Skinny Lister has made quite the name for itself in the UK and after spending a few months Stateside—including a successful week at South by Southwest and a spot during this year’s Coachella—the London-based quintet has been making a large splash across the pond.

Thursday night at Club Nokia, the “pub-folk” outfit showed the city of Los Angeles what all of the fuss was about as they opened for Irish folk-punk heavy hitters Dropkick Murphys. Though the majority of the crowd was there to see the Boston punk rockers, it didn’t take long for Skinny Lister to attract the audience’s attention. Singer Lorna Thomas pranced onto the stage, juggling two cans of Coors and a large, ceramic jug filled with God Knows What. Dressed in a floral print baby doll dress, frilled ankle socks and ruby red, Mary Jane-inspired heels, the charismatic chanteuse greeted the crowd as the rest of the band sauntered onstage.

The five-piece began with “Trawler Man,” off Forge & Flagon, its recently released debut full-length on SideOneDummy Records. After playing a few songs off the record, the band decided to test out a new song called “Ten Thousand Voices,” to which the audience responded with a roar of applause.  This pattern continued as the group played familiar tracks sprinkled with new material and traditional UK folk songs, including the Scottish song, “Fish.”

Halfway through the set, the band invited Rosco Wustewald of Onward, etc. to play mandolin, and as a six-piece the band’s sound grew tenfold. And though they don’t play with a drummer, bassist Dan Gray’s lovingly scratched and dented upright bass did just the trick to keep rhythm.

“I’m coming to getcha!” Thomas exclaimed to her newly acquainted fans between songs, and in a flash she jumped off the stage and onto the floor, clutching her big, brown jug. As guitarist/vocalist Dan Heptinstall sang, she danced and swigged from the booze receptacle, sharing with the crowd.  Wustewald grabbed a large bass drum and gulped the last of his bottle of beer, only to spew an alcoholic fountain into the air. Standing on the edge of the stage, he used the empty bottle as a mallet, pounding on his drum and screaming lyrics without a microphone. But the most impressive band feat came from Gray, who leapt off the stage, upright bass clutched to his chest, and crowd surfed nearly to the back of the room.

Though recorded Skinny Lister’s energy is apparent, it’s a band that needs to be seen live (and maybe a little drunk). Even if no one in the crowd knew the band before last night, I guarantee the whole room will remember them.

Photo By Katrina Nattress

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