Tonight the Melbourne Festival throws us a proper dance party with a couple of hip hop acts that sit to the very left of the centre of the genre and who seek to extend it into exciting new territories.
Those ladies with a penchant for capitalization in odd places, THEESatisfaction deal a chilled, feel good vibe that brings together a smooth-Afro-futuristic blend of funk, jazz, psychedelia, R&B, soul and the odd Anita Baker sample. Over funky ghetto fabulous grooves comes Cat’s luscious, deep and sweeter-than-honey soulful vocals, while Stas chases after her spitting a fast flow that is strongly feminist in its perspective. Not only musical partners in crime but romantic ones also, THEESatisfaction’s tunes deal with issues of identity, equality and of course love in a way that makes them a unique voice in hip hop. Working to a formula that’s dripping with urban sass, the duo from Seattle slink from dropping a little consciousness that is reminiscent of Gil Scott Heron to the sultry neo soul reminiscent of the likes of Erykah Badu. Their songs are short ensuring that the set proceeds at a brisk pace. A noticeable number of instrumental interludes give the girls a chance to show off a little synchronized dancing. While much of the set is perhaps a little too laid back, party starters like Bisexual and QueenS work enthusiastic punters as the duo walk down the catwalk to perform these songs,on a podium in the middle of the crowd. As Cat and Stas showcase songs off awE natruaL the chemistry between them becomes apparent. The delivery of backing tracks from a laptop was perhaps a little awkward but it is early days yet for THEESatisfaction. Fingers crossed the next time we see them they will front with a DJ or a backing band.
It is not long before the curtain goes up on Big Freedia striking a serious pose on her throne, surrounded by her ten or so scantily clad female backing dancers. As Freedia’s DJ deals a loud banging beat that is a little more happy hardcore than hip hop, her dancers get into position by bending over to show off their buttocks. It is clear that the self proclaimed Queen of ‘Bounce’, a New Orleans variant of hip hop, is here to give the place a serious shake up. After hypnotizing most of the audience by bouncing their bums in our faces, what follows is a furious hour of booty popping and ass shaking and jiggling that soon turns the place into a sweaty mess. A little booty under lycra gives these spread cheeks in unthinkable positions a wobble that seems to fascinate most people in the audience.
The idea here is not to overthink it and move your arse and pray that your mind will follow. Freedia’s hit Azz Everywhere! saw those who had been practicing at home show it off on stage. A little later a tune about boy hos saw Freedia select a handful of dudes from the audience to bounce it on stage. Of course the crowd roared on those occasions when Freedia actually threw the junk in her trunk about the place. A hilariously kitsch cover of Rock Around The Clock set to a hip hop beat added a zany rock’n’roll flourish to the evening.
Tonight’s entertainment demonstrates that hip hop comes in all shapes and colours and Tyler, The Creator isn’t the most exciting thing going down in hip hop at the moment.
BY THE SIDEMAN
LOVED: Azz everywhere!
HATED: At times it was a little too loud and distorted.
DRANK: Fresh water.
