Skeletal Family at Mercury Lounge

Stan Greenwood & Anne-Marie Hurst

During the height of the new wave and gothic rock movement in 1982 in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England, Skeletal Family formed from the remaining members of an earlier group called the Elements, and took its name from the title of a David Bowie song, "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family." After two albums, Skeletal Family disbanded in 1986. Regrouping in 2002, the band released two more albums and then disbanded again in 2009. Regrouping in 2012, Skeletal Family now consists of original members Anne-Marie Hurst (vocals), Stan Greenwood (guitar), and Roger "Trotwood" Nowell (bass), plus newer member Adrian Osadzenko (drums). Skeletal Family's fourth and most recent album is 2009's Songs of Love, Hope & Despair.

On the second Saturday of every month, longtime nightlife promoter Sean Templar hosts the Red Party at Mercury Lounge, where he usually books one gothic rock band and several djs. Skeletal Party's performance was a rare event in that the band seldom tours the United States. Skeletal Party's uptempo music was driven by Hurst's rather monochromatic and suitably gothic vocals, Greenwood's shimmering guitar leads and the thick, crashing rhythms provided by Nowell and Osadzenko. As the sole guitarist, Greenwood's riffs chimed behind Hurst, but shined most effectively when he powered the instrumental interludes by alternating between searing leads and melodic refrains. The high energy concert ended much as it started, with a ringing rock and roll that blasted to the back walls of the venue.

Visit Skeletal Family at www.skeletalfamily.com.