Unique and fiercely eccentric, Bishopskin are unlike any other current group, with a distinctive sound and feral live presence.

PLEASE NOTE: EXPLICIT IMAGERY

Playing to a sold-out Lexington on 3rd November, Bishopskin took to stage supported by Scarlett Woolfe as they marked the release of their unique debut album, ‘Babble.’ Woolfe executed a stunning support set as the Islington grassroots music venue raised in temperature, while the crowd eagerly anticipated what was to come next. When Bishopskin emerged they were enthusiastically greeted by a mass of free-spirited bohemian screaming, the crowd baying in unison like a pack of wolves.

Bishopskin carried out impressive live renditions of tracks from ‘Babble,’ crowd favourites evidently being ‘Ave Maria’ and ‘Stella Splendens’. The nine-piece emitted their hypnotic avant-garde sound, their horde of fans a spellbound frenzy, fixated upon every groove. Lead singer Tiger Nicholson appeared in the same outfit he wears on the new album’s cover, made partly of hessian jute coffee sacks and looking rather biblical. The outfit alone is capable of setting the tone for the whole performance.

Moving impulsively, he riled up the crowd with untamed dancing and wild, dog-like snarls. There are few performers like Nicholson in the current live music scenes across the UK who allow themselves to be so purely genuine and put every ounce of their being into their art. His movements, his facial expressions and his powerful voice all channel into the present moment of a performance. One might compare him to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, given the uniqueness of his outfits and that sense of spirituality combined with shock factor. Every show, every song, oscillates between raw aggression and profound tranquillity.

With a blistering performance that mesmerised and shocked, the band left the stage only to return quickly in response to howls of, “One more song”. Nicholson joked about encores before the band sprung into an energetic performance of ’Stella Splendens.’ With Nicholson taking the backseat on vocals for this final track, Tati Gutteridge and Tabitha Avanzato sung the beautiful reworking of a 14th century Latin hymn, no note misplaced over upbeat drums, piercing fiddle, tight bass and precise guitar. In an entirely unexpected closing gesture, Nicholson stripped off in front of the crowd completely naked from head to toe, covered his hands in blue paint and began frantically but rhythmically slapping his body. The microphone picked up the beat, soundtracking the covering of his body in blue handprints.

Unique and fiercely eccentric, Bishopskin are unlike any other current groups thanks to their distinctive sound and feral live show. Sets like this don’t come along very often, and leave you feeling as though you’ve attended some strange kind of spiritual gathering.

Watch the full performance here, courtesy of Lou Smith.