Live Review: Urthboy, L-FRESH The LION, Okenyo

Experience takes centrestage as Urthboy descends on Hobart with an all-star line-up from Elefant Traks in tow. The show is opened by newcomer to the label, the pulse-racing Okenyo whose synth-heavy melodies are capturing attention all over Australia.

Sydney rapper L-FRESH The LION brings a blistering multi-syllable and energetic hip hop set replete with crowd-bolstering antics to warm the room. L-FRESH and rapper Mirrah worked the crowd to fever pitch getting them to "bounce bounce" as their DJ, MK-1, came out from behind the tables and surfed into the crowd only to come back and throw Mirrah into the crowd's outstretched arms. Mirrah's great vocals and quick-fire flow make her a perfect companion to L-FRESH's roar power. It is a set that shows off two very talented and confident performers. Although L-FRESH did the lion's share of verse-work, the backing of Mirrah as they covered issues of race and class politics on Get Mine over a chorus hook borrowing from Bhangra influences is truly remarkable.

"This is the first weekend of our national tour," Urthboy announces to the packed room as politically charged party tunes exploded.

This new national tour packs that experience into something truly special. There is a shine to the production and collaboration on the new show that exceeds past attempts.

The new album The Past Beats Inside Of Me Like A Second Heartbeat is an ambitious introspection into Urthboy's own roots as it dovetails anecdotes through three generations of his family.

"There's a line in Daughter Of The Light," Urthboy tells the crowd, "about my mum diving in the water and saving a drowning boy when she was 11 years old. It sounds like something made up. Well, my aunt found him recently and he confirmed the story. He's 68 years old now."

The new album has a lot to say politically, particularly the somber track Hey Juanita about a journalist who died under mysterious circumstances while looking into corruption in Sydney's construction industry.

On stage Urthboy works the room like a ringmaster as the audience packs within a breath of each other around both the front and the sides of the stage. Urthboy is joined by three MCs and they work their presence in concert masterfully across a well curated setlist of old and new material. "I'm feeling good, how you feeling..." Urthboy begins and is cut short as a couple hundred faces burst wide with smiles and cheer; recognising the hook from the radio-friendly We Get Around they throw up their arms in anticipation and are richly rewarded.