Review: Ugly Duckling @ Sound Control, Manchester

When: 24th August 2010

Reviewed by: Miz DeShannon

Branded as "one of the most prominent underground hip-hop groups" (see: ‘How to Rap: the Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC’), the Californian hip-hop 3 piece returned to Manchester for the second time this year, wowing crowds with their traditional bling-free fun. 

Somehow the support act Kinny had gone AWOL. This didn’t matter a jot, as the explosive Daywalkers immediately stepped up to the mark and did an extended set. The hip-hop metal crossover band have fast and furiously gained fans with amazing live shows at The Warehouse Project and MEN Arena over the last couple of years, and tonight was no different. Front man and drum n bass MC Tonn Piper ranted lyrics at the crowd much to their excitement, whilst the rest of the band expertly executed (quite an apt word for their performance!) numbers like 'Scoundrel', 'Reaper' and 'Furnace'. 

On to Ugly Duckling - not the best name for a group of street-wise grown men from California, but hey, what’s in a name.  Young Einstein (DJ) starts the performance with a turntablism set of soul, funk and hip-hop samples and scratches. After the gig he told Skiddle that he uses specially made vinyls with hand picked samples on - true dedication, organisation, and professionalism.  His set leads into the first smash of the night, 'Get Ready', and a very excitable introduction to Dizzy Dustin and Andy Cat. 

Running through twenty songs, the trio's set lasted two hours. Every time I’ve seen these guys, they’ve had the best crowd participation I’ve seen. Not cheesy, everyone loves it, and it fits perfectly with the set. The kind of crowd participation where they end up singing ('Pick Up Lines') to a girl they bring on stage, and actually get an up and coming local MC to step up and take part in 'Shoot Your Shot'. 

Alternating vocals between Andy Cat and Dizzy, songs like 'Just A Little Samba' and 'Turn It Up' are reminiscent of 80s and 90s groups like The Beastie Boys and Run DMC, and don’t focus on modern hip-hop artists’ obsession with materialism.  Considering the group aren’t promoting a latest album or single (last album Audacity was out on Fat Beats Records in 2009) the venue was packed out yet again, proving that true showmanship and a good laugh is really what live performances are all about.