Live Review: Jurassic 5

When all three levels of this venue are rocking/bouncing, the atmosphere is unbeatable. And this is Jurassic 5's second consecutive show at Palace Theatre. Double wheels of steel plus multiple alternating MCs mean interest never flags. Cut Chemist's logo, which appears on a banner hanging from his console, is brilliant – a pair of scissors above a beaker. Nu-Mark keeps it simple however, choosing to decorate a banner with his moniker in its written form. The jury's out on whether the giant turntable onstage actually serves a function, but the drum-pad vest and (guitar) strap-on turntable get workouts during Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist's DJ battle to show-stopping effect.

The LA crew's use of unconventional meters and creative rhymes make them shine as a hip operation, particularly during Concrete Schoolyard (“Playground tactics/No rabbit in a hat tricks/Just that classic rap shit from Jurassic”). J5 also like instructing us to move our arms about: not just with the usual one/both hands in the air hollers, but they also coaxe us to open and close our hands in time with the beat (while all hands are raised) like charades lighthouses. Chali 2na, Marc 7, Zaakir and Akil each exhibit their own diverse styles, happily sharing the limelight and coexisting across the width of downstage. The rappers also have props that resemble flashing melody pops, which they throw into the crowd after use. Chali 2na's monotone, rhythmic delivery paralyses us to the spot with mouths agape. Sometimes Akil sits behind a centre-stage desk, his presence remaining onstage while he takes time out. Onstage enthusiasm echoes that of the audience with members penetrating the stage's fourth wall for high-fiving victory laps through the photography pit. A spot of Tony Abbott-bashing banter extracts cheers (although mostly we feel shame) from the punters. To the dude smoking a durry in the balcony area who thinks exhaling streams of smoke through his nostrils is less obvious than via a sneaky corner of his mouth: newsflash, it isn't.

We're so glad Jurassic 5 reunited for their Coachella 2013 performance and are not willing to let them go just yet. Young crews the world over benefit from this live lesson on What's Golden: there's no “hatin' on the crew”.