Skinlab tour blasts to Detroit

Daily Arts Writer

Bay Area's Skinlab performed a generous health-related public service act for its Detroit fans this past Wednesday. The band brought its massive wall of metal sound here to help loosen up any and all of its fans' clogged earwax as well as encouraging better neck flexibility through plenty of headbanging.

Skinlab has been relentlessly touring in support of its "Disembody: The New Flesh" album ever since the disc came out in February of last year. Evident from Wednesday's performance, the band showed no signs of fatigue or slowing down. Highlights from Skinlab's set include bruising renditions of "So Far From The Truth" and "When Pain Comes To Surface." Their delivery was very tight and focused despite the numerous odd time changes found in Skinlab's music. The endless touring has no doubt helped in making the band the well-oiled machine it was at this show.

Based on their song titles, you can probably infer that the vibe at St. Andrew's Hall was just a little bit different than that of a Lilith Fair concert. Then again, despite the overabundance of testosterone flowing in the venue, things did not escalate to Woodstock '99 proportions either. The crowd did not partake in much moshing, but as earlier mentioned, there was plenty of whiplash-inducing head banging.

The band's bassist/vocalist Steev Esquivel is arguably one of the most charismatic metal frontmen to have come out of the underground metal scene within the last couple of years. Sure, his dreadlocked hair and multiple piercings may bring to mind the numerous trendy neo-metal fads out there today, but there is an unmistakable sincerity in Esquivel's presence that shines through.

By the end of Skinlab's set, there was no chance of anyone suffering from clogged ears or athritic necks. The incessant ringing in the ears that immediately came after the show, however, is a whole different matter.