Review: Xzibit @ Hindley Street Music Hall
Fights, cancellations and a 45-minute set. We recap the chaos that engulfed Xzibit’s Adelaide performance.
Words by Tobias Handke
Image via @xzibit (Facebook)
Things were off to a shaky start when it was announced just hours before doors opened that two of the three headliners wouldn’t be in attendance at the 3:Twenty Tour at Hindley St Music Hall that evening.
The tour was a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Xzibit’s Man vs. Machine, D12’s D12 World and Obie Trice’s Cheers. Sadly for Adelaide fans, D12 and Obie Trice were last-minute cancellations due to travel issues, so it was up to Xzibit to carry the show.
Although, he wasn’t alone. DJ sets from DJ Ones and DtheFuture and a performance from X’s support act Demrick kept the rowdy crowd in check, but there were a few grumbles from those upset it was only X to the Z who would be performing. The West Coast veteran had a lot to live up to when he finally took the stage a touch after 9pm.
What followed was an energetic set chock full of Xzibit classics showcasing why he is universally loved by the hip-hop community. But his short and admittedly enjoyable time on stage was often overshadowed by crowd antics…
Adelaide rap shows are notorious for a bit of biff and that’s exactly what happened. Several small scuffles broke out throughout the night before things went next level midway through X’s performance.
Addressing a small section of the crowd, Xzibit warned a punter who threw ice at him that if he did it again he would jump into the crowd and “beat the fuck” out of him. Understandable. The fool obliviously didn’t listen as X quickly called on security to remove the man and his friends from the venue. But before security could reach the troublemakers, the crowd dished out their own brand of street justice, with the ice thrower coping a few nasty blows.
The bouncers eventually got involved, escorting two from the venue without incident while being forced to drag the others outside kicking, screaming and looking a little worse for wear. Another altercation shortly after threatened to boil over but calmer heads prevailed and the focus went back to the music, with X doing his best to keep the show from going completely off the rails. Special credit to the security who did a bang-up job quelling the violence before things got out of hand!
As for Xzibit’s set, it was your standard paint-by-numbers hip-hop show. Most songs performed were shortened versions of fan favourites, with X spitting the first verse and chorus before moving on to the next. There was the usual call and response to get fans vocal (“When I say X, you say Xzibit”) along with a smattering of new songs to remind everyone X still makes music.
While my younger self was giddy with nostalgic joy hearing ‘Multiply’, ‘Paparazzi’, ‘Get Your Walk On’ and Xzibit’s verses from Dr Dre’s ‘What’s the Difference’, the show barely lasted 45 minutes. That was pretty disappointing when you consider the ticket prices ($125), the other headliner no shows and the fact Xzibit has close to three decades worth of material — more than enough for a 90-minute show.
Closing with arguably his biggest hit, ‘X’, Xzibit left the stage to cheers from a thankful audience. While there was no chair throwing and X was in a joyous mood all night, the shortness of his set and the reckless violence left a sour taste in this reviewer’s mouth.
Not that anybody else seemed to care… The majority of the crowd left unconcerned with the off-stage antics and more than happy to share 45 minutes with one of their hip-hop heroes.
