Hilltop Hoods - Never Coming Home Tour - Brisbane

The Hilltop Hoods were recently recognised for their contribution to music by having Adelaide’s Clubhouse Lane renamed to Hilltop Hoods Lane, but it was the Brisbane Entertainment Centre that turned into their clubhouse for a celebration of the icons of Australian hip hop. The perennial last minute festival replacements were tonight the entire festival.

A crowd spanning generations of fans marched left foot, right foot into the arena for a night of classic bangers whilst illuminating highlights from last year’s album Fall From The Light.

DJ Total Eclipse warmed up the crowd with tracks from the likes of Rage Against the Machine, Eminem, Drapht and his own legendary X-Ecutioners collaboration with members of Linkin Park.

Trials, usually seen in A.B. Original and Funkoars form spread his wings solo to give us a funky bass-driven taste of his upcoming album Hendle, whilst thanking Hoods fans for already selling out his tour shirts with proceeds going to charity.

Irish singer/rapper Maverick Sabre continued his musical relationship with the Hoods with a heartfelt soulful set including a cover of Oasis’ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, delivered with spine-tingling emotion.

The Hilltop Hoods burst out the gates, running onto the stage with Leave Me Lonely and Chase That Feeling opening the set, before the flute-driven Melanie Safka sample ignited the crowd in anticipation of the alternative national anthem, The Nosebleed Section, as relevant as ever after reaching number 2 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.

Suffa, Pressure and DJ Debris were rounded out by drummer Plutonic Lab (Muph and Plutonic), the irreverent and stylish Nyassa (whose house-inspired hat even included a chimney) on vocals and a 3-piece brass band for good measure and vibes. Special guests aplenty joined throughout the night including Illy, Adrian Eagle, Marlon, Matiu, a reprise of Maverick Sabre and Montaigne to take us back to 1955.

A singalong to a cover of Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry Be Happy was flipped into the more contemporary Don’t Happy, Be Worry, a welcome reflection of the times, save for a few Elon Musk fans.

Any awkwardness around the closing track’s subject was kicked away with a swift “F*** Bill Cosby”, before an all-in celebration of Cosby Sweater, a joy to end the night knowing that Australia’s biggest ever hip hop act are indeed still standing

Gallery https://musicfestivalsaustralia.com/event-photos/hilltop-hoods-never-coming-home-tour-brisbane

Thank you to the Hilltop Hoods, TEG Live, On The Map PR and the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for having us along.

Review & Photos by Matt Xander for Music Kingdom Australia