Live Review: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Diafrix

The Enmore was already remarkably full at 8pm when Melbourne hip hop crew Diafrix took to the stage and performed a very energetic, audience-driven set. The sound filled the space triumphantly and was perfectly balanced and consistent. On top of this, the rappers performed their verses confidently against heavy, infectious beats and seemed to engage the crowd from start to finish. Among the set's highlights were their performance of Running It and Throwback, both of which were incredibly well received by the growing crowd. With energy that grew stronger and stronger towards the end of the set, the group continued to perform explosive tracks with powerful, fast beats to really set the mood of the evening high.

Every single corner of the vast Enmore space was filled by the time Macklemore & Ryan Lewis took the stage. With a dramatic entrance that caused the crowd to become very overwhelmed with anticipation and excitement, rapper Macklemore commanded the space with a modest confidence from the opening moments of the show. The two opened their performance with Ten Thousand Hours, whose catchy chorus inspired all 3,000 audience members to sing along. The duo mellowed out the atmosphere briefly with Life Is Cinema, and Macklemore's voice was joined in each verse by thousands of others who evidently knew every word. A surprising addition for such an early slot in the set, the rapper then performed the single which truly kick-started Macklemore fanaticism in Australia, Thrift Shop. One of the standouts of the set, Otherside was then delivered, to which he added a heartfelt speech about the dangers of drug and alcohol addiction. Then, with congratulations to Australia for being the only country in the world to send his track about the importance of fighting for marriage equality to #1, Macklemore delivered an emotional performance of Same Love. This also showcased the incredible talent of his touring trumpet player and backup singers, all of whom performed with remarkable confidence and energy throughout the set. This was followed by another shift in mood as the room filled with the fast-paced catchy beat of Can't Hold Us. There was then another heartfelt interlude, which truly set this performance apart from regular hip hop shows, as Macklemore told the crowd his story of relapse after three years of sobriety and followed this with an emotional performance of Starting Over. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis left the stage abruptly, but fortunately returned for an exciting encore of Irish Celebration and a second, hugely more energetic performance of Thrift Shop. The crowd was overwhelmed and exhausted by the time the duo left the stage for the last time, confirming that the performance was completely enthralling and satisfying on all counts.