PERTHQUAKE
The supporting acts proceeded to appear more plumpish as the night wore on, and it seemed likely that the most dangerous man in hip hop was not going to show up but to the jubilation and relief of his long awaiting fans, he meandered on stage taking up a substantial part of it. MF Doom was doing Perth…
Melbourne MC Illy has come into 2010 firing on all cylinders. He released his debut album Long Story Short through Obese Records, which became one of the most successful urban releases of 2009, partly due to the immense popularity of the second single, Pictures, which was one of only four Aussie hip hop songs to appear in the Hottest 100. He gained further national exposure when he performed one of the most memorable “Like A Version” segments for the year, sampling Where Is My Mind and rapping an homage that referenced most major players in the industry. He’s currently traveling around the country as part of the Groovin’ The Moo festival, and performing his first headline touring shows along the way, the last of which will take place at the Rocket Room on May 14. Despite being curled up sick in bed, he gave a great interview, so please read on.
How’s Groovin’ The Moo going?
It’s great. We’ve done two so far, and they’ve been really awesome.
Local lads Bentman & Sipn have been the go-to guys for support slots when big-name hip hop tours roll into town. They’ve supported Bliss N Eso numerous times (including the now-infamous “secret” Myspace show that nearly destroyed Amplifier), are mates with Phrase, and have opened for international acts such as Kottonmouth Kings and Wiley (where a rather hammered post-support slot Bentman was dragged onstage to battle the Godfather of Grime himself). With all that history, it seems surprising that the group only had one EP in their discography (although Sipn has previously released a solo album). Fortunately, that’s about to change with the release of their debut LP, The Return Of Bentman & Sipn. These boys are all about the party tunes. The songs have a terrific sense of humour, but don’t shy away from the serious side of life either. It’s probably the biggest local release since Drapht’s Brothers Grimm in 2008, and hopefully heralds the renaissance of hip hop in Perth. The album launch is happening on Sunday April 4 at the Rosemount (check out the Events post). In the meantime, check out the album’s first single, Sun’s Goin’ Down.
“Sold Out” signs decorated the door of Mojo’s on Saturday March 27, the final stop on Horrorshow’s headlining national tour. Since the release of their acclaimed sophomore album Inside Story, the talented Sydney duo have cemented their place as one of the most intelligent, thought-provoking acts in Australian hip hop. Having previously supported fellow labelmates The Herd and Urthboy, it was time for the deceptively young MC Solo and DJ Adit to step up to the spotlight.
This is probably the best value gig Perth has ever seen. Ten sets, several touring artists, two CD launches – and no work the next day! Let’s break it down. At the top of the bill, M-Phazes (riding a wave of popularity since being chosen for Feature Album on Triple J) is launching his latest effort, the critically acclaimed Good Gracious… and in honour of the event, he’s bringing Illy and Mantra along to help out. Y’know, just because. Then, locals Bentman & Sipn – whose recent single launch sold out Rocket Room solely on word of mouth – will launch their debut album The Return Of Bentman & Sipn. Armed with their secret weapon, their new beats man DJ U-Wish, this show will hopefully herald a new era for this smashing local act. Then there’s an impressive list of local and ex-local hip hop acts, making this seem less like a gig and more like a mini-festival. That’s really how you should treat it. Doors are opening at 4:30pm, so come down and have some Sunday brews, listen to the tunes and then get your dance on. Plus, since it’s Easter, the next day is Easter Monday – just perfect for recovering from your epic hangover!
Bring it! Sydney hip hop duo Horrorshow are heading to Perth on a headlining tour, after carving up the Amps stage last year when they supported Urthboy. They’re a member of the Elefant Traks family, the hip hop label known for finding interesting, thought-provoking acts that trade more on their intellect and skill than on brute force and the ability to incite fights. Think The Herd, Astronomy Class and of course Urthboy, and you’re in the ballpark. They started making waves last year with their song Thoughtcrime, which notched up a decent bit of airplay, and their latest LP Inside Story was Triple J album of the week. They haven’t produced a breakthrough “hit” yet (nothing like Illy’s Pictures or Seth Sentry’s Waitress Song), but they’re a well-rounded act who are on the road to success – it just might be more of a slow burn for them. Any act that names themselves after a Clockwork Orange reference has a lot going for them, though. They’re playing two Perth dates – Thursday 25 March at Rocket Room, and Saturday 27 March at Mojo’s. Spit Syndicate and personal favourite Rhythm Infinit are supporting. Get involved!
It seems like just yesterday that the Astronomy Class boys were gracing our fair Perth stages… well, a couple of months. Back out West to lend some credibility to the Mad Itch Festival in Kunnanurra, they decided to bust out a set at Mojo’s, and gosh, this hip-hop fan is most grateful! Alas, it was a school night, with short notice, possibly explaining the mid-sized (but very enthusiastic) crowd.
