If you were in dire need of some good vibes on April 19th, The Corner Hotel had an abundance of them. I’m unsure how vibes are measured or if there is even a limit to vibes per square metre, but seriously, it was the epicentre.
If we start with the local hip-hop, beat and groove-heavy jams that DJ MzRizk was spinning whenever the stage was empty, we’re already off to a smooth beginning. This was levelled up by the support act of the night Cool Out Sun, one of the finest new groups for you to wrap your ears around. Led by N’fa Jones of 1200 Techniques and Sensible J (Remi), Cool Out Sun is a percussion-heavy, afro beat group which fuses hip-hop, funk, world music, and soul into one giant party.
Everything these guys did was perfect, but the points when N’fa rapped over three percussionists, the crowd was immediately signed in. The best representation of this was the closing track and soon-to-be-released “Five-Four”, appropriately titled due to the song’s time signature. It is the perfect example of the elements and skill Cool Out Sun combine to create a unique sound that pays homage to its influences. Seriously, Cool out Sun, check them out.
30/70 are an experience. From the moment the group took the stage, the music did not stop. A brief into saw frontwoman Allysha Joy acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we were lucky enough to use before stating, “Take time to acknowledge your place and your privilege.” From here the night was a musical journey (complete with a fantastic light and visual show). through the group’s latest full-length release “Elevate”.
All of the seven members were a pleasure to watch as they are masters of their craft. Combined there is no contest. The music moved from hip-hop to soul, to funk, to pure atmospheric, ethereal vibes. Joy uses her voice like an instrument, bouncing around as if it was just another percussive element of the soundtrack. The actual percussion, from drummer Ziggy Zeitgeist, is a pleasure show in itself. Zeitgeist conducted the band from behind the kit, leading the way and changing effortlessly between grooves that probably shouldn’t work together so smoothly, but absolutely do for 30/70. The beats were strong enough to convince a series of breakdancers to pop out of the crowd and occupy a spare corner of the stage for a mini-performance of their own.
The highlight of the night was the latest single “Misrepresented”, a horn-laced hip-hop jam that echoes the sentiment of everyone within the current political climate. Actually, most political climates throughout time come to think about it.
Between 30/70 and Cool Out Sun, this was a night of flawless musical performance from beginning to end. Try your best never to miss a show that features either of these acts. Did I mention how good the vibes were?
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The reviewer attended this show on April 19th.
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