There was an atmosphere of tension in the packed Concorde 2, and when De La Soul finally took to the stage, the audience erupted into whoops and cheers.
Unlike many of their eighties hip-hop contemporaries, De La Soul’s charm lies in their relaxed, fun approach, and the audience reflected this casual happiness.
With none of the typical posturing, promotion or pomp, De La Soul’s live shows are the sort that make fans want to see them again and again, and many of the audience members were dedicated attendees who’d seen them play before and relished the opportunity to repeat the experience.
De La Soul released the hugely influential 3 Feet High And Rising in 1989, and 25 years later the hits from that seminal album still sound fresh.
As they slid from roller-skating anthem Saturdays into Me, Myself and I without a pause, the presentation was superb: confidently smooth but with authentic enthusiasm.
The Magic Number had hundreds joyfully singing along, as did Feel Good Inc., the hit De La Soul shared with Gorillaz in 2005, showcasing the trio’s ability to effortlessly span decades and genres with resounding and enduring success.
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