Now I'm not normally the type to go to hip hop or dance gigs. The venues 'Tuesday club' is something that literally makes my stomach turn at the thought of. Yet Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip (or DLSvSP for the case of typing so much) aren't hip hop as it normally comes. Their comedic element and fact that they are very very white and very very un-stereotypical makes them a massive indie scene rap 'band'. Their first album 'Angles' came out in 2008 and again to my surprise. I adored! 'Thou Shalt Always Kill' being the big single back then, they had an effect on scene that no one else had touched. Spoken word poetry to a hip-hop beat (since done by many many a band)... pretty much the same as just rap.... there is a difference though. Promise.
Sound Of Rum and B Dolan provided the support. I'd seen Sound Of Rum play before (or at least the lead singer) doing poetry at Leeds Fest last year... I didn't then or now have any part of me aspiring to see her again. B Dolan on the other hand....
Coming onto stage with a John Kennedy mask he bursts into a fantastic rap. A large white man with this much rhythm and speed is a rare sight. He takes the mask off but continues with the rapping. After a couple of songs he stops to talk to the crowd and talks about how its his first time in the UK, his first ever gig in the UK at that. He says how the fact we're all British he expected us all to be really smart... naive American. One song he took out a lump of what looked like American dollars and through them into the crowd... they weren't real :( but it was good besides. Three quarters way into his set someone shouted 'GET YOUR TITS OUT' to which he stripped off to reveal a slightly shabby Evel Knievel costume. This was starting to get funnier and funnier. He then went on to do 'a daring stunt'. Making a Steward lay on the stage for him to pretend he's on a motorbike and jump over him.... silly but it warmed to crowd to him so can't complain. Good set all around. Audience well warmed up for the headliners.
Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip time. This 'band' can only suit university venues in my eyes, dunno whether its the fact its 'poetry' or just the general nature of them but this venue seemed perfect. Opening with the obvious yet great 'Beat That My Heart Skipped' instantly had the entire crowd bouncing and singing along. The second album had only been released that day yet many people seemed to know the words to 'Sick Tonight' and 'The Beat'.... they have been previewing it on myspace for a week so yet something tells me it may of leaked early. The first album tracks were all great. With 'Look For The Woman' been a slower yet epic feeling atmosphere with Dan Le Sac singing his heart on while on the decks. 'Fixed' was a great performance too, the song that is inspired/spoofs Dizzee Rascal had the crowd bouncing their hands like it was a Jay-Z gig. New songs like 'Get Better' got a great response and gave me promise in the new album (to which I'd only listen through a couple of times prior the gig). Last 3 songs were the highlight for me though. First of all my song of the gig and probably their biggest song 'Thou Shalt Always Kill' filled up the room with a mass poetry reading. Only once ever have I seen so many people speak words in union (King Blues - What If Punk Rock Never Happened? at Corp...stunning). After this they went off only to come back to the encore that they previously announced... smooth. Last two songs consisted of the new song 'Great Britain' and fan favorite 'Letter From God To Man' which everyone sang along until Pip went off stage to rapturous applause. Dan stayed on stage to drop some 'heavy beats' for the 5 minutes of 'solo' he had to leave the crowd bouncing on the way home.
'Dan le Sac, Scroobius Pip, Singing hip-hop, as BEST we can' seemed to be a suitable lyric. Their best was great. I've only seem a handful of hip-hop artists but these wiped the floor with Dizzee and Lethal. I would advise anyone to go see these guys as they fit into so many mediums.
Next ... :D Frank Turner.... TWICE!! :D :D
I'm very very very very excited :D
Peace
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