Photo: WENN
The Forum, choreography, kazoo solos, wearable drum machines: what more could you want? Oh yes, the sweet, deep rhythms of Chali 2na, that’s what.
All six founding members of Jurassic 5, in fact, were on form last night. DJ Cut Chemist and DJ Nu-Mark escaped from their decks to deliver an entertaining education in scratching, complete with a half-guitar-half-turntable, and wearable drum machines.
Jurassic 5, more than 20 years since their inception, still look like they’re having fun. They share the stage; collaborate seamlessly, and praise and respect one another with none of the tension that tends to plague other groups who have been together for so long.
It makes sense that those who follow Jurassic 5 know how to have a good time; the band's distinctively upbeat, positive brand of hip-hop is unpretentious, infectious and energetic. The crowd were excellent - like putty in the hands of these expert people-pleasers, giving and taking in equal measure; the band clearly loving the energy the audience were putting out to them and vice versa.
Audience participation was a must too, and there was no one in the Forum who did not swing their leg over an invisible motorbike with enthusiasm when asked to do so.
They played all the hits - 'Concrete Schoolyard', 'What’s Golden', 'Improvise', 'Red Hot' – and before playing 'Freedom', Akil offered a worthwhile reminder for us all to take a look at what’s going on in Syria, and elsewhere in the world, and to never take our freedom for granted.
