The Streets

Everybody knows that he’s produced the album of the year, but will Mike Skinner be able to recreate the complexities of Original Pirate Material on stage?

The omens aren’t good as unspecified “technical difficulties” delay The Streets’ first gig by half-an-hour.

Words like ‘Titanic’, ‘Hindenburg’ and ‘Seaman’ are being bandied around when the lights suddenly dim and there’s the Brummie Boy Wonder in all of his cocky 21-year-old glory. ‘Turn The Page’ has even more of a fanfare quality to it live, with bass, drums and keys underpinning the gaffer’s motormouth rap. This, ladies and gentleman, is the real fucking deal!

… Pirate Material is as much about sweet soul as it is inner city hip hop and, sure enough, the quartet are joined by a Marvin Gaye-type for a delicious ‘Has It Come To This?’ The balcony’s a bit slow to respond but downstairs everybody’s skanking their socks off.

“The Streets have entered the building,” bellows a visibly delighted Skinner. As if we hadn’t noticed!

Unlike the vast majority of their American counterparts, their urban tales radiate genuine warmth and humanity and the highlights after that come thick and fast. ‘Too Much Brandy’ segues perfectly into a rapturously received ‘Ghost Town’; ‘It’s Too Late’ brings tears to even the most arid eye with its “If I ever need you, would you be there?” refrain; and ‘Geezers Need Excitement’ does things to ‘Suspicious Minds’ that would make Elvis blush.

The roof finally comes off when The Streets exit with their larging it anthem par excellence, ‘Weak Become Heroes’. With its scalpel sharp lyrics and huge singalong chorus, this is easily Brit hop’s finest four minutes.

A thousand voices shout in compliance as Skinner shouts, “I want you to get fucked tonight!” To borrow a phrase from Ian Dury, there ain’t half been some clever bastards!