This was a watershed performance for many reasons. Never did I imagine a local hip-hop crew selling out the Entertainment Centre with 7000+ tickets sold. More importantly, never did I expect to see such a brilliant performance! Taking nothing away from the years in which I witnessed the Hoods play intimate venues through to a rammed Thebbie Theatre and an open-air parade ground show with a one hour queue a couple of years back, this night was something else.

I arrived at the Entertainment Centre around 6:45 to be greeted by lines of hundreds of people already pumped. The crowd moved at a reasonable pace and security were more than friendly when we made it up to the door and in. Strangely, heading to the bar there was no line- this is unheard of at a hip-hop show. I then noticed exactly what an eclectic mix the ‘Hoods now call their fan base. There were everything from emos to grandmas and the now mandatory posse of underage ‘nova kids’ trying to be ‘down’ with the latest Video Hits poses. I grudgingly accepted them as they do help keep my scene alive and man, do that make for some quality pre-show entertainment.

As proceedings kicked off I headed for the main floor, only to be refused entry due to my press ticket being ‘seated’. Now I get the whole safety aspect but there was room on the floor for the entire night, the seated press seats were in another suburb. Accepting my lot and taking my seat, I really felt a long way from the action. Nevertheless, the sound was flawless and the giant video screens helped share the detail.

After DJ Shep had warmed things up openers Muph & Plutonic took the stage working across hits from both of their albums. Paracetamol, Walk The Tight Rope, Pessimists Like To Party going down well but the largest cheer came for closer, Heaps Good. I get the feeling it may have been the only track many there knew. Muphin is the consummate front man, working the stage and the room brilliantly while Plutonic Labs never failed to impress on the live drumming tip.

As DJ Reflux took to the decks we were warned of a mystery performance to follow. Reflux is the king of the warm up set- his perfect track selection and tricks had people jumping in the general area in what had quickly become a sea of throbbing bodies. Before long the mystery guest was revealed to be the one and only Mystro, back in Adelaide for what I think is the fourth time in six months. Someone give the man a permanent visa. The release of his Diggi Down Under has done wonders for his fan base here, where his initial shows were almost silent as people had no idea who he was, here he worked the crowd like the brilliant performer he is. Another faultless set.

It was soon time for the main event, and the night’s host whipped the energy in the room to fever pitch. A hilarious lead-in video played on the large screen before the curtains revealed Suffa, Pressure, Debris and that whole bunch of musicians that form the ASO. As they worked through early tracks like Recapturing The Vibe, Clown Prince & What A Great Night it became clear how brilliant the sound in the room was and how brilliant the addition of an orchestra is to music of any kind. Suffa & Pressure have always been brilliant live but this was their finest hour in their hometown. I’m sure if you told them two years ago they would play and fill the huge venue they would have laughed at you. The two seasoned MCs were ready for this though, and showed they were totally in control. After hearing the Re-strung album earlier in the week and having it on heavy rotation since I decided the louder it was the better, the live performance proved the point. The depth of sound and chemistry with the emcees was brilliant. More was to come from the Re-strung album, the reworked tracks rolling in. Stopping All Stations featured the extra brilliant Suffa verse, while Conversations at a Speakeasy saw the arrival of another mystery guest LA’s Okwerdz hit the stage for a short and sharp cameo. From here there were some tracks off the calling thrown in, Illusionary Lines, The Calling, Dumb Enough and The Nosebleed Section all featuring before the night came to a brilliant close with the title track: The Hard Road Re-Strung. the strings in this remix are brilliant, truly brilliant.

Without fear of gushing, I seriously doubt I will ever see a better performance from one act ever again. To have 7000+ heads in Adelaide hanging on your every word, every note and slamming their bodies in appreciation is a beautiful thing. Mix in the sophistication of a symphony orchestra as talented as our own and this could well be a sign of the beginning of a new era for live Australian music.