On a nippy Friday night in Melbourne, the death-core crew were staked out down below at Billboard for the hellish Necro, but the best hip-hop in town was dished out up above at Roxanne.

Passing the karaoke purgatory of Charlton’s on the way up the stairs it it’s easy to imagine a few punters stopping in for a quick beer and Bon Jovi combo before mustering the energy for the final push towards the red lights of Roxanne. That glimpse of that neon signature announcing your arrival into Roxanne is always a truly special moment.

But if the staircase tested fitness then the beats served up by two of NYCs finest was going to prove a mighty challenge. The template of Catchdubs’ Fool’s Gold label – run with A-Trak – is club hip-hop overlaid with rolling 808 baselines, indie electro and even syrupy house. It’s as though The Jungle Brothers I’ll House You has become the touchstone for a whole scene.

A free tour mixtape laying anticipation for the tour had DJ Ayres dropping Xzibit over the gentle delights of Royksopp, plus The Alkaholiks, Kool & The Gang, J Dilla, Slick Rick and the always welcome Rock Steady from Aretha Franklin and recent Aussie tourists EPMD. Taking over the second half of the tape, Catchdubs veers away from the hip-hop to sneak in his Fool’s Gold compadre Kid Sister with I’ll House You ‘09 beside the likes of Juan Maclean and Dance Area’s AA 24-7 – which also popped up on A-Trak’s recent Fabric mix.

The social shooters were out to snap pix of the night’s better fringes and ironic ‘tashes but may have been disappointed with the punters on display. The slightly sparse crowd were given plenty of space in the large venue – good for a freewheeling dance, but with only a small congregation crowding the booth the party fell a little flat at the edges. Perhaps the tighter confines of Opulent’s regular home for their Favela Rock nights – Miss Libertine would have created the mass of sweaty dancers the New Yorkers deserved.

Working with the casual efficiency of two mates having a drink and mixing their favourite tunes, the Ayres and Catchdubs’ set mostly stayed in club territory, avoiding some of the left field mixes that have marked their selections on their many, many bootlegged mixtapes. Though they did dig out a mash of ‘90s classics like Sneaker Pimps’ 6 Underground and Tag Team’s Whoop.

The crowd pleasing section of Lil Kim’s Jump Off in close quarters with Beyonce and Missy Elliot tracks served as a reminder Timbaland’s genius (in the days before Chris Cornell collaborations) and had the punters revelling in the chance to cut loose to such an unpretentious mix.

Forays into sicker R&B material as the night dragged on saw punters returning to the bar, or to the open air bunker of the recently opened smoker’s quarters. But as the room emptied the punters left with a grin, and not just because it’s a much easier journey down those stairs than up.

If you missed the show – at least have the good sense to download the tour mixtape.