J-Hoe are a talented local four piece who in curiously blending the familiar genres of rock, funk and hip hop, create a sound that is truly their own. Having given a decent listen to the Hoes’ latest release “Itty Gritty”, I was keen to see what these guys were like live. Grabbing a couch in the comfy surrounds of Rhino Room shortly after eleven, I braced myself for a hefty dose of live and local hip hop talent.

The first artist to grace the stage (or rather the floor in front of it) was solo MC Miss Cheek (and yes, as the name may suggest, she is a girl). Supported by a simple backing track, Miss Cheek displayed an enormous level of confidence and “cheeky” charisma, maintaining a steady, cohesive lyrical flow and simultaneously strutting her stuff all over the place. Despite my general hatred of all things gangster rap, it’s hard to deny Miss Cheek’s talent. With a bit more time and well-deserved exposure, Miss Cheek will hopefully inspire a few more rhyming ladies to get up and give it go.

A quick changeover later and the evenings next act, A Devil Amongst the Tailors, took to the stage. Beginning with an unusual sample from a Carpenters’ ‘Interplanetary Craft’, the two MC’s kicked off the set with some heavy rhymes and moves to match. Backed by the recent addition of live drums, the trio delivered a short and punchy set of interesting hip-hop.

Whilst both MC’s clearly had something credible to say, much of the potential lyrical gold was washed away by the shittiest mix ever. This of course was no fault of their own, and inexcusable for a band where the pre-recorded backing track provides the bulk of the sound. The addition of a drummer, (fast becoming a popular move in hip hop circles) was a good idea in theory, but lack of variety, practice and overall level in the mix left me wanting more from the bands lonely live instrument. These criticisms aside, A Devil Amongst the Tailors still put on an enjoyable show. Hopefully a bit more practice and experience overall will see these guys climb to much greater heights in the not too distant future.

Without much further ado, the evening’s headliners stepped forward to show the crowd their chops. Unfortunately, the crowd had thinned from quaint to sparse, but this didn’t phase J-Hoe (too much). As the band crashed into their first tune, my ears were immediately met by that distinctive J Hoe Sound: funky drums, tight groovy bass lines, porno style wah-wah or dark ‘chorus’ effected guitar, and the undeniably distinctive voice of front-man/rapper Jason. Borrowing elements from the likes of Anthony Kiedis and Les Claypool before mixing it up with his own frantic stylings, Jase harnesses a unique and solid vocal power. The band themselves were incredibly tight and somewhat colourful with their musical approach (particularly the bassist) providing the perfect backing for Jason’s delivery. Special mention must also be made of their ability to create space within the arrangements… a lovely touch indeed.

Moving through an overly lengthy set, the lads showcased the tunes of ‘Itty Gritty’ alongside various hits and misses from ‘Bounce’ and deeper within their extensive back catalogue. Despite the bands obvious talents, J-Hoe’s music did lack variety. Sure, not every song sounded the same, but five or six tunes in, it became clear that further surprises were unlikely.

Heading towards what felt like should be the end of their set; J Hoe just kept on rolling out the tunes, taking little notice of the diminishing crowd. They even announced their last song four times, confusing evryone present, including band members. While I did enjoy J-Hoe’s performance, the poor turnout seemed to put a negative spin on proceedings for band and punters alike.  I know J-Hoe are capable of so much more and hopefully, future gigs will see them earn the audience that they deserve.