I love the Livid Festival. Whilst it’s yet to reach the west coast, each year at least a few of the acts from the line up will tour westwards for a solo show. With Lamb delivering an amazing show the night before it was time for one of the most ground breaking acts in hip hop, Jurassic 5. With a close to capacity (approx 3000) Metro City amped and up for it there was no doubting this was truly going to be something special.

Getting there in time to catch most of Downsyde’s set it was a pleasure to see them soaking up the adoration of a packed Metro City who showed them that whilst they were obviously there for the main act, they certainly loved their home town hip hop heroes. Playing what have now become radio faves over the past year such as El Questro they showed a confidence and showmanship that seems to only improve everytime I see them. Finishing soon after 9.30pm, DJ Armee stayed on stage until the main acts 10.15pm arrival.

Jurassic 5 took to the stage at 10.15pm and it was immediately obvious everyone was up for a great night with the roar of the crowd bordering on deafening. Without delay the four MC’s and two DJ’s got straight into a medley of some of their favourite tunes including After School Special and I am Somebody.

A definite highlight of the show was next, the DJ Cut Chemist and DJ Nu Mark show. By no means just support DJ’s, they would arguably be two of the best hip hop DJ’s in the business. During the medley of rhyming they effortlessly kept the beats rolling smoothly with their array of decks, CDJ’s, samplers and more. Watching them work off each other and the MC’s was a precision art with timely scratches, samples, loops and beats. When given a slot to perform alone they really got to shine. Cut Chemist stuck mainly to the decks during this segment and demonstrated his mastery of the turntable and mixer. Nu Mark would switch between a drum kit, decks and even two identical childrens looking toys linked to a mixer to show his versatility. They finished their segment with Cut Chemist coming out to the front of stage with a portable turntable around his neck and Nu Mark with a drum machine in the same fashion, scratching and mixing up beats in true novelty fashion.

The four MC’s, Chali 2NA, Zakir, Marc 7 and Akil returned and got the party in full swing. They didn’t divide the room in half and try and get one side going against the other. Instead they rhymed, harmonised, sang, blew whistles, freestyled and generally delighted in everything they did. One moment you could swear they’d make a fab barbershop quartet, the next they were swinging hollow plastic tubes around in the dark to create a whirling noise against a back drop of moody beats. They didn’t get all the girls on stage dancing with them, instead charming the entire audience with their friendly antics and musicality. Whereas many groups this year seem to have been riding the hip hop revival wave J5 proved what everyone knew, that they are the real deal and whilst they’re there to have fun, they take what they do seriously and provide a complete show.

When it comes to hip hop and entertainment J5 are proof that it doesn’t have to be cheesy antics and that you can indeed put on a mind blowing show with simply quality musicianship and a love of good times. Their sincerity highlighted at the end of show when instead of disappearing under the darkened lights they stayed on stage with the lights on and signed everything anyone could throw at them. Covering all their hits and more, including dedications to Robert Palmer and Jam Master Jay, they left no stones unturned with everyone walking out of the venue all smiles. A contender for concert of the year without a doubt.