georgian Theatre bouncing within seconds. What follows is a set of songs that grip you with their infectious beats, singalong choruses and the visual spectacle that is Richard Jobson’s non-stop trademark dancing. A superb frontman, he owns the stage and despite being bitten by the flu bug simply cannot stay still as he puts everything into those classic anthems from years ago. Together with Mike Baillie on drums, Bill Simpson on bass and father/son guitar playing by Bruce/Jamie Watson that more than perfectly matches those infectious trademark riffs of original member Stuart Adamson the Skids tonight are faultless. The hits are played – ‘Working For The Yankee Dollar’, ‘Masquerade’ (Jobson’s favourite Skids song), ‘Charade’. Huge songs, catchy songs, angry songs that get in your head, grab you and don’t let go. ‘Of One Skin’, ‘Melancholy Soldiers’, ‘Circus Games’ and ‘The Saints Are Coming’ – “I cried to my Daddy on the telephone..” brings a lump to my throat every time I hear it. Live it seems to hit home even more. As does ‘A Woman In Winter’. These are anthems that should fill stadiums. But it’s not just about nostalgia. New songs ‘This Is Our World’, ‘World On Fire’, ‘One Last Chance’ fit seamlessly into the set. Pure, instantly recognisable Skids, but 21^st Century Skids. Jobson’s vocals have lost none of their impact and whilst you appreciate the seriousness of the many subjects covered by the songs you also know that everyone – band and crowd – is having a brilliant time.  They finish with ‘Into The Valley’, that unforgettable bass intro before the band, and the crowd, erupt into one huge mass of energy.

They return to give us ‘The Olympian’ and ‘Charles’, still great after 40 years and, of course, ‘TV Stars’. Tonight I knew within seconds this gig was going to be good. By the end I knew it will be one of the best gigs of 2018. Superb.