Urthboy - Savour Every Moment tour - Mojos, 1st April 2023
Words: Todd Lockley
With over 25 years in the game, it's only natural that Urthboy has pumped the breaks on his touring career and announced that the current Savour Every Moment tour would be his last. So it was a special moment when he rolled into his favourite venue in Western Australia for a prime time slot on a blustery Fremantle night.
After a late cancellation from original support act, a very worthy and talented replacement was found in Anesu. Their flow is second to none, making tidals on the Triple J airwaves at the moment. Crown had the early birds creeping forward and by the time Melanin rounded out their set a few had collected their dance shoes and headed front and centre.
Charismatic master of the quick fire delivery, Dallas Woods was greeted by a growing, swirling crowd. It’s impossible to not give Mr Woods your full attention; one minute he's over one side of the stage with a somewhat bass face of attitude, spitting a message that you're going to hear, the next he's next to you with the biggest smile and two-step to connect an even flow of light and dark.
Hoodlum was so tight the air in the room couldn't escape and Heaven Of My Own was absolute bliss. With a twinkle in his eye, one could feel vibes bouncing off Mr Woods and the love for what he's sharing with the room permeates throughout all in attendance. With Dallas Woods you get a little bit of everything; Michael Jackson dance moves with slick light hearted moments of laughter and ferocious mixed with get ready for the drop moments like with absolute stonker Grime.
After a late cancellation from original support act, a very worthy and talented replacement was found in Anesu. Their flow is second to none, making tidals on the Triple J airwaves at the moment. Crown had the early birds creeping forward and by the time Melanin rounded out their set a few had collected their dance shoes and headed front and centre.
Charismatic master of the quick fire delivery, Dallas Woods was greeted by a growing, swirling crowd. It’s impossible to not give Mr Woods your full attention; one minute he's over one side of the stage with a somewhat bass face of attitude, spitting a message that you're going to hear, the next he's next to you with the biggest smile and two-step to connect an even flow of light and dark.
Hoodlum was so tight the air in the room couldn't escape and Heaven Of My Own was absolute bliss. With a twinkle in his eye, one could feel vibes bouncing off Mr Woods and the love for what he's sharing with the room permeates throughout all in attendance. With Dallas Woods you get a little bit of everything; Michael Jackson dance moves with slick light hearted moments of laughter and ferocious mixed with get ready for the drop moments like with absolute stonker Grime.
Woods had well and truly lit the fuse for what was to come next and the stage was set for the artist all had come to see, Tim Levison, AKA Urthboy (in your area). As Astrid took her seat behind the drum kit and the fairy lights at stage front twinkled, you could feel the atmosphere take a big deep breath. As Urthboy strolled through the crowd to take his place on stage, he welcomed us to Country and away we went!
With a ‘let's go!’, we were into Super and it was time to bounce. The joy on Urthboy's face at being back at Mojos was evident, when at first break, he thanked the bar staff, the door staff; he really just appreciates this little humble home in Fremantle he has made his own on every tour. A medley of Arrow and Little Girls Dad followed, then Cheetah And Gazelle. What the hell?!
The backing tape intro of the marching band beat signalled Long Loud Hours, with the crowd and multi-talented Astrid filling in the Bertie bits. Underline had an erratic moving Urthboy stalking the stage, while We Get Around had the poor old Mojos roof worried, before Dallas Woods and Anesu returned to the stage for an unforgettable rendition of Stories. Savour every moment!
The pace was brought down for the heart-breaking tale of fallen cricketer Phil Hughes, Nambucca Boy. With emotions high, Tim delivered a powerful speech on acceptance of one and all in the LBGTQIA+ community before his take on Meg Mac's Roll Up Your Sleeves was dedicated to the aforementioned. Gather Around Me was the pace break needed for what was about to follow; Urthboy history in the making on this night.
Ladies and Gentleman... The Signal is the greatest Australian Hip Hop song of all time! The levels went up as the opening keys rang out... It was go time! The fire, the fluent, Urthboy in his element, just taking the entire crowd on an adrenalin filled joy ride. One-two, can you hear me indeed?!
With a ‘let's go!’, we were into Super and it was time to bounce. The joy on Urthboy's face at being back at Mojos was evident, when at first break, he thanked the bar staff, the door staff; he really just appreciates this little humble home in Fremantle he has made his own on every tour. A medley of Arrow and Little Girls Dad followed, then Cheetah And Gazelle. What the hell?!
The backing tape intro of the marching band beat signalled Long Loud Hours, with the crowd and multi-talented Astrid filling in the Bertie bits. Underline had an erratic moving Urthboy stalking the stage, while We Get Around had the poor old Mojos roof worried, before Dallas Woods and Anesu returned to the stage for an unforgettable rendition of Stories. Savour every moment!
The pace was brought down for the heart-breaking tale of fallen cricketer Phil Hughes, Nambucca Boy. With emotions high, Tim delivered a powerful speech on acceptance of one and all in the LBGTQIA+ community before his take on Meg Mac's Roll Up Your Sleeves was dedicated to the aforementioned. Gather Around Me was the pace break needed for what was about to follow; Urthboy history in the making on this night.
Ladies and Gentleman... The Signal is the greatest Australian Hip Hop song of all time! The levels went up as the opening keys rang out... It was go time! The fire, the fluent, Urthboy in his element, just taking the entire crowd on an adrenalin filled joy ride. One-two, can you hear me indeed?!
As the crowd gathered themselves from the absolute master stroke they had just witnessed, a voice from the back shouted "Play it again!" and the room erupted! Urthboy laughed it off but the crowd grew louder. He explained that he had never played the same song twice in one set. Until now! Once again he was sending out The Signal. The absolute joy that came from a live rewind was what this tour was all about. A moment to savour.
As the end of WA leg of the final tour drew nearer, it was fitting that the main set was closed out with a sentimental See You Again. Moments later Urthboy was back onstage for an encore that delivered Savour to a happily engaged, colourful couple in the front row. After being complimented on his wonderful knee length socks, he pushed on whilst denying one his finest tunes a final rinse.
Instead, the final song the beautiful Fremantle would be graced with was the crunching butterfly maiming Crushing Hard. As the final note rung out, time froze for a few moments and Urthboy took in the final wave of love, respect and appreciation he had earned from another mind blowing performance. The thought that they may never see him on stage at Mojos again was a heavy-hearted pill to swallow for the crowd as they exited the venue.
However, if it was indeed the last time in Freo, then there's no doubting... Those lucky enough to be in attendance witnessed one of the all-time greats give his absolute all. Every moment savoured!
As the end of WA leg of the final tour drew nearer, it was fitting that the main set was closed out with a sentimental See You Again. Moments later Urthboy was back onstage for an encore that delivered Savour to a happily engaged, colourful couple in the front row. After being complimented on his wonderful knee length socks, he pushed on whilst denying one his finest tunes a final rinse.
Instead, the final song the beautiful Fremantle would be graced with was the crunching butterfly maiming Crushing Hard. As the final note rung out, time froze for a few moments and Urthboy took in the final wave of love, respect and appreciation he had earned from another mind blowing performance. The thought that they may never see him on stage at Mojos again was a heavy-hearted pill to swallow for the crowd as they exited the venue.
However, if it was indeed the last time in Freo, then there's no doubting... Those lucky enough to be in attendance witnessed one of the all-time greats give his absolute all. Every moment savoured!