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HILLTOP HOODS
+ A.B Original
+ Elsy Wameyo
+ DJ Total Eclipse
@ RAC Arena, Perth,
17th September 2022
(Live Review)

Review by Melanie Griffiths

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Hilltop Hoods // Photo Six Strings Photography

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RAC Arena was turned into a massive house party as Hilltop Hoods showed why they remain the Kings of Aussie hip hop.  Yet whilst they have reached the top they’re also bringing up some exciting Australian talent up the mountain.

The Arena was bustling early on and savvy fans were in for a treat with the support acts. Nairobi born singer-songwriter-producer Elsy Wameyo took the first spot delivering her richly textured brand of soul, electronic and hip hop. Following her was A.B Original who were a sight you couldn’t take your eyes off. The First Nations duo of Briggs and Trials commanded the stage as they rolled out new single “King Billy Cokebottle”, Paul Kelly’s cover “Dumb Things” and Eskimo Joe’s Kav Temperley provided vocals for “January 26”.

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Elsy Wameyo // Photo Six Strings Photography

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A.B Original // Photo Six Strings Photography

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As soon as the lights went down, roars thundered around the arena as a sentimental video played featuring MCs Suffa (Matthew David Lambert), Pressure (Daniel Howe Smith) and DJ Debris (Barry John M. Francis) walking through the bowels of the RAC Arena to arrive on stage. From there it was full steam ahead with very few moments of rest, coming out looking like two personal trainers who were going to put you through your paces for the next ninety minutes, Suffa and Pressure kicked it off with “Leave Me Lonely” and “Chase That Feeling”. Sprinting along the main stage and the two thrust stages, the duo let it be known they were starting at 100. Up high DJ Debris steered the ship from a raised stage that was buffeted by perhaps the hardest working drummer in hip hop and a horn section.

This was a concert that demanded participation with handclaps and callbacks. The floor took on the properties of a body of water as the crowd bounced up and down in undulating waves through the song that started it all, “The Nosebleed Section”.

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A.B Original // Photo Six Strings Photography

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DJ Total Eclipse // Photo Six Strings Photography

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What Hilltop Hoods do so well is making the crowd feel like we’re all in this together. If not from riffing with punters or their song’s themes of keeping the faith, it’s the way they eagerly share the stage with other artists. Adelaide singer Nyassa was brought out to take the vocal reigns of “1955” which originally belonged to Montaigne, dressed in an outfit that looked like she’d raided David Bryne’s closet. Sounding a little lost in the cavern of the Arena, it took a few songs before she settled in but by “I Love It” she projected confidently and allowed her booming melodic voice to be the counterweight to the rapid-fire rapping of Suffa and Pressure.

New song Show Business settled in snuggly with the rest of the setlist and had that steady beat that kept hands high continuing the hooky feel good hip hop that the group does so well. Songs from 2019’s “The Great Expanse” also got some love with “Clark Griswold” and the sparkling “Exit Sign”.

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Hilltop Hoods // Photo Six Strings Photography

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Hilltop Hoods // Photo Six Strings Photography

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A few moments of decompression were given during “Live And Let Go” with phone torches held aloft creating a starry visage. “Higher” and “Counterweight” allowed the MCs to show that underneath the joyful bravado they’re still men trying to navigate the trials of life.

Yet these more sombre moments were eclipsed by the spectacle of their show. Evidently, a nice slice of their budget was set aside for pyrotechnics, lights and confetti guns. It was a show bulging at the seams that enthralled fans. A request by Pressure to take a piece of clothing off and swing it high through “Rattling The Keys To The Kingdom” had the crowd whooping it up like they were at an AFL Grand Final, and by encore Cosby Sweater when A.B.Orginal and Elsy Wameyo joined the stage to deliver fire, people from the floor to the stands were bouncing on their feet.

With a final explosion of confetti, Hilltop Hoods made it known that they’ll still be keeping the crown as fans with sweaty happy faces filed out to a blustery night.

4.5 Stars

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Hilltop Hoods // Photo Six Strings Photography

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Hilltop Hoods // Photo Six Strings Photography

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HILLTOP HOODS
‘THE SHOW BUSINESS TOUR’ 2022

Saturday 27 August
Brisbane Entertainment Centre (SOLD OUT)

Saturday 3 September
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney (SELLING FAST)

Saturday 10 September
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)

Saturday 17 September
RAC Arena, Perth (SELLING FAST)

Saturday 24 September
Adelaide Entertainment Centre (SOLD OUT)

Head HERE for details on all shows

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Hilltop Hoods // Photo Six Strings Photography

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Hilltop Hoods // Photo Six Strings Photography

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Check out Six String Photography’s full gallery of this event HERE

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Follow HILLTOP HOODS
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

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Hilltop Hoods // Photo Six Strings Photography

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Press Release 25th August 2022 (below) HERE

HILLTOP HOODS
Release New Single
‘A Whole Day’s Night’
feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum

Listen Here

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AMNPLIFY – DB