Most species of elephants are associated with Africa and Asia. However there is a special breed hailing from the concrete jungles of Sydney city. An elusive species, who feel most comfortable during times of social change and political uneasiness.

But with the Australian political landscape changing, they had scientists and music lovers alike wondering when they would next catch a glimpse of these intriguing and talented creatures. Last Saturday night that question was answered, as The Herd reunited and took to a stage, in their natural habitat of Sydney’s Inner West.

First onstage for the evening was L-Fresh followed by the latest addition to the Elefant Traks family, Joelistics. You will remember Joel from the popular TZU, who exited from the radar around the same time as the Herd a couple of years back. Much like The Herd were, TZU are currently on an extended break rather than a break-up. Joel kicked us tracks from his soon to be released Voyager record, which by the sounds of things will be well worth the listen.

What better way to herald their return than to open with what was one of their most popular singles. An energetic version of 20/20 got The Herd’s set underway. The Herd have a reputation for their politically charged songs, and their opening number is no exception.

20/20, along with a fairly sizeable portion of the rest of their set-list, make direct references to Australia’s political situation at the time of when the songs were written and released (most of them during the overlord Howard’s reign of infamy). With those days slowly fading into the past, and a whole truckload of new problems rising to the forefront. Would those songs still hold the lyrical weight they once did? And how would it be listening to an hour and a bit of Howard references this much further down the line?

Well, let it never be said that the Elefants don’t hold the relevance. The particular songs that required a re-working were all given updated verses. Worked so cleverly into the beats, most punters were still singing along as if listening to original lines. They followed their opening track with We Can’t Hear You, Emergency and Under Pressure, before another song which had to be skilfully re-worded, The King Is Dead. Jane got her first real chance to show off her vocal artillery during Time To Face The Truth, reminding us once again about the huge range she possesses.

Urthboy then launched into a tirade which would turn into a stirring rev-up for the next track, The Herd’s version of the John Schumann classic I Was Only 19. As always they approach the touching subject matter of the song with the utmost respect, doing the original nothing but justice as they bring it to an entirely new set of ears.

Jane and Urthy then started talking (tongue-in-cheek) about what happened at “Herd Head Office” when they sat down at the boardroom table and threw the ball around to discuss ideas for their next big single. They discussed Rihanna and 50 Cent, ultimately deciding that they needed a banger! And instead they came away with _ The Sum Of Us All_. Their new single sounds fresh, yet is not so far removed that it couldn’t fit comfortably onto Summerland. It’s called updating without alienating, and they have done a magnificent job of it in this track.

Before the next track starts, Ozi advises that he never thought he would still be playing this track so long after originally penning it. It’s funny that he feels this way, cause even though the lyrics of 77% are topically aggressive and confrontational, it’s a song that requires no re-wording to remain relevant, no matter how much time passes. The Herd give a great version of the track, with the usual help from the crowd in all the right places.

The song also prompts one of the strangest stage invasions I have seen, as a young girl decided she was getting up on stage with them and wasn’t taking no for an answer. The band, mid-song, tried in vain to block her path onto the stage but she pushed through them and made her way backstage. The song ended with Ozi kindly advising the crowd to “get their own show” if they were so keen to be up there. Unpredictable was chased by Burn Down The Parliament, the latter getting a remix from Jane’s vocals as she morphed it into The Fugees Ready Or Not to close out the set.

After returning from a short break for the encore, they came back free-styling. More often than not this can be a painful exercise, with either the lyrics obviously not being free-styled, or just straight up lack of a decent flow. However Ozi and Urthy really knocked this one out of the park, rhyming with serious flow about some local legends including the Newtown Jets and the Marrickville Mauler amongst many others. If Ozi was surprised to be still singing 77% so far down the track, it must be literally blowing his mind to still be singing Scallops. A fun and nostalgic way to finish the set: “Like a $3.40 bag of fresh hip hop…”

The Herd may not have played in a live setting together for a while now, and there may have been some rusty moments musically. But that is something you don’t even pick up on when watching this band. The fact is, all you ever see is nine obviously very good mates having an absolute ball playing music together. It’s that all-in-jam vibe that makes this team such a treat to experience live, time after time after time.