Wu Tang Clan at Tripod on July 1st 2011
Photos: Yan Bourke
Review: Kevin Donnellan
The packed house is booing at Method Man’s mention of the Cork show they played the previous evening. “Yeah, they had some shit to say about you too,” chuckles Method Man.That’s Method Man aka Clifford Smith aka Calvin ‘Cheese’ Wagstaff. In Dublin. Laughing about our rivalry with Cork.
It’s just so surreal. The gig-going equivalent of seeing Obama drinking a pint in Offaly. Two different worlds colliding. Staten Island’s finest jumping around the Tripod stage, mere metres from Coppers.
The place was packed and entertainingly diverse; DJ, Mathematics with massive cigar in place, brought us through a quick, effective warm-up. From the moment the eight strong ‘clan’ bounced on stage (RZA was either absent or kept a remarkably low profile) with joints in hand the crowd were smitten.
At times it veered a little too much towards shouting instead of rapping but the energy from the stage and the crowd meant it barely mattered. ‘Gravel Pit’, ‘C.R.E.A.M’ and ‘Wu Tang Clan Ain’t Nothing To F’ Wit’ were all raucously received. While a few moments of freestyle genius from Masta Killa helped restore the shouting to rapping ratio somewhat.
But the night wasn’t really about hearing amazing vocals. It was a panto, it was a celebration, a party. It was jumping when you were told to jump. It was unashamedly making a W with joined fingers. It was fist pumping in unison. It was sharing big goofy grins with those around you. Being surprised, and a little impressed, at the sheer number of people smoking in the venue. It was an amazing, entertaining, fun Hip-Hop gig. And they don’t come around too often.
“Dublin ain’t nothing to fuck with,” we were told toward the end of the show. Why thank you lads, you are welcome back any time.