PUBLIC ENEMY | LIVE REVIEW
Tramshed, Cardiff, Sun 29 Nov
As soon as I walk into the Tramshed, the crowd take on the appearance of an Oasis or Blur reunion show audience: a heaving, swirling mess of drunken 40-year-olds trying to recapture their youth.
Today, though, Public Enemy’s unapologetic stance on revolt is needed more than ever. A lot of things have changed in the last 20 years – we have an infinite source of information in our palms of hands, but socially nothing much has change. There is still a massive divide between the rich and poor, and racism has now become more complex and subtly intertwined in almost every institution. It’s sad that Chuck D and Flavor Flav’s politically potent lyrics are still as relevant as ever, but it’s a testament to the group that they’re still on the road, packing out venues and spreading their message of truth.
As soon as Chuck and Flav stormed the stage, the crowd were putty in their hands. Chuck unapologetically spits out tight, aggressive rhymes that compel punters to rock back and forward with their fists firmly in the air. Maybe the only person to pull off riding a segway without coming across as a complete wanker, Flav rides around the stage without giving two shits what people thought.
The likes of Don’t Believe The Hype, Smack My Bitch Up and Rebel Without A Pause have the crowed in hysterics, while their mashup of AC/DC’s Back In Black is absolutely mindblowing. Halfway through the gig, Flav breaks out the guitar and shreds like Hendrix, ripping tasty licks that could win over some of the most hardened metalheads. One of the most endearing moments comes when Flav pulls a young superfan onto stage; the energy of a boy meeting one of his idols spreads around the venue. If the press was blown away by Kanye’s Glastonbury set, they haven’t seen what real stripped-back, bare-boned hip-hop is. Public Enemy remain one of the most exciting acts around today.
As the gig crashes to an end, Flavor Flav asks the crowed to raise their middle finger to the sky and says, “There’s two things I hate beyond anything else and that’s racism and separatism. So I want you to repeat this. Fuck racism! Fuck separatism!” The crowd, naturally, swirl fingers in the air and shout it back in unity.
words and photos JAYDON MARTIN