Band of Skulls at Webster Hall

While attending college in Southampton, England, vocalist/guitarist Russell Marsden and bassist Emma Richardson played in a band called Fleeing New York, which performed in music clubs in the greater London area. The band became Band of Skulls in 2008 and released its debut album in 2009, Baby Darling Doll Face Honey. The track "I Know What I Am" appeared in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. Another track that was not on the album, "Friends", was included on The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack in 2009. Band of Skulls released its fifth and most recent album, Love Is All You Love, on April 12, 2019.

Although Band of Skulls promoted its most recent album with a Mercury Lounge concert only three months ago, the performance at Webster Hall utilized a different marketing tool. The band was celebrating the 10th anniversary of the release of its debut album and promised to perform all 12 tracks. With the help of drummer Julian Dorio of the Whigs and Eagles of Death Metal, Band of Skulls played not only the entire album, but also performed "Hollywood Bowl," a song found only on the British pressing. Marsden sang raw and gritty blues-rock songs that often hinged on his muscular guitar riffs. The trio also demonstrated its softer side on the song "Honest," with Marsden and Richardson switching to acoustic guitars and singing harmonies into a common microphone. After performing the first album, Band of Skulls concluded with several pop-flavored songs from later albums. As a finale, the band started playing "Carnivorous," then put down their instruments to dance in the audience to the pre-recorded rhythms of the song. Band of Skulls mix of bluesy garage-rock with soulful pop will appeal to fans of many rock genres.