Reviewed on Saturday August 6(Photo by Ashley Mar)
What a time to be a Thundacat – the Australian hip-hop equivalent of a Belieber or a Directioner and the collective noun for Thundamentals fans. Tonight the freshly-expanded Blue Mountains crew (now with multi-instrumentalist Kevin “Poncho” Kerr on board) are performing to a crowd that is statistically more likely to be comprised of Beliebers and Directioners – and yet, by the end of their set, the quartet have a new litter of Thundacats at their disposal.
The group’s rise may well have been off the back of some triple j staples, most of which are given a run tonight. It should be noted, however, that the thing that has kept them atop their revered position is an all-encompassing and wildly energetic live show. It’s equal parts style and substance, with MCs Jeswon and Tuka throwing their bodies across the stage one moment and then delivering eloquent, rapid-fire bars the next. It’s almost alarming how at home Thundamentals are on an arena stage. Then again, with Hilltop Hoods having done the first-ever Australian hip-hop arena tour back in April, the million-dollar question is who will be next in line. These gentlemen may have just put forward the most solid application yet.
Australia was one of the first places to help turn Macklemore and Ryan Lewis from humble mixtape artists into megastars. This, their third visit to Australia, marks their deserved elevation to arena status – and not even a looming top-tier curtain, indicating a less-than-full house, is going to harsh that vibe. After all, the 10,000 that have shown up sound like a stadium. As the grandiose introduction of ‘Light Tunnels’ rolls out, the duo make their presence well and truly felt. They power through the hits, all attendees on their feet, and give album cuts like ‘Buckshot’ and ‘St. Ides’ the red-carpet treatment.
The thing about the duo that has to be stressed – not to mention their multiple side-men and dancers – is their ability to make everyone feel as though they are part of something that is bigger than themselves. That goes for everyone, from the kids up front who catch Macklemore when he stage-dives during ‘Can’t Hold Us’ to the lucky punter who miraculously catches a doughnut pegged from the stage halfway across the arena after ‘Let’s Eat’. Few acts can embrace their daggy uncool in as cool a fashion as these two cold-arse honkeys.
