Mike Skinner, frontman of The Streets, played his biggest show to date at London's Alexandra Palace, performing the classic album A Grand Don't Come for Free in its entirety for the first time. The Saturday night concert, set against perfect blue skies and a panoramic view of the capital, was a euphoric and hilarious triumph.
A Concept Album Comes Alive
The album, a concept record about losing a thousand pounds down the back of a TV, might not seem like an obvious candidate for a rapturous welcome over 20 years later. But as a large black curtain dropped to reveal the bus shelter that adorns the album cover, and Skinner intoned, “It was supposed to be so easy,” it all made sense. A Grand Don't Come for Free is a British classic, capturing the minutiae of British life with a story of love, heartbreak, hedonism, and comedowns. The outdoor setting at Alexandra Palace, high above London, provided the perfect backdrop.
Euphoric Performance from the Start
The crowd was up for the raucous thrills from the beginning. The opening track, It Was Supposed to Be So Easy, dated only by a reference to returning a DVD, set the tone. Skinner, dressed head to toe in Stone Island with a pint always in hand, stayed in character throughout the album run. Roo Savill played the role of Simone, the girlfriend in the album's story, with fantastic energy. The band was impressively tight.
During the performance, Skinner drew the silhouette of Ally Pally on the perspex glass of the bus stop and wrote “Lockdown your aerial,” later admitting he had been anxious all show that he spelled it incorrectly. Blinded By The Lights was woozily brilliant and cinematic, Could Well Be In was beguiling, and Dry Your Eyes retained its emotive potency despite the years.
Greatest Hits and Crowd-Pleasing Showmanship
After the album run, Skinner returned to play greatest hits, becoming a crowd-pleasing showman. He repeatedly said, “Not like this when I’m walking my dog here,” seeming genuinely in awe. The second half began with Blinded By The Lights, took a euphoric turn with Weak Become Heroes, and a brilliantly lairy Don’t Mug Yourself. Skinner quipped, “Let’s normalise cuddles at Ally Pally,” and told the crowd he felt like “a host on a tv show.” The show ended with Skinner crowd-surfing to Take Me As I Am, worried someone had pulled the Stone Island badge off his top. He said, “Thank you for letting me perform for you where I normally walk my dog. This is the biggest show we’ve ever done and it didn’t feel like that – in the best possible way.” As the lights went down, the show finished as it began, with Skinner intoning “it was supposed to be so easy,” leaving the hard-fought hope and joy of the album lingering in the air.
