I was pretty hyped for this gig. I’ve been meaning to check out Def Wish Cast live for a long time, as I’ve heard them lauded as one of Australia’s best live hip hop acts more than once. Once again, the Laundry did a sterling job at supporting and representing Aussie hip-hop in every element.
Arriving early, as I am a big fan of all of the support acts, isn’t it always the way if you bother to get there early the night will inevitably run late? J Red held the decks upstairs with his usual finesse and was the host of the evening, whilst Paypercutts and Mexi held the floor downstairs. The gig seemed a little disjointed initially when both floors were running, for some reason or another there was not a particularly large turn out and the downstairs acts were playing to a largely empty room, while upstairs it started to fill up slowly.
The first act to start upstairs was Social Change from Adelaide, featuring Dialect who rocked a smooth and professional set. An impressive pair of emcees and a talented DJ, I’d wear a Social Change shirt just because I like their message. The performance really impressed me, they are definitely an act worth keeping an ear to the ground for. Ivens was back from his American Tour with Vans Warped for his first show and in full force and fine form. I’m a big Ivens fan, I love his intense and twisted wordplay mashed up with dark beats, macabre and demented imagery with paradoxical moments of lightness and hope. He’s really come out of his shell as a performer lately, finding ways to portray his unique vision and view on the world. Whether or not the world is ready to understand it is another matter.
The flavour went old school with next act, Pac D, who laconically took control with a smooth and funky set. Oh, and there was an auction. I’m not actually sure what he actually auctioned off, maybe it was his sunnies. B-boys the Fresh Socks Crew put on an impressive showcase of their talents next and the crowd was loving it. The mood was great, and RKS soon hit the stage for one of the most banging hip hop sets I think I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness. Rosscoe and Raid really cranked it up a notch or three, with DJ EK impeccable on the decks. Wicked beats, tight insightful rhymes and flawless beat boxing, all combined with a sense of humour and humble demeanor. RKS, like last time I saw them, had the crowd chanting their name, they’re truly some of underground hip hop’s finest.
Speaking of underground hip-hop, now it was time for Def Wish Cast to charge the stage, spray cans in hand. I love the smell of spray paint and I also love a real tight show, so it’s great to see that DWC are most definitely everything they’re cracked up to be. DWC are true performers, representing every element of hip hop to the fullest. Unashamedly Australian, they go against the grain of the cultural cringe that some locals acts seem to have. I think to a certain extent DWC have probably stayed a little too underground, to the point of being slept on a little. They are a better live than most of the Australian acts who get a lot of attention, yet they somehow don’t seem to get the broad scale recognition they deserve. DWC consists of Def Wish (MC), Die C (MC), Sereck (MC/producer) and Murda 1 (DJ). I imagine Rival – one lung warrior and beat box extraordinaire – would be a part of their live shows when in attendance.
The vibrant energy and enthusiasm DWC bring to the stage makes for a fun and interactive night. The choreography of their b-boy moves and straight jumping around makes for an infectious sense of fun. The lack of support for this gig surprised me a little, but again it fits into my theory that people in Melbourne sometimes seem to grow a little complacent about supporting gigs. Whatever the reason, there’s no excuse, and at the end of the day it was their loss. They missed out on what was, in my opinion, one of the best hip hop shows of 2008.
