Live Review: Thundamentals, Ziggy Ramo

We’re promised more than a Thundamentals show with Fijian rapper Jesswar, eclectic Billy Davis & The Good Lords, and Ziggy Ramo playing support slots. All stamp their unique style on the night, with Ramo particularly impressive bringing passionate messages of equality mixed with flawless freestyles, unbridled positive energy and the message that, “Hate is too toxic – the only answer is love.”

Thundamentals' band takes the stage before DJ Morgs steps up to his decks on a central podium. Jeswon joins and they launch into All I See Is Music before Tuka, spray can in hand, arrives on stage to paint 'I Love Songs' on the DJ podium. They transition into 21 Grams and Tuka, holding his hand out and singing “Do you wanna take my hand?” is almost pulled into an overexcited audience.

“If you guys have been rocking with Thundamentals for a little bit you’ll know you guys are part of the movement,” says Jeswon, “and you know the party doesn’t start till DJ Morgs brings in the motherfucking cowbell.”

That’s exactly what Morgs does and Never Say Never follows, the chemistry between Tuka and Jeswon palpable as they bounce off each other. Eyes On Me and Catch Me If You Can come next before Thundamentals give a reminder to the “gorgeous gentlemen in the room” that they’re “the kind of guys that would never want to invade someone’s personal space”.

Noodle Soup resembles something more like laksa given the spicy flow that Tuka’s spitting, then the lights dim blue and five stools are placed on stage. A campfire singalong of Smiles Don’t Lie brings a touch of romance, complete with background embers, and the backup vocalists really come into their own. 

The energy is brought back up with their legendary cover of Matt Corby’s Brother, which sends the crowd into meltdown. It’s huge, and Think About It and Got Love follow before Thundamentals address the nine to five grind with Quit Your Job, Payroll and Déjà Vu.

Everybody But You and I Miss You round off the set, with the latter driving home what seems to be the main message of the evening – love your friends, live your life and work to bring your dreams to reality. The boys return in retro tracksuits for Sally and we’re informed of the Thundamentals’ life motto – “quit your bitching, start your living” – before being left with Something I Said and, thankfully, everything they said.