Live Review: A$AP Rocky, Miracle

It's difficult to drag yo' ass inside 'The House Of Stoush' tonight with such riveting skank watching opps lining the streets. Bare legs and flange-skimming skirts in winter? We say, “Nein danka!” Bouncers advise we should get our tickets and ID ready while queuing. The no videoing rule is also imparted and props go out to the wisecracking security matron at Door B, who frisks punters while making cheeky, ageist quips such as, “You probably didn't need to get that ID out.” Plus one decides she resembles the old professor from Back To The Future, but she's bringing good times to the admittance procedure. 

Support act: Ghanan-born, Sydney via Melbourne-bred MC/producer Miracle. He looks the bomb in a black ensemble showcasing outlaw hat and skinny jeans with the knees ripped out of them, but there are way too many 'Where's the source of those vocals?' moments while Miracle bounds around onstage. Could've sworn we heard the following phrase: “Feel like the coolest rapper in this hemisphere”, which is kinda wack. “Make some noise if you want some free shit!” Some tees are flung into the throng. And then in comes the lame, “Sydney were rowdier than you last night, MelBUUUUURN!” gee-up. Leading an “Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi” chant when you call Australia home is actually a sackable offence. Ugh.

As A$AP Rocky (Rakim Mayers on his dental records) surfaces, the fans' earlier nods of consent re no-filming mean shit – it's all smartphones aloft. There's no gold grillz tonight, instead Rocky shows off the best set of perfect pearly whites that scrilla can buy. The rapper also sports a twisted-bandanna browband plus dark shades to soften the glare from those teeth. There are so many spliffs being smoked in GA that the punters get high without even trying and, man! Those beats sure sound phat. That's all thanks to live instrumentation: four players supply live drums, keys, bass and samples. A$AP Twelvy and A$AP Ferg bounce in and out, contributing their flow where needed. 

Jay-Z's Decoded won't help you here, the language of A$AP Rocky's hip hop is designed to shock you to the core – did he just rhyme “jizzin'” with “religion”? And the MC is lovin' it up there, enthusing, “This shit is a blessing.” A$AP wants the lights “nice and purple” and the lighting design throughout accentuates the action. There are also two screens with sharp-as visuals interspersed between consoles. PMW (All I Really Need) – need you ask? Of course it stands for “Pussy. Money. Weed.” – gets the crowd a-hollering and then Rocky gets concerned about our hydration levels. He lobs bottles of water around the hall until one hits the roof and hurtles at a dangerous speed toward someone's noggin. “I might be having more fun than y'all!” He chuckles. And again with the request for purple lights. Purple Swag follows and as Rocky sings the outro hook, he could not sound more flat as instruments reduce in volume leaving him to bleat, “Everything is purple,” a cappella. Okay, we're worried about what a “purple kiss” is. A$AP calls a dreadlocked crowdsurfer up to the stage and encourages, “Make me remember this night... I don't wanna forget this night” – the last show of the Australian leg of his A$AP Rocky Lives tour. After Dreadie Dude uses the opportunity to give a couple of his mates a shout-out, Rocky invites these party pals to crowdsurf to the stage. There's a party in the house and that's what's up. 

The brim of one stage invader's cap pokes A$AP in the eye and another little shit gets ejected from the stage because he's aiming for a selfie. “It's not that kinda party,” Rocky cautions. But still opportunistic stage invaders insist on trying to document their brushes with fame. At one point the keyboardist comes out from behind his console to manhandle and then push a wily phone brandisher down the side-stage stairs. Wild For The Night is off the pimpin' chain. The Hangover Part III hit Fuckin' Problems encourages further whorish dancing although (thankfully/surprisingly) no female revellers up onstage get their tits out.

It has to be said that A$AP Rocky is one grateful performer: He even heads up to high-five fans in the cheap seats as the DJ plays on. Once all three A$AP Mob MCs leave the stage, their backing band continues to release the gnarly beats. The bumping, grinding masses would happily party here all night long.