Chicago – London six-piece Skinny Lister has been winning the hearts of U.K. punks and folk lovers since 2009, but it’s only been the last few years that Dan Heptinstall (guitar), Max Thomas (melodeon & mandolin), Lorna Thomas (lead vocals), Michael Camino (bass), Thom Mills (drums), and Sam “Mule” Brace (guitar, concertina, & mandolin) have been finding love Stateside. Skinny Lister mixes English folk music with a touch of punk, a bit of rock, and the occasional punch of Celtic music, perfect for fans of The Pogues, Flogging Molly, and the Dropkick Murphys. Skinny Lister recently released their sophomore album, Down On Deptford Broadway, filled with plenty of foot-stompers that lure listeners into sing-alongs. Best New Bands recently caught Skinny Lister at Riot Fest in Chicago, where we saw Down On Deptford Broadway come to life. Skinny Lister captivated us with one of the most exciting and energetic performances of the weekend, complete with Michael Camino crowd-surfing with his upright bass, Lorna Thomas dancing with a giant jug that may or may not have been filled with some shine, and the entire band putting festivalgoers into a frenzy.
Before Skinny Lister’s enthralling set at Riot Fest, Best New Bands spoke with Daniel, Max, and Lorna about bringing back folk-punk, Ohio threesomes, and why you should never touch someone’s hair.
There’s begun to be a resurgence of folk-punk in the U.S. Is it the same in the U.K.?
Daniel: We got a big scene developing around our record label, which is called Xtra Mile Recordings. We got people like Frank Turner, who we’re going to do a seven week tour of The States with. We got a guy called Beans On Toast. There’s a lot of folks with that sort of attitude, happening back home.
Lorna: Yeah, we’re getting angry over there! [everyone laughs] Okay, not really.
You’ve toured with Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphys, both of whom have quite the fanbase here in Chicago.
Lorna: Yeah, we had some great shows!
I imagine you were fans before hand. What was it like touring with bands you love and admire?
Lorna: It’s quite daunting! [laughs] They’re really friendly. We had a great time. You know, they drink; we drink. They like music; we like music. [laughs]
Anything crazy happen on tour?
Lorna: Two friends offered a threesome. Not with any of the band! We went to an after party to hear some music in Cleveland, and there was this redhead, big boobed gal chatting me up. Her boyfriend was in the back going, “Ask her, ask her!” I was like, “Whoa, I’ve got you, but not him!” [laughs]
I love the song “What Can I Say.” Who wrote it, and what inspired it?
Daniel: Well, I wrote the main top body of the song. I mostly wrote it at Lorna’s parent’s house, when I was just looking out the back window there. It sounds very romantic and everything, but the corn was growing and I think…
Lorna: [sings] And the corn grew tall! [laughs]
Daniel: I think I took so long, the corn grew and then got chopped down. [laughs] It lends itself very nicely to Lorna’s voice, so I got Lorna to sing it. So yeah, it came out nice.
I also like “Trouble On Oxford Street.” Is that an original?
All: Yeah!
Max: That’s about when I got beaten up on Oxford Street a few years ago. It’s a true story.
Lorna: It is very literal. I don’t know if you’re getting that from the song writing, but basically Max went out and had a few. It doesn’t happen too often because it’s a dangerous affair.
Max: I remember talking about it, and we were thinking about what would make a good song. You want to be genuine. What matters is you’re talking the truth in your songwriting. We were just talking about that, and I remember I got beaten up by a couple of punks. I had to go down and sign on for social security. I don’t know what it’s called down here… but yeah I was like I got to write a song about that. [laughs] And the rest is history.
Daniel: If you can take something good out of the situation, there it is.
Max: I think I probably deserved it, as well. He was righteous.
Lorna: Oh, he definitely deserved it. They warned him! They said, “If you touch my mohawk again, you’re gonna get your face kicked in!”
You heard it here folks: Never, ever touch other people’s hair! But do feel free to dance and mosh with any punks you may see at a Skinny Lister show. Skinny Lister is currently on tour with Frank Turner. To quote Lorna, “It’s the British invasion, coming at you with booze and music!”
A full list of tour dates is available on the Skinny Lister Facebook page.
Photo of Skinny Lister by Sarah Hess for BestNewBands.com.
Sarah Hess
After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.
You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.
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