Page 36 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 114

BV114 pg 36-37 Skillet.qxp_BV114 pg 36 12/06/2026 19:15 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 36
SKILLET – BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY, 23.04.26
In the opening track of Skillet’s set,
‘Surviving The Game’, frontman John
Cooper sings, ‘Gonna be indestructible’ –
and Skillet most definitely have been.
They’ve been a band for 30 years, faced
both ups and downs (but mostly ups), and
have continued to power through what-
ever life has thrown at them. It’s been an
impressive ride, which shows no sign of
slowing down.
2026’s 23-date European tour in-
cludes four shows in the UK – London,
Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester.
They bring with them the Parisian trio
Storm Orchestra, who we featured in last
issue’s Black Velvet. If you haven’t
checked them out, we definitely recom-
mend you do so. They have their own
unique alt. rock sound, which combines
pulsating beats, radiating guitars and lush
vocals through songs such as ‘Drummer’
and ‘Superplayer’. Ending their short set
with ‘Suspect’, we suspect they’ll be back
in the UK again soon.
At 9pm, drummer Jen Ledger, lead
guitarist Seth Morrison, rhythm
guitarist/keyboardist Korey Cooper and,
finally, vocalist/bassist John Cooper, ar-
rive on stage, and launch into the afore-
mentioned ‘Surviving The Game’. John
jumps into the air as a line of CO2 can-
nons blast plumes of fog up at the edge
of the stage. You can’t help but want to
follow John’s lead by jumping along to the
magnetic hit single. The roof-raising ‘Feel
Invincible’ continues the high impact, ti-
tanic impression, before the call-to-arms
‘Rise’. Fourth song, ‘Awake And Alive’,
takes things up another notch, with John
strapping on cryo guns to each arm, so he
can shoot CO2 out in two directions.
While he takes the forefront, guitarists
Seth and Korey go up onto the drum riser
where they are then each elevated up and
down via mobile elevating platforms,
while drummer Jen Ledger sings backing
vocals at the same time as beating the
drums.
John sings a line of Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’
On A Prayer’, before the band dive into
the contagious ‘Sick Of It’, with its pump-
ing beat. Korey plays the keyboard, while
John comments that everyone has some-
thing they’re sick of. He says he’s sick of
depression. ‘Raise your hands if you’re
sick of it,’ he sings. Back on the guitar,
Korey stomps around to the inciting song.
The 18-song set includes the
adrenaline-fueled ‘Legendary’, before the
pace slows down for the emotional ‘Ash
In The Wind’, in which Korey plays the
keys again, and then, the tender ‘Never
Surrender’. After ‘Whispers In The Dark’,
John sees a member of the audience
holding a sign up asking the band to play
‘One Day Too Late’. “I love your sign,” he
says, before explaining, “We don’t know
it. I’m sorry… It’s my song, I should know
it. You know what the problem is? I’m not
joking… It’s not me, it’s Jen. I’m sorry.” He
ends up singing part of the song a cap-
pella.” He receives a big cheer at the end.
“I just love that you like the song,” he says
to the audience member. It shows how
humble and kind he is, that he speaks to
a fan, is grateful that they love a certain
song, and does what he can to make their
night by singing part of it.

CONCERTS