This Grammy-winning group formed back in 1991, and had half the world humming along to hit single “People Everyday” (you’d know it if you heard it). TAG caught the show live at Concorde 2 on February 23…
Across the ocean from Alanta, old skool hip-hop veterans Arrested Development played their penultimate UK gig in Brighton. Kicking off the show, support for the night came in the form of Heaven BeatBox, a looping beatboxer promoting his debut EP, he gracefully set the vibe, leaving eager early birds hyped for the night’s headliners.
Entering a stage of colourfully-clothed mic stands with all flags blazing, ladies of the limelight Fareedah and Tasha LaRae made the Concorde 2 feel as though Carnival had come early.
Priding themselves on being “the second ever hip-hop act to tour with a live band” once upon a decade or two – their bass and beats had the whole venue bouncing from the railings to the box office for the entire two hours of their set!
AD’s MC 1Love was most certainly the master of this ceremonious ceremony. When the man said “Bob ya head!” there was not a static skull in sight. When he demanded “Jump!” the room asked how high? When he got down low, the whole audience were lower than Ludacris.
The band themselves likened the event to a house party and the diverse congregation of guests were all invited. Then came the opening bars to huge hit track “Mr. Wendal”. The ceilings were illuminated with phone screens pulled from pockets and purses to seize the moment. Even the nicotine addicts weren’t tempted and only a handful seemed to leave for the last train.
The band as a collective appeared very humbled by the whole experience, as though they’d never won a Grammy! (The won two). Frontman Speech thanked the content crowd for over 22 years of support and even gave a shout-out to old promoter pal BBC Radio 1Xtra’s very own Trevor Nelson.
As if a non-stop set list of over 15 songs and an encore lasting five more wasn’t enough for the £20 ticket holder, the whole of AD came from backstage to meet, greet, smile and sign. A gig that gave that Friday feeling on a regular Monday night.
Words by Amy Forrester
Pics by Rosie Powell
arresteddevelopmentmusic.com
facebook.com/pages/Arrested-Development
