Industrial pioneers Skinny Puppy have called their final live concert tour, and they recently brought their farewell show to The Fillmore Silver Spring. Jason Nicholson was there to shoot the show.
When announcing the tour, Skinny Puppy said, “It’s been eight long years since we’ve toured, and there is no better way to end our run as a group than with a tour celebrating our 40th anniversary.”
And celebrate they did in an intense performance at The Fillmore Silver Spring in Silver Spring, Maryland, on April 19.
Formed in Vancouver, Canada, in 1982, Skinny Puppy consists of cEvin Key (Kevin Crompton) and vocalist Nivek Ogre (Kevin Ogilvie). They are joined in the 21st century by Mark Walk, who plays keyboards, synths, guitars, bass, and drums. On tour, Skinny Puppy also perform with drummer Justin Bennett and guitarist Matthew Setzer.
Skinny Puppy first released Remission, a debut EP, in 1984. They acknowledged that EP with a performance of “Smothered Hope” in their encore. They drew one or two songs each from a lot of different albums, favoring VIVIsectVI, their fourth studio album (from 1988), with three numbers, according to Setlist.fm. They opened with that album’s “VX Gas Attack,” added “Human Disease (SKUMM)” in the middle of their show, and closed their encore with “Testure.”
Watch the official music video for “Testure” by Skinny Puppy on YouTube:
Rest assured Skinny Puppy performed fan-favorite “Worlock” from 1989’s Rabies to the joy of the assembled goth crowd. Skinny Puppy nodded to their last studio album, 2013’s Weapon, with an early rendition of “wornin’.”
Opening Skinny Puppy were Lead into Gold, fronted by former Ministry bassist Paul Barker. Lead into Gold released a third studio album, The Eternal Present, via Artoffact Records on April 21.
Here are a few photos of Lead Into Gold at The Fillmore Silver Spring, opening Skinny Puppy on April 19, 2023. All pictures copyright and courtesy Jason Nicholson.
And here are some photos of Skinny Puppy performing at The Fillmore Silver Spring on April 19, 2023. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Jason Nicholson.
