Remarkably, the lineup itself remains largely unchanged since the mid-nineties. Guitarist Ace has never been the kind of player interested in constant displays of virtuosity, though he can certainly unleash a devastating lick when the moment calls for it. More importantly, he understands arrangement, texture and dynamics, knowing exactly when a song requires a jagged riff, a melodic counterline or simply space. Behind him, drummer Mark Richardson and bassist Cass form one of the more distinctive rhythm sections in British rock, playing with the force of metal musicians but the elastic momentum of dance music. Their grooves are what ultimately propel these songs forward.
And then, of course, there is Skin. Thirty years on, she remains one of the most commanding frontpeople in rock music, capable of shifting from confrontation to warmth to outright menace in the space of a few seconds. At one point she dives directly into the crowd, dancing, jumping and crowd-surfing among the audience as if the barrier separating performer and spectators simply did not exist.
It was a tremendous set, one that engaged the body as much as the intellect. And yes, it's fucking political.
