Here to launch Hellfire, the first single from forthcoming record Spit Shine, Urthboy had Mantra pop open Friday night’s gig for him. MC Mantra admitted that it had been a good ten months since he’d taken to the stage but he’d obviously been practicing in the shower. Besides throwing a tongue-out look of amazement back to DJ Custom – one that said – œFuck mate, maybe I should have gone for some pre-gig training’ – his crazy eyed enthusiasm was on.
– œGood to see so many satanists out there enjoying themselves tonight,’ he laughed after some straight rhyming over good old battle beats. About three songs in Custom dropped some sexy r’n’b beats with a bit of a sax sample and as I thought, – œThis is more like it,’ I had to wonder if I was too commercial for hip hop. How come the hook and melody made it more professional for me? Whatever. Mantra took the mantle – smashing out heartfelt lyrics with ease.

Highlights came when Custom came to front of stage to bust some moves with his MC – always love seeing – œtough looking’ hip hop dudes pulling out the boy band footsteps – while each of them take a turn outrageously miming to the soul samples. The crowd claps flamenco while Custom boogies – quick as a flash he’s back to the decks to ramp up the tempo – no foot was still – and Mantra cut absolutely sick with quick fire raps. My head was spinning. Ten months off? Bullshit. This one was the icing on his set.

As Urthboy and Jane Tyrell came up (torches in hand – who needs fancy budgets to do effective light tricks?) it was all subdued. Not long in we got the new album title track Spit Shine and the party well and truly took up where Mantra had left off.

Over Before It Began from second record, The Signal wasn’t missing Mia Dyson as Miss Jane stomped it, blasting Urthboy’s sorry ass (his character, mind). The crowd lapped up the theatrics, trying (and failing) to sing the hook with Jane, but the main man got his own back on the next track.

A shout out to (TZU’s) Count Bounce – who was enjoying the show from the crowd – welcomed another gem from Spit Shine, produced by the aforementioned Count. Served is bound to create noise – not surprisingly, the beats were exciting.

At Urthboy’s encouragement (not that we needed it) The Signal bought in deafening roars with everyone losing their fucking minds. – œI see your photo, your photo don’t look a thing like you,’ Jane and Urthboy start singing low, knees bent in that hip hop walk, shoulders going. Cue crowd cutting even more sick. The beat drops in and off we go. As is my constant complaint, that song just isn’t fucking long enough.

It’s brought to our attention that the show should be ending, in theory sending the crew to side of stage to wait for an encore. The trio on stage can see the stupidity in this, since there is no side of stage, so they put it to the assembled audience that the encore is skipped, or feigned. After a staged walk off and the – œworst encore’ ever, they pop back, bringing Mark Pearl back with them for a touching encore cameo. The disheveled Mark looked to be suffering from what’s known in some circles as – œNew Baby No Sleep’ but it didn’t affect his gorgeous soul vocals. It was clear that the boys were as chuffed as fuck to be back on stage together, with a beaming Jane looking on in delight.

After the love, they arced up a wicked dub/dance hall mix of Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair – albeit with Jane on vocals – everything getting a bit loose as they bopped off to greet a sweaty, thrilled crowd. Urthboy and crew will not fit into this venue next time.