Bliss N Eso, Seth Sentry, Horrorshow, Ceekay Jones @ Wagga Wagga Showgrounds, Wagga Wagga (09/05/2014)
Way back in high school, two of my friends created their own hip hop duo and introduced me to a world of music that I never knew existed. Raw lyrics, creative beats, clever rhymes, real issues, this genre of music was able to resonate with its audience in a unique way.
Australian hip hop is still alive and well and it is being showcased on an international scale with Sydney trio Bliss n Eso. The group has gathered an eclectic bunch of musicians and support acts to join them on their Circus Under the Stars tour.
Local act MC Noyz opened the show and warmed up the crowd before Ceekay Jones took over. Ceekay Jones recently sung on Bliss n Eso’s My Life track but his own repertoire captivated the Wagga crowd until his final song, a shirtless rendition of Am I Ever Gunna See Your Face Again?
The crowd was dispersed among the front of stage in the mosh pit and the gated area at the side of stage for the over 18s. People mingled across the entire area until Horrorshow hit the stage and invited everyone to get their f**king groove on and put a smile on the front of their heads. The Sydney duo performed a rendition of Walk on the Wild Side, which they originally compiled for Triple Js Like A Version. It was refreshing to see classic tunes covered by modern hip hop artists, showing that music transcends genres and generations.
And then something wonderful happened. Tenacious D’s Tribute was played through the speakers as some of the intermission music that was filling the stadium between acts. All of a sudden, a majority of the arena erupted into song and let out a rendition of The D’s biggest hit. It became clear that they had come for an amazing time and to immerse themselves in music.
Then the lights went down, the stage went quiet and the crowd rushed in closer as Seth Sentry burst onto the stage. Seth Sentry could have easily have headlined his own tour. His interaction with the crowd, including banter with a person in the front row who apparently smoked too many bongs before the show, riled the music lovers up even more.
But it was clear who Wagga came to see. Bliss n Eso’s set opened with a video of them driving around trying to find the show’s venue. And then a bright green Kombi van emerged on stage. American MC Bliss (Jonathon Notley) and Australian MC Eso (Max MacKinnon) emerged from the driver and passenger seats while the top of the van popped up to reveal DJ Izm (Tarik Ejjmai) behind the decks. A Kombi van doubling as a DJ booth? Yes, you have my attention.
The set list comprised past hits to please the most die-hard Bliss n Eso fans, of which there were a few, to those who really just wanted to hear some their more commercially successful hits. Happy In My Hoody was dedicated to all those in the crowd wearing hoodies to combat the crisp May air that we were surrounded by. Family Affair got the crowd jumping. A set half way through the show by DJ Izm featured unique mixes of classic songs, including Never Tear Us Apart, that got the crowd warming up their vocal chords. The group unquestionably left the best until last with an encore comprising of My Life, when they were joined by Ceekay Jones who had also been playing guitar through their set. And then the challenge was set. Bliss and Eso were going to crowd surf on inflatable pools to the sound tent and back to the stage. Could Wagga be the first crowd to get them out and back at the same time? Well, almost.
I saw an energy among almost 3000 Wagga residents last night that I rarely see. Maybe it was the beer. Maybe it was the cold that kept everyone moving. Maybe it was the thrill of having a big musical act come to the city. But Wagga definitely has an enthusiastic hip hop scene and Bliss n Eso were made to feel welcome among it.
Nicole Barlow
Australian hip hop is still alive and well and it is being showcased on an international scale with Sydney trio Bliss n Eso. The group has gathered an eclectic bunch of musicians and support acts to join them on their Circus Under the Stars tour.
Local act MC Noyz opened the show and warmed up the crowd before Ceekay Jones took over. Ceekay Jones recently sung on Bliss n Eso’s My Life track but his own repertoire captivated the Wagga crowd until his final song, a shirtless rendition of Am I Ever Gunna See Your Face Again?
The crowd was dispersed among the front of stage in the mosh pit and the gated area at the side of stage for the over 18s. People mingled across the entire area until Horrorshow hit the stage and invited everyone to get their f**king groove on and put a smile on the front of their heads. The Sydney duo performed a rendition of Walk on the Wild Side, which they originally compiled for Triple Js Like A Version. It was refreshing to see classic tunes covered by modern hip hop artists, showing that music transcends genres and generations.
And then something wonderful happened. Tenacious D’s Tribute was played through the speakers as some of the intermission music that was filling the stadium between acts. All of a sudden, a majority of the arena erupted into song and let out a rendition of The D’s biggest hit. It became clear that they had come for an amazing time and to immerse themselves in music.
Then the lights went down, the stage went quiet and the crowd rushed in closer as Seth Sentry burst onto the stage. Seth Sentry could have easily have headlined his own tour. His interaction with the crowd, including banter with a person in the front row who apparently smoked too many bongs before the show, riled the music lovers up even more.
But it was clear who Wagga came to see. Bliss n Eso’s set opened with a video of them driving around trying to find the show’s venue. And then a bright green Kombi van emerged on stage. American MC Bliss (Jonathon Notley) and Australian MC Eso (Max MacKinnon) emerged from the driver and passenger seats while the top of the van popped up to reveal DJ Izm (Tarik Ejjmai) behind the decks. A Kombi van doubling as a DJ booth? Yes, you have my attention.
The set list comprised past hits to please the most die-hard Bliss n Eso fans, of which there were a few, to those who really just wanted to hear some their more commercially successful hits. Happy In My Hoody was dedicated to all those in the crowd wearing hoodies to combat the crisp May air that we were surrounded by. Family Affair got the crowd jumping. A set half way through the show by DJ Izm featured unique mixes of classic songs, including Never Tear Us Apart, that got the crowd warming up their vocal chords. The group unquestionably left the best until last with an encore comprising of My Life, when they were joined by Ceekay Jones who had also been playing guitar through their set. And then the challenge was set. Bliss and Eso were going to crowd surf on inflatable pools to the sound tent and back to the stage. Could Wagga be the first crowd to get them out and back at the same time? Well, almost.
I saw an energy among almost 3000 Wagga residents last night that I rarely see. Maybe it was the beer. Maybe it was the cold that kept everyone moving. Maybe it was the thrill of having a big musical act come to the city. But Wagga definitely has an enthusiastic hip hop scene and Bliss n Eso were made to feel welcome among it.
Nicole Barlow