Live Review: Snoop Dogg

There's a long queue out the front of the venue before the doors open. Immediately we head to the bar and of course it's all about gin and (pineapple) juice – “Laid back/With my mind on my money and my money on my mind”. Punter outfits are distinctly '90s and one tragic look teams what resembles doona cover fabric converted into pants and pleated, tan, ankle-length boots that probably came from Big W.

Snoop Dogg (aka Snoop Lion/Snoopzilla/DJ Snoopadelic) has a lookalike lurking in the shadows onstage and this scribe is convinced it's the actual Doggfather. The opening sounds come courtesy of 2Pac's California Love and immediately Palace Theatre is heaving. There's ten bodies up there wearing lots of black and chunky gold bling. Man, does it reek of reefer in here!? (And that's even before Snoop sparks up a phat one during tonight's set.) When Snoop saunters out, suddenly the decoy bears no resemblance. And his blinged-out mic needs its own bodyguard. The call-and-responses just never get old: “When I say, 'HELL!' you say, 'YEAH!' [HELL!] YEAH! [HELL!] YEAH!” A Snoop mascot we immediately call “Nasty Dogg” ('cause that's what back of its tee reads) takes the stage complete with massive, furry dogg head. Nasty Dogg has a mic in his hand, then a giant novelty spliff and later a fluoro green extend-a-dick (Snoop tells the mascot: “Put it away!”). “When I say, 'STICKY' everybody say, 'ICKY'!” Swaying along to Gin And Juice whilst supping on said beverage is definitely a cheers moment. At 11.11pm, Snoop Dogg/Lion is officially baked. Snoop's take on House Of Pain's Jump Around would be a smash hit a today! During Drop It Like It's Hot Snoop directs, “Somebody sing me shit!” Although the gig is billed as Snoop Lion, the classics are pumped out in rapid succession and Who Am I (What's My Name)? is a dose of vibratory flow with Snoop's casual rapping style never sacrificing that meticulous diction and quirky intonation. Nasty Dogg is really annoying now. “When I say, 'OO!' y'all say, 'EE'! [OO!] EE! [OO!] EE!”

“Do you wanna ride with us?” Snoop asks. The answer is a resounding “YEAH-YAH!” There's a rapturous chant-along to Young, Wild & Free by Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa (ft Bruno Mars): “So what we get druuuuunk/So what we smoke weeeeed/We're just having fuuuuun/We don't care who seeeees…” – all hands bouncing in the air. The colours of the Rasta flag – red, gold and green – inspire this evening's lighting design, staying true to Snoop's reggae moniker. Their version of Bob Marley's Jammin also makes a euphoric drunk/high singalong with Snoop truly holding his own. Nasty Dogg brandishing a dildo? No good. Snoop genuinely created and loves this shit so we should always welcome him to our shores. (Although he may be lucky to gain a visa next time if he persists in posting questionable pics of himself indulging while touring Down Under.)