Music Spotlight: Skinless Finger return to Crewe for headline show

Jan 19 2011 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

WELCOME to the world of Skinless Finger.

Friday’s headliners at The Box in Crewe have been described as the ‘Red Hot Chili Peppers having a bust up with Rage Against The Machine while listening to a best of ska collection’.

That basically means quality.

Returning to their Cheshire roots for the first time in ages, the four-piece have been busy building up a solid reputation in Manchester with their energetic and mesmerising live shows.

Blending hip hop and funk with undertones of jazz, ska, blues, metal, be-bop and rock, Skinless certainly transcend genre definition.

And the way they can convert fans of any style is all the more impressive.

Ash Powell (vocals), Nick Rogers (guitar), Phil Smallwood (drums) and Gaz Evans (bass) have come a long way since they were regulars on the local circuit.

“We played quite a few unsigned nights at the Limelight and we also played The M Club when it first opened,” said frontman Powell, from Holmes Chapel.

“Since then we’ve played a lot in Manchester and we’ve become almost a resident band at Moho.

“We’ve got a good relationship with them and they’ve trusted us to support bands like Does It Offend You, Yeah?

“To be honest we pride ourselves on making friends at gigs rather than looking to make any statement with attitude. We don’t need it, we’re confident in our ability and music and I like to think we’re a good band to work with.”

Together in their current line-up for the past three years, Powell believes they’ve carved out their own style.

“I started off doing beatbox and rapping myself, wondering how I could do it all on my own,” he added. “But I loved bands like Rage and when we all got together, we gelled so well.

“I’m the lyric writer, they give me the music and I love having artistic licence with it. There aren’t many bands like us with just one rapper and a full band because you usually find more vocals over a DJ.

“We’ve done gigs with different bands; we’ve played a lot with death metal bands but still had their fans jumping around.

“We’ve not focused on one genre and we’ve carved it out ourselves.”

Having won over crowds across the UK, Skinless Finger are planning to take the continent in 2011.

“We’re going to have a crack at a European tour,” said Powell. “We’ve got a few contacts in Poland, Germany and Spain but if that doesn’t come off we’ll stick around London. We’re going to polish off our new style and give it a real big drive this year.

“I’m looking forward to The Box, I know a lot of people in Crewe and I’ve heard it’s a good night down there.”

Crewe urban act Profound Legacy will join them, along with Violet Omen and metal band Tears of Ishara. Doors open at 7.30pm and admission is £5.

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