Reviewed: Professor Green gives a lesson in top gigs
AMY DANBROWSKY • Published 3 May 2012 13:30
0 Comments
Share this
click to enlarge
HANDS UP WHO'S A RAP SUPERSTAR: Professor Green
PHOTO: JAKE OWENS
www.flickr.com/jakeowens/
Excited crowds packed Rivermead Leisure Centre in anticipation of controversial rapper Professor Green's colourful set.
Although the only leg of the tour not to sell out, the Leisure Centre must have been close to maximum capacity and, to be honest, it was refreshing to be able to move to the music instead of being trapped in the claustrophobic sweat-caverns cropping up these days.
He was supported by Smiler and Chiddy Bang, who got everyone bouncing with their electro/hip-hop tracks, and DJ IQ who played a 15 minute lead-up to the Hackney born (as his shirt confirmed!) rapper's heroes' welcome.
Opening to roars with the title track from his latest album, At Your Inconvenience, he continued to bash out the crowd-pleasers with Just Be Good To Green and I Need You Tonight, switching up the mood with heartfelt rap-ballads Astronaut and Never Be A Right Time. New single Remedy and How Many Moons were spliced with an extra dose of bass, stirring up an already raucous crowd.
The best reception of the night came with the encore, and my personal favourite, Jungle. Without Maverick Sabre's distinctive haunting vocal, it did lack the power it carries on the album, but lost none of its dark grimey vibe. He followed that up with classic Upper Clapton Dance, which once again rocked Rivermead.
It takes a brave man to control a rabble of screaming teens but, ever the pro, he had them in the palm of his hand and screams of "take your clothes off" and "we love Green" helped bolster his reputation as a ladies' man.
The cheeky chap of rap bantered with the crowd - calling the house lights up to get a better picture of his frenzied fans. He turned on the charm to chat to a few lucky ladies and, ever the gentleman, thanked the Reading crowd for a great gig, which it really was.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 03 May 12
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our archives.
