Review: Streets' rising

Crowd love it as BBC Electric Proms show proves Skinner's new songs' worth

24 October 2008 - Much has been made of the new uplifting, more musical Streets album Everything Is Borrowed and Mike Skinner's accompanying positive, more philosophical attitude. Some quarters have embraced his move away from lairy council estate based narratives, but others have found the new mellow Mike an uncomfortable fit.

And if ever the two worlds were to collide then here, live at a high profile gig at the special Roundhouse venue (23 October), was going to be the place.

As if to highlight the differences tonight's set list drew equally from his 2002 debut Original Pirate Material and his new record, and newer tracks stand their ground surprisingly well.

This is partially down to the presence of The Heritage Orchestra who've been drafted in to add a new dimension to Skinner's bedroom symphonies.

In the face of a huge, string-laden take on the new album's title track and a version of The Escapist that's positively draped in chimes, xylophones and bells, older favourites like Don't Mug Yourself and Sharp Darts sound a tad empty if the truth be known.

Four songs into the set Skinner, addresses the slightly inhibited, head-nodding, crowd: "Does everybody here know hot to rave? Obviously not." Before launching into the familiar classic, Out Of Space by the The Prodigy.

This invigorates a crowd punctuated by hard-core Streets’ lovers, who proceed to go with Skinner’s every whim.

For the first half of the set it's also clear that Skinner is not in the rudest of health. Speaking before the show he complained of a serious flu, and as he bunny-hops around the stage you feel like he's trying to force some extra energy out of his tour-knackered frame.

Salvation comes in the form of the audience however, as a chant of, "Skinner! Skinner! Skinner! Skinner!" (along with a tearful orchestral performance of Never Went To Church that provided a moment to catch his breath), reinvigorates the singer and from that point on, its a heads-down knees-up.

Tonight, aided by the Heritage Orchestra, The Streets' new material was easily the match of any of anything from their hallowed back catalogue.

The Heritage Orchestra turn Edge Of A Cliff (a highlight of the new record) into an uplifting sing-a-long hymn. Then Skinner's band tie Has It Come To This? into a drum-tight funk jam, while he rallies the audience to all crouch down on the floor, only to all jump up simultaneously for the final chorus.

And by the time his timeless paeans to rave, Week Become Heroes and Blinded By The Lights have come to a close, a very sweaty Mike is doing the Running Man dance like Lazarus in Reebok classics.

The wordsmith’s sense of fun and crowd interaction is furthered when he calls upon every person to partake in a freeze frame. Upon his command, every person in the room don vogue-esque poses as the cameras linger overhead to capture the moment.

That’s until Skinner robotically turns his head to face the audience and breaks it, transforming the place into one huge euphoric mosh as the musicians continue their onslaught of beats.

Turn The Page kicks off the encores, followed by gospel choir-driven Dry Your Eyes and Heaven For The Weather, which descends into a booze-soaked pub shout-a-long.

"Can you take my weight?" Skinner asks, as his band rattles through Fit But You Know It. Eyes crazed like a garage Kurtz, he removes his shoes and take off his T-shirt while instructing the audience to split in two, creating a path that he leaps down, before the crowd pick him and a carry him aloft, Iggy Pop style - back to the stage.

Tonight, aided by the Heritage Orchestra, The Streets' new material was easily the match of any of anything from their hallowed back catalogue, and as a performer Mike Skinner has a skill that shouldn't be underrated.

If the past has seen The Streets labouring in the shadows of his musical past, tonight was the dawn of a new morning.

Watch our 6 Music reporters' BBC Electric Proms daily round up videos online here.

Matt Everitt / Georgie Rogers