This was certainly a showcase of the quirkier side of Australian hip hop. In fact, it was more of a comedy night than a serious gig.
The start off act was the incredibly talented and very cool Purple Duck. You could say I’m a bit of a fan of the duck, and even without DJ Fuckface he managed to hold it down solo to a small but enthusiastic audience. Purple Duck is always good to watch for a laugh, but by the same token he should be taken very seriously as an MC as he has some major lyrical talent, a serious flair for performing, and the ability of a comedic genius.
360 and Pez were probably the closest it got to a “normal” tonight. I dug the song about the “special” girlfriend, and their general disregard for political correctness was excellent. They do rock a good live show, but I got the feeling that because they both are quite talented (and seem to be quite aware of the fact), they don’t necessarily end up trying as hard as they could.
I missed the beginning of Hughy D & Uncle Pump, heading back in just in time to catch the grand finale. It was pretty different to your average hip hop set. I actually, don’t know quite what to say about them. People would have to see it to judge for themselves… having missed the start, maybe I was out of the room for all the tracks with beats or something?
The gracious and most fantastically dressed host of the evening, Dragonfly with Afficks, rocked out with Julez and also features Jason Anxious, making up the three MCs from Tall Man Sound System. I was really looking forward to catching them live with the full lineup. They work incredibly well together. Dragonfly and Jules have their evident bond; they have been doing sets together for a long while and it shows, but Anxious slots in effortlessly with his impeccable timing and the same sort of dry humor. Truly blessed with a remarkable command of words, keep an eye out for the Tall Man Sound System. They’re easy to spot, they’re all really, umm, tall…
By the time Outward Obtooce went on it was getting late and a few people had left. It didn’t help that the sound was really awfully mixed for the first few tracks, making it impossible to hear the vocals at all. I ended up having to leave before the end of their set as I had to escort a friend home who was thinking it was good to have a snooze on the couches… I would like to check these guys again properly one day, as Bacon is an exceptional DJ.
Altogether it was a fun night and good for a laugh. It was pretty random and hilariously entertaining, with a chaotic feel. I think things could have run a little smoother, just in relation to the order of the acts and a few other minor details, but with something as different as the music on the bill, there was bound to be a few hiccups, mainly because the whole night was so kooky. In the end it was worth it just to see Purple Duck and the lads from Tall Man Sound System.
