Gig review: Raekwon in Wellington

Just a few weeks after a visit from RZA to the capital (click here for the blog/review) NZ plays host to Raekwon, another Wu-Tang Clan member.

Raekwon
San Francisco Bathhouse
Sunday, March 21

Corey Woods is better known as Raekwon or Raekwon The Chef and his visit to Wellington - as part of his first solo tour of NZ and Australia - comes just a few weeks after a show from one of his Wu-buddies.

Raekwon's reputation as one of the best MCs from the Wu-Tang Clan - and therefore one of the best MCs working in hip-hop in the mid-to-late-90s - was confirmed with the release of his first solo album, Only Built for Cuban Linx... It arrived relatively swiftly after the Clan's revered debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and is one of the strongest solo albums from the Clan affiliates.

So, as was the case when RZA played the Bathhouse, Raekwon served up plenty of tasty hits from Wu's 36 Chambers. And again people loved to hear the old hits - this one was a favourite (for obvious chant-along reasons). And there was a tribute to the Wu's fallen soldier, ODB - with another banger for the crowd to bop along to in Shimmy Shimmy Ya.

But Raekwon was just as successful when he focused on Cuban Linx - Guillotine (Swordz) being one of his solo anthems and when, later, the mood was slowed down with some blue lights for the non-banging Heaven & Hell (Rae's first solo single), the crowd was still singing along, angling arms down toward the stage, palm out, as if pushing back with a giant slap against an imaginary forcefield.

Last year's Only Built for Cuban Linx...Part II is a strong record - Raekwon's best solo album since the original Cuban Linx - and many of the cuts from this that were played live went down well too. Someone called for Cold Outside and The Chef obliged, saying it was an exclusive; the first time it was played on this tour. Another crowd-pleaser from the new album was 10 Bricks.

The issues with the gig included the fact that many of the best songs (Wu-Tang classics) were repeated from when RZA was here; a problem that will probably occur every time a Wu member plays in Wellington. And given we've had two key players grace our shores within a month it does seem likely that we will see more of them. Solo tours by Wu-Tang Clan members are obviously lucrative (to them) and appealing (to hip-hop fans).

The next issue - almost a standard for live hip-hop gigs - is that the sound was muddy; live sound mixing for hip-hop isn't easy and it's rare that you go to a gig and hear it done well. It wasn't gig-ruining by any stretch, but when you have a guy working a mic, growling deep and low, and a turntablist scratching and rubbing at records, you need to be able to hear the parts separately, without frequencies cancelling each other out, without distortion and the blur of aural mud.

But I liked it - mostly. It was late, it was a Sunday night. I was shattered - had already been out to another gig...I could have easily decided to not bother. And I'm glad I went along. I liked hearing Raekwon's live flow - and while he is a Wu-Tang rapper, which basically means he can come to little old NZ and impress the hell out of fans just by walking on stage, I reckon he really delivered. He chatted, pointed out how much he loved Wellington (seemed very impressed that Wellington started with "The W") and rewarded the crowd for being so excited to see him.

But what did you think? Were you underwhelmed? Or do you think he delivered? Do you want to see more Wu-Tang Clan members visiting NZ? Or would you not go to see others? Were you at the Auckland show or the Wellington show? And what did you love or hate about it? Or were you never going to go?

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spartacus   #1   04:44 pm Mar 22 2010

how the hell did is miss this. i've been out of welly for three weeks but still i thought there was just a auckland show. guttered.

T Sauce   #2   04:55 pm Mar 22 2010

Pretty good review here. Thought he was quality and it was a much better show than RZA's. RZA's show at times went off on a tangent(the break dancing?) and you wondered what was going on. But The Chef was tight and it was great to hear a mix of old and new stuff. Cuban Linx Pt2 is a mean album and "House of Flying Daggers" is the absolute business. Its great to see actual legends of hip hop in our windy old city.

Hope Method Man comes next..he's the man.

killahB   #3   05:00 pm Mar 22 2010

was at the auckland show. would have been amazing to hear cold outside.

the show was kinda short, but amazing none the less.

Marek   #4   05:16 pm Mar 22 2010

Awesome show. Leagues ahead of the RZA effort from a few weeks back. Totally polished and tight. ha, and the DJ know what he was doing compared to that muppet that RZA brought with him! I have to disagree about the sound though as I found it punchy and clear for a hiphop show anyway? One could take some of the lo-fi early production style as being muddy I guess... Def in my all-time top 3 live hiphop show methinks.

C.C   #5   07:10 pm Mar 22 2010

I went to both the RZA and Raekwon and I would go to every single other member of the Wu-Tang Clan several times over. This year has been an absolute dream for Wellington’s live hip-hop scene. I thought the concert was really impressive, he played an incredibly long set especially for a hip-hop show. He played a great mix of Wu hits and his solo records and also his DJ was really impressive and flowed through songs seamlessly. There are always sound complications at hip-hop shows but in comparison to many others I've been to it was not so bad really. All in all thoroughly impressed, keep on coming with the hip-hop Wellington, it's about time. Bring on Kweli in April.

P.S don’t even bother commenting on this review if you don’t like Hip-hop or know who Raekwon is, it’s just pointless.

Yeti   #6   09:39 pm Mar 22 2010

Nah I'm too old & I can't imagine he could say or do anything that would interest/impress me.

Simon Sweetman   #7   09:21 am Mar 23 2010

@ Marek - ah but see your justification, "for a hip-hop show anyway". The sound wasn't terrible but they've got a long way to go to get it right...hard job that it is and all...

Marek   #8   09:41 am Mar 23 2010

@Simon After seeing many hip hop shows globally over the last 15 years one learns to expect that the sound will never be of the same quality to an instrument based live show...Its always going to be a challenge for any wu-soundperson tweaking instrumental beats that for the better part are chopped up western and kung fu movie soundtrack records samples from 50/60's! In this case I reckon they nailled it

Sticky   #9   12:04 pm Mar 23 2010

Awesome show, got to big up the Wellington heads, huge Sunday night, Raekwon was mad impressed! Keep supporting and they will keep coming! Big ups Sticky

Ghost   #10   12:57 pm Mar 23 2010

"I went to both the RZA and Raekwon and I would go to every single other member of the Wu-Tang Clan several times over. This year has been an absolute dream for Wellington’s live hip-hop scene."

I couldn't agree more, these past two nights have been some of the best in my life. Once in a lifetime experiences for sure.

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