Live Review: Hilltop Hoods & West Australian Symphony Orchestra

There's something special seeing a symphony orchestra mixing it up with a DJ live on stage and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra with DJ Debris didn't disappoint. In front of 11,000 hip hop fans, violins and cellos received a huge cheer as things kicked off at Perth Arena for the Hilltop Hoods. The GA section was as one when Suffa and Pressure bounced onto the stage. Launching into Higher and followed closely by Chase That Feeling, there was no doubt South Australia's finest rappers had come to party, with an impressive lighting and visual show including pyros exploding to punctuate the point.

The early mix was a little heavy on percussion, drowning out the WASO strings and horns, but by the time Maverick Sabre joined the Hoods on stage for Live & Let Go the mix was balanced out and the orchestra shone through.

It was a set of collaborations that wasn't restricted to the WASO, with Sabre exiting and Montaigne adding her beautiful, soulful voice to 1955. A song about small towns never sounded better, although the introduction to the song comparing Perth to Adelaide drew plenty of good-humoured jeers.

In case you didn't know, there is no room for bigotry with the Hilltop Hoods and a call out for everyone to raise a finger in the air was answered by 11,000 West Australians as the boys leapt into Speaking In Tongues.

It wouldn't be a Hilltop gig without the monster hit and crowd favourite Nosebleed Section, bringing everyone in the Arena to their feet, even those who are usually rooted to their seats way up in the bleachers. The beats were flawless, and in combination with the WASO, Hilltop Hoods put on an Aussie hip hop masterclass. The energy was infectious as Pressure and Suffa bounced from left to right of stage, working the adoring crowd as they went.

Hilltop Hoods announced this was the last show of their current tour, and they ended it in scintillating style. Aussie hip hop has never been stronger, and is in very good hands.