Concert Review: Hilltop Hoods - Auckland - 24th July 2019
/
Hilltop Hoods | Photo Megan Moss
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL HILLTOP HOODS GALLERY BY MEGAN MOSS HERE
By: Frankie Champion
Artist: Hilltop Hoods
Date: Wednesday 24th July 2019
Venue: Studio the Venue, Auckland New Zealand
One of Auckland’s best and most iconic venues, yet again, delivered another amazing gig. This time the Studio welcomes Hilltop Hoods, who brought the venue to life with their passionate performance.
The crowd was hyped up when the Aussie hip hop rap group set the tone for the incredible night of music with an explosive first song. The band screamed ‘Auckland’ and the crowd happily roared back at them, bopping and bouncing their heads along with the electric hip hop, as if being awakened by the spirit of rhythm and poetry.
The band, made up of live drums, back-up singer, DJ, and of course the iconic Aussie duo rapping, was a great combination of talent, resulting in an epic performance. Lights flickered across the sea of arms and heads while the audience danced and cheered through the band’s set list. The band was fully connected with their audience, encouraging them to clap, stomp their feet, and even “take off [their] clothes,” and dance.
They were giving the audience their all as they exhausted themselves with constant jumping and great vocals, maintaining a constant flow of high and intense on-stage energy.
The band also maintained their ‘coolness,’ dressed In casual clothing, making the intimate gig feel like an expression of pure music and rap without the crazy costumes and other theatrical distractions. This gig was truly a show of talent and love of music and performing. You could see the musician’s faces smiling with absolute bliss as the crowd was putty in the palms of their hands, hanging on to their every command.
Hilltop Hoods gave an energetic and uplifting performance, constantly maintaining the energy that they brought with them in the opening song of their set, which had the crowd roaring, cheering and whistling.
The Australian rap group gave a cultural performance to a local kiwi crowd of keen fans. It was a joining of two nations as Hilltop Hoods declared on stage that they felt welcomed by their Auckland “cousins”.
Every inch of The Studio was packed out by the sold out show, with many of the fans getting into the Hilltop merch and belting out the lyrics to each song.
The sound of the band echoed off the walls and throughout the audience’s bodies as their own spin on Australian rap had the crowd screaming for more, which resulted in the entire audience stomping their feet once the band left the stage, begging for one last song.
The classic scream for an encore was heard, as it is at the best of gigs. Of course Hilltop Hoods happily obliged, returning to the stage with a final song, and that one a crowd pleaser. The audience responded, knowing it was their final moments with the Australian band.
Overall the band broke out the roots of rhythm and poetry infused with pop within The Studio, creating a feel good atmosphere, delivering their music with passion and enthusiasm. The crowd of Auckland city lapped up the set with eagerness. With the crowd’s drinks flowing, bodies moving and heads banging, the hard energy of Hilltop Hoods electrified souls at the sold out Studio this Wednesday night.
By Frankie Champion