Low-Fi Festival

Thu, 29 October, 2009

Last Sunday was a scorcher, a cheeky little insight into a long steaming summer ahead, quite apt for the smoking “beats and flows” that were being blasted down Aberdeen Street in Northbridge.

Sunday October 25th saw the bass heavy, Low Fi Festival slide into town, boasting a tasty line up of arguably the 2 biggest names in Hip Hop; Nasty Nasir and Mr Chali 2Na, which guaranteed ticket sales and feet crunking all over the place.

On official duties, we were on deck early and had the pleasure of seeing local Dub/Bass/Drum/Guitar/Thing, Naik take on the undersized crowd, who at this point we’re clinging to whatever bits of shade they could find. (Many punters were opting for indoors at the Deen to keep out of the heat, but from my brief stint in Zone 6 or 4 or 2 or something, it was hotter, smellier and sweatier in there…Ugh)
Naik delivered a solid and flowing set of some very promising original compositions featuring Dex and FX, Synth’s, Guitars and a Live skinsman, infused with a couple of nice remixes to keep smiles a plenty on sunburnt faces. Keep and eye out for these kids, who overall delivered a world class sound quite seamlessly.

Next up to the main stage was UK legend MJ Cole, one of the pioneers of the UK 2 Step and Garage scene and sound that’s dominating alternative airwaves today…So it was surprising to witness MJ launch into a more upbeat “funky house” start to his set. The 2 Step and ‘rage started to show it’s head later in the set and the toes were tapping all the way through.

Finally the buildings were starting to offer some refuge from the biting sun and it was time for everyone’s favourite Jurassic Hip Hop Dinosaur, Mr Chali 2Na complete with live band and good friend and vocalist Anthony Hamilton. The Verbal Herman Munster hopped straight into some new tracks of his solo album “Fish Outta Water” and the crowd had now solidified and were swaying their arms in unison to the Tuna Fish!
“Who’s heard of Jurassic 5”
Offered 2Na, which signalled some more familiar samples of “Freedom”, “Quality Control” and other J5 bangers, leaving this reviewer quite nostalgic after the break up of the Jurassic’s in 2007.

But the feeling didn’t last long, Chali 2Na proving that he can hold his own without the other 5, and going to show why he’s still one of the most respected purveyors of roots Hip Hop still around today.

Now, you’ll have to forgive my next paragraph if you’re a drum and bass fan, but next up to the main stage was “Someone” who was playing Dub and Drum and Bass…wasn’t there a dedicated room for this? A dedicated, sweaty, stinky room? And for a large portion of the crowd just holding on for “the King” I found the next hour and a half of Dub ‘n’ Bass, complete with an obnoxious Brit MC unbearable…it’s just my opinion. But I get to publish mine.

So…finally Low Fi welcomed to the stage its trump card, ladies and gentlemen, Nas. From his first drop in 1994 with Illmatic, Nasty Nas has stood a top the pedestal and endured along with former rival Jay Z, to rise to the top of his game…And he was. Backed by a very “LA” looking band, full of energy and chops to die for, Nas, on his first trip to Australia, tore up Aberdeen street in arguably the best Live Hip Hop performance I’ve ever had the pleasure to see…and I wasn’t the only one!

Nas opened with “Hip Hop is Dead” and proceeded to demolish the mic and wreck the bass bins all over this shit. Haha. Sorry…the “Hop” took over then.

It was an amazing performance for an amazing ambassador of everything that the Low Fi Festival stood for; keeping it real and having a damn good dance in a beautiful city.

The only criticism I could forge, was that Nas can tend to be a little “preachy” letting us all know his disdain for Capitalist America and all it stands for…although without he wouldn’t have been able to do the things that make him one of the best. But…hey, whatever!

So after “The King” had left the building, the masses left the city, with the echoes of deep bass lines and 2 step beats resonating across the greater Perth area. Low FI was here. Let’s hope Low Fi comes back next year!

Matty Cass

Link: www.lowfi.com.au