It’s a full-on line up of hip hop and rap at the Northcote Social Club tonight and you’re missing out if you aren’t in the bandroom from the very beginning.
Local four-piece Big Words open the proceedings and their appearance – looking like very young school boys – is the immediate first impression from the small crowd developing as they walk on stage. The median felt as if it were 17 years, at the most (later you see them walking around the venue with beers, so they must be adults), and then they start performing.
Blowing away the audience with their peculiar mix of both spoken word and rap, and backed with a live band playing with an influence from jazz, groove ,and straight up reggae, it completely works.
They have a couple of ballads to slow down their well-controlled set (when asked to “move the fuck forward”, the crowd actually complies), performing two apparently unrecorded demos in “Two Kids” and “Music In My Mind”; both pieces with incredibly mature, moving and insightful commentary and are the highlights of their set.
DJ Morgs spun some seriously cracking tunes before introducing the main performers tonight. Being greeted first by a three piece horn section is a fantastic surprise before MCs Tuka and Jewson joined the full stage and the now-packed Social Club.
It’s a sold out event and although there’s no doubt that Thundamentals are one of Australian hip-hop’s more brightly shining, and classier, acts on the circuit right now, there’s also high anticipation to see if the trio perform their recently performed ‘Like A Version’ they did for Triple J.
The guest vocalist, Ev Jones, they brought into the studio to cover Matt Corby’s “Brother” was indeed present tonight and the crowd bellowed in excitement as he skipped on stage.
The lyrics are indiscernible, for the most part, when Corby croons his popular track but thanks to Jones’ eloquent, pitch-perfect singing the crowd is able to chant along as well.
Thundamentals graciously give Jones some set time to perform a new project featuring him and DJ Morgs, apparently called “Jones Junior”, and leaves the audience wondering what more to expect from this curious new venture in the future.
Vida Sunshyne is another guest tonight and if you weren’t in love with her before, you will be after she performs “Check My Fresh” along with Tuka and Jewson. She oozes elegance and utter sex appeal, completely stealing the performance from her male counterparts by simply being on stage.
However, Tuka and Jewson are impeccable performers. They’re choreographed to perfection, they banter brilliantly and they’re constantly involving the crowd with their gratitude and multiple hand-outs of high-fives.
DJ Morgs is given free reign a couple of times with some solo mixing, often influenced with dubstep to get the crowd roaring for the weekend.
In fact, their entire set of songs is given a wash with heavy backbeats to keep the pulse pumping at an incredible rate. Songs that normally come off as relaxed and easy-listening on their recordings, like “My Favourite Things”, simply explode in their live show.
“Thunda Cats” is an absolute highlight, particularly from the excellent DJ Morgs whose long dub-heavy solo is mixed perfectly and intimidatingly loud.
We’re urged to hold our best friend close for a sweet rendition of “How You Been?” and “Paint the Town Red” receives a rapturous response from the crowd as the closing song for the evening.
Thundamentals roared through their new album, Foreverlution, and pleased their fans with old gems. Drenched in sweat by the end, they bid farewell with extreme thanks and no matter how long these Aussie hip-hop favourites play their fantastic live set for, it would never be long enough for these diehard fans.
