The Streets
Enmore Theatre
Sydney, Australia
July 19, 2019
Alternative hip hop headed by an MC and multi-instrumentalist, huh?
Truth be told, I do not think The Streets had ever left a remarkable blip on my radar – neither before their heyday nor during what could be described as a recent resurgence in the wake of their Glastonbury appearance, which is something that could my attributed to my interesting relationship with hip hop from the UK.
Not unlike I expected from a distance, The Streets’ output is infused with an endearing laddishness that draws equally on hedonism as well as elements sourced from an eclectic array of style ranging from grimey hip hop, techno, gospel and garage rock.
What materialized on Enmore Theatre’s stage tonight was a dazzling display of explosive energy that resembled at times a full-blown rave, only to be punctuated by nuanced ballads, which came in as welcome breathers. The whole affair was carefully orchestrated by the charismatic MC and conductor Mike Skinner.
It was easy to see the appeal of the band that is based on their ability to make experiences relatable, charming and tangible and was taken to the next level, adding mainstream appeal by stylizing what they could mine from the rap and rock genres respectively to create their idiosyncratic catchy sound.
The show paid homage to their roots with songs from their Original Pirate Materials era and meandered through their catalogue including all the crowd-pleasers presented in Skinner’s trademark non-chalant demeanour that still rang true despite him and his worthy constituents having left behind the realms the bands originally was confined in, especially as the evening dragged on and the interaction with the crowd became more empathetic.
In essence, a The Streets show in 2019 is a fun and energetic exercise with the audience and its input playing an integral part.
It is not difficult to see why both die-hard aficionados as well as the uninitiated left satisfied, especially after the encore bit culminating in their anthem “Fit but you know it”.
---
Photo supplied by Secret Sounds Connect
