On a busy night in Manchester, Academy 2 is completely sold out. Skynd arrives with her arsenal of true crime inspired anthems.
A BUSY NIGHT
It’s a busy night for gigs in Manchester. The Academy 2 is completely sold out as a black clad queue snakes around the building, long before the doors open.
When the allotted time arrives, devotees head inside and join another large queue for the merch before heading upstairs into the relatively intimate confines of Academy 2. Curiously there is no support act, and an air of anticipation builds in the patient crowd in the two hours between the doors and the show starting.
The crowd are eclectic and it’s obvious from the outset that these were not casual observers. They’re hardcore, almost fanatical, fans, with Skynd captivating them with her true crime inspired anthems.
SINISTER & DISTURBING
Skynd takes the stage in a wall of dense red light. Accompanied by two masked musicians, she opens with Michelle Carter, amid a barrage of strobe lights. A haunting rendition of Elisa Lam leads into the disco beats and pop sensibilities of Tamara Samsonova which saw Skynd donning a regal cloak.
At face value the melodies sounded upbeat with many in the crowd happily dancing. However, there is always a sinister (and at times disturbing) undercurrent to the music. With the use of spoken word intros / newsreels between tracks, Skynd reinforces the gruesome nature of the songs. They keep the crowd mindful of the horrific events that inspire these tracks. It’s worth stating that the band are always clear that they are not glorifying any of these acts and are simply reporting on them.
A TRIUMPHANT EVENING
As the set moves on, industrial rhythms fused with goth, rock and pop elements create the bedrock. The reverential crowd sing back every word, while inevitably filming it all on a wall of mobile phones.
John Wayne Gacy has Skynd prowling the stage with a cane as she repeatedly sang “33” in reference to Gacy’s victims. Richard Ramirez and Columbine are highlights of the back end of the set with the resplendent Skynd a macabre orator. She commands the crowd, crouching down to engage with the front rows as she delivers her grisly sermons.
There is a party atmosphere (and a dark undertone) in the room as the set climaxes. It was clear that this had been a triumphant evening. I have no doubt Skynd will deservedly return to bigger stages than this in the future.
All photography by Andy Pountney (Event Photography Awards Winner 2024 and 2025). You can check out more of his work on Instagram.
Skynd: Website