 Return to Lonely Goat Features ArchivesFirst published in Lonely Goat Print Magazine Volume III - #4 It's Better
to Burnout than to Fade Away - The
End of Mister Skinny On Monday, May 1st, my better half, Siobhan and I decided to drive the 270 miles to Knoxville, Tennessee to attend the final performance of our close friends Mister Skinny. For those of you that know me and have heard me rave about these guys, you understand that this was a difficult trip for me. Not to mention how hard it is to write this review/ letter. When we first arrived at the Mister Skinny house (the band lived together too!), the greetings were pleasant but solemn. I think we all felt the pains of a beginning of an end, which we quickly shrugged off and got to work loading the trailer with equipment. The show started at about 11:00 PM. The band lit the match with a little instrumental intro and kindled the fire with none other than the original 'Burned.' 'Always On The Run' (Lenny Kravitz) and a couple more originals turned the heat up even hotter. The 'homemade' and energetic 'Through The Light' and the reggae based 'Shoestring' (my two favorites) melted together from the roaring flames Mister Skinny kept feeding! The energy coming off of the band spread through the crowd like a furious blaze, everyone was on their feet. This was the magic that we've all felt and continue to keep searching for: when the band and the fans become one and sustain each other. It's a feeling you never want to end! 'Pusherman' (Curtis Mayfield) and 'Voodoo Child' (Jimi Hendrix) were surrounded by 'Movin' On' and 'Slow Connection' respectively. The boys then burst into an explosive 'Shakedown Street' (Grateful Dead) that had to end the set before someone called the fire department. After the break, The Skinny boys stirred the coals with 'Summer Rain,' 'Nothing I Can Do' and 'Why 2K?'. It didn't take long for the room to be aflame once again! You could feel the heat beginning to intensify, they were cookin'. 'Fame' (David Bowie) gave way to the most full-blown fury I ever heard Mister Skinny endure. Starting out with their title song, 'Mister Skinny,' and building the fire with 'Tweezer' (Phish) until the flames were out of control! The inferno raged, fueled by the music that poured out of their instruments like molten lava! The set ended with 'I Ain't Down' which stopped abruptly when lead guitarist Davis Mitchell signaled the crowd to stand back as he attempted to smash his Fender Stratocaster. Thankfully the guitar, although probably no longer playable, remained intact. 'Thankfully' because that very guitar, now signed by the entire band, hangs cherished until I breathe my last breath on the wall of my den! That wasn't all though. The band took the stage for one more encore. As with all fires, as hot as they might get, they must be extinguished. This one was put out with 'Purple Rain' (Prince). If that didn't water the flames enough, the tears in the crowd would have. I know mine could have. When the song was over, the band stood in line with their arms around each other and took one final bow. The fire that was Mister Skinny burned out. We all went back to the house after the show and partied all night long! With two or three hours worth of sleep, we made the long journey home (Siobhan drove, I cried and slept intermittently). For whatever reasons a group of talented people (ie: Carey Archer, Davis Mitchell, Jeff Minyard, and Davis Sharp) can't survive, a flame burns out. I hope our paths cross several more times my friends! Until then, 'You Know Our Love Will Not Fade Away!' Love Chris & Siobhan |