As part of Independent Music Venue Week, supported by BBC Sounds, the fabulous Forum Music Centre presents one of the most successful hip-hop acts to emerge from the UK since they formed in London in 1985 when rapper Rob B. and producer The Head launched the Gee Street label as a means of promoting their music,
In 1990, the single ‘Elevate My Mind’ became the first British rap single ever to enter the U.S.Billboard Charts. And, following the release of the album ‘Supernatural’, they toured with the Happy Mondays before returning to the studio to record their 1992 breakthrough ‘Connected’, a sample-free album recorded completely with live instruments which spawned major worldwide hits like ‘Step It Up’ and ‘Ground Level’. And now, here they are, coming onstage to such an extraordinary noise from this strong sold-out Darlington throng.
Setting the scene with the fabulous ‘Fade Away’ and ‘Everything’, from the offset it’s evident this hardworking band are so polished in style yet unbelievably raw in sound; with Rob B’s voice so distinctive and giving it his all with seemingly boundless supplies of energy.
Hitting up ‘Black Gold’, ‘Pressure’ and ultimate favourite ‘Connected’, they showcase the remarkable vocal talents from Aina Roxx and original member Cath Coffey who both have the crowd going wild, not only from their stunning voices but their perfectly choreographed moves.
But it’s ‘Step It Up’ that absolutely blows the Forum’s roof off with utter rapture, before finishing with ‘Ground Level’ and ‘Running’ to huge adoration, whistles and deafening cheers until they return for a sublime encore of ‘Sketch’, ‘Creation’ and ‘Place’.
You won’t be surprised to hear this gig is up there with my most beloved of all time. From the crowd, wonderful staff, helpful security (if you know, you know) and all of the organisers from my new favourite venue (looking forward to more in the future) right through to the unbelievable band, I genuinely cannot stress enough how astonishing they are live. I could quite easily bombard you with so many overused superlatives that you will probably stop reading– so please unlock your phones, get yourself ‘Connected’, and search out when they are next performing (hopefully back in the north soon), and you too can witness the sheer power of the unstoppable Stereo MC’s.
