I arrived at the newly refurbished Rosemount Hotel just before 9:00pm to a relatively small crowd compared to the last time I had visited; last years sold out show featuring The Herd was absolutely packed in comparison. The smaller sized crowd may have been a result of DJ Shadow playing on the other side of town with many of Perth’s loyal hip hop crew likely to be checking out his sold out show. I was hopeful the crowd would thicken later on in the evening when newly formed Aussie hip hop trio and headliners Astronomy Class would be taking to the stage.

I arrived just in time to catch the last fifteen minutes of Earthlink Sound System. The group from Sydney were playing a collection of funky tunes upon arrival, that encompassed a real jazzy feel reminiscent of the swing era. As the set came to an end, the atmosphere created by the group was one not unlike a smoky New York club which lingered throughout the night growing stronger as more and more patrons arrived.

Following on from these guys was Rhythm, Missile & Cle, a local hip hop group who I hadn’t seen before but heard many positive reviews about: particularly regarding their live performances. The ladies did not disappoint, belting out smooth soulful beats courtesy of Missile on the decks which were entwined with sultry vocals from Rhythm and Cle. Their voices complimented each other exceptionally well and all though the crowd was still on the smallish side, the ladies did a great job involving the audience with their warmth and energy. I look forward to catching more of them out and about soon, as I hope the rest of Perth will too.

Next to take to the stage were Sydney boys The Tongue and Diaz. I’d heard much hype about The Tongue through his victories in freestyle battles across the country, and have been eagerly awaiting the release of his soon to be released album out in September through Elefant Traks. With Diaz on decks and The Tongue showcasing his ability on the mic they stormed through their set with a mix of ‘old stuff, new stuff and some remixes’. Luckily by now the audience had grown and everyone seemed to have gotten up from their seats to check out these infectious beats. They worked the crowd amazingly, The Tongue ripping up tunes with spontaneous, biting lyrics and Diaz destroying all vinyl in sight, ‘Sydney style’. The Tongue’s intense lyrics explored a broad range of issues from politics to their constant battle against technology and the impact music piracy is having on independent artists. It wasn’t all serious, however, with the boys finishing with a humorous remix of Kanye West’s Goldigger, twisting the lyrics and encouraging the crowd to join in until everyone was chanting “I ain’t saying I a dope rapper”. This duo is definitely one to watch.

Next up was Mista Savona, fresh from recording his album, Melbourne Meets Kingston. The album was recorded in Jamaica with Mista Savona working with well established Jamaican artists, their influence resonating strongly throughout his music. Joined on stage by good friend, Gavin on bass, the set started on a high note with permeating bass lines and keyboards layered over reggae flavoured tunes creating a raw and unique sound courtesy of his time abroad. The crowd was soon alive with energy, soaking up the tunes and the laid back vibe flowing from the music. His set felt more like a jamming session with Mista Savona displaying his incredible musical abilities, playing several different instruments throughout the set with ease. Part way through, Cle from earlier on joined the two musicians on stage. Her emotive laden vocals complimented the deep bass lines, further highlighting Mista Savona’s organic blend of tribal, reggae infused beats. Mista Savona provided the perfect atmosphere for Astronomy Class to take over the reigns, leaving the crowd bursting with anticipation for what the headliners had in store for them.

Astronomy Class stepped up on stage at around 11:30pm to an excited audience. Although having only formed last year they have already caught the attention of the music community, through their debut album Exit Strategy released late last year. Consisting of MC Ozi Batla (The Herd) and producers Chasm and Sir Robbo, this trio deserves all the hype they have so far stirred up within musical circles . Their style is a fusion of reggae and dub, with the end result unlike anything I’ve heard before; stripped back organic beats. Joining the boys on stage was bass player Johnny Maddox and The Tongue, whose improvised vocals moulded perfectly to their music as if he was a member of the group. As always with Aussie hip hop, their craft is not just playing music, but also putting forward issues often neglected in mainstream society. The themes running through their music and discussed throughout their set ranged from the upcoming election to multiculturalism. Ozi Batla also stressed his disillusionment with piracy and being a broke rapper as a result of the illegal downloading of MP3’s. The vibe these guys put out was amazingly infectious with the crowd, bumping and grinding along to each tune. The group showcased tracks from Exit Strategy including Fight Club, After the Carnival and their massive summer hit A Bright Tomorrow which was by far the tune of the night inspiring a mass sing along. After thanking the dance floor massive for their support, Astronomy Class finished up with an encore performance of Done the Sums, whose apocalyptic undertones left the crowd throbbing with excitement and awe. The night was only eclipsed by the patron who threw a 100 dollar bill on stage at the end of the night, with Ozi Batla declaring ‘drinks on me.’

The night was a huge success for everyone involved, the performers, the venue and the audience alike. Astronomy Class, along with the other artists, without a doubt reawakened my love for reggae music as many others patrons also expressed to me throughout the evening. I look forward to catching more of this kind of music in Perth.