Jurassic 5 @ Enmore Theatre

Nostalgia is a hell of a trip. A hip hop group that was big in the early 2000s, and whose sound is largely a tribute to the genre’s early decades, Jurassic 5’s music can come off more than a little dated in 2015. Hip hop has changed at warp speed since the band’s initial break-up in 2007. The lo-fi production, xanax rap and monochrome fashion of now are the furthest cry from the barbershop styles of J5, so it was a shock to the system to walk into the Enmore blindly and suddenly recall the sounds of their era.

However, seeing them once again, you’re reminded how big the group actually was. Festival headline slots, sold-out arena shows and a loyal following of dudes in Royal Elastics and three-quarter pants mean the crew can come back (yet again) on their own terms. Their inclusion on this year’s Bluesfest lineup has seen them manage to carve a niche for themselves as comfortable guardians of the jazz/soul end of hip hop.

At their Sydney headline date, J5 played all the hits from ‘Quality Control’ to ‘I Am Somebody’, ‘Thin Line’ and ‘Freedom’, but it was the tricks of DJs Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist that kept the show going. The guys brought out a range of toys, from ‘guitar decks’ to drum pads made of records, through to a giant, fully working turntable centerpiece. The rappers of the crew were the same well-oiled machine from years ago, with trademark harmonies and good-time banter. Past the nostalgic cringe, there was a fun, musical and well put together show, which is basically exactly the J5 we all remembered.