Wu Tang Clan Enmore Theatre (Thursday 29th October 2009)

Wu Tang Clan Enmore Theatre

F*ck yeah Wu Tang Clan. Too bad it wasn’t the full crew but just seeing the Rza, the Gza, Rae and Deck up on stage was a more than adequate incentive. After much drama in securing tickets (Thanks Sam) and annoying the hell out of the chick at the ticket office, my +1 and I managed to snake our way thru a packed out dance floor and get to a prime if somewhat congested spot surrounded by a swarm of (killer beez? no,) up for it Wu Tang fans.

It seemed a little strange to have Lil Jon as the opening act but surprisingly the crowd was decently attentive. Shame I missed my favourite Lil Jon track ‘Bia Bia’ and had to be content with hearing the familiar echoes from the line outside as I was making my way in. He did a few of his other tracks like ‘Saltshaker’ and ‘Get Low’ and quicker than quick he was off the stage again.

So in the meantime the DJ played a few hip hop classics which I swear must be the standard pre-main act set at a hip hop show. Throw in some ‘Simon Says’ mix it with a bit of Big L, then a tiny bit of ‘Sound of Da Police’ and you’re right to go.

As soon as the crowd spotted Mathmatics walking to the stage there was a surge to the front it and looked like a riot was about to breakout with all the cheering and screaming. With a less than hypeworthy entrance the Clan rushed the stage and all hell broke loose. Dreads were flying, fists were pumping and W hand signs were thrown up in a frenzy of waving hands. The Clan got straight down to business rocking the crowd with classics from the legendary 36 Chambers album. ‘Protect Ya Neck’, ‘Bring Da Ruckus’, ‘Wu Tang Clan Aint Nuthin to F**k With’, ‘Clan in the Front’, ‘Tearz’ pretty much just every track you would wanna hear! ‘C.R.E.A.M’ of course was absolutely insane and so was the crowd. For fans of the Forever album they did ‘Its Yourz’ and ‘Reunited’ for fans of their other albums I have no F’n idea cos I just didn’t get into them. Actually they did ‘Gravel Pit’ but I hate that song.

They managed to break into a couple of tracks from their solo joints with Rae doing a track off his new album and the Gza doing ‘Liquid Swords’ and ‘4th Chamber’ which were personal highlights. Of course it wouldn’t be a Wu Tang show without a dedication to the late Ol Dirty Bastard and the Wu obliged with a medley of verses from ODB’s discography including ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya’ and ‘Shame on A Ni**a’. Poignant.

The finished it off with get hype favourite ‘Triumph’ with everyone filling in missing members verses to make it the complete song. Awesomeness. Yep, that’s another tick on my list of hip hop acts I need to see live before I die.

- Jason Jaram