Review: DJ Format and Abdominal, Thekla

It’s a crisp Wednesday evening and we’re off to Thekla to see DJ Format and Abdominal, who are currently touring the UK to celebrate their new record Still Hungry, so-named, because Format says: ‘We’re still hungry, still passionate, still enthusiastic”. Thekla’s future is uncertain, the boat is under threat from developers, making the duo’s first performance here for over a decade all the more special.

Inside, we are warmed up by DJ Hiphoppapotamus, and his percussionist who weaves gamely through the crowd with his bongo. Hiphoppapotamus’ superb turntable skills, mixing up sunshiney funk and hip-hop classics is the perfect amuse-bouche for later. I see Toronto-based Abdominal, let’s call him Abs, I don’t think he’d mind, chatting easily to people by their merchandise (amongst which are tea towels emblazoned with ‘Fuck the washing up’), it’s clear they know their audience. And, as I look around I notice we are almost all at least thirty. That’s natural enough, these two have been making quality hip-hop together for over fourteen years and many of us have followed them loyally since the beginning.

At the familiar notes of The Hit Song intro we all surge forward. Despite Abs’ protestation he’s “too old for this shit”, he bounds around the Thekla stage for nearly two hours like an excited puppy. But these pups are all grown-up and when you cock an ear to listen, his is an extremely elegant wordplay. They are a double act, born entertainers, with comedy timing perfected over the years’ of live shows and friendship. And their humour is infectious. It’s hard to know whether to dance or giggle, so a mix of yelps and wiggles seems to do.  When Ill Culinary Behaviour starts: it’s like 2003 all over again, and we all go bonkers.

But it wasn’t all old bangers. And this was anything but a lame reunion tour. Their new material got the same amount of coverage, and the old material was remixed skilfully to the max by Format. Still Hungry is a small detour away from the party hip-hop genre they helped to invent. The track Dirt for example, with its ODB sample, is darker, grittier and harder, but still not expletive-laden. Abs swears rarely I notice, and when he does it’s truly delicious. At one point in Dirt, Abs forgets his lyrics, raps about forgetting his lyrics and then turns to Format to save the day. Cool as a cucumber, Format dextrously rewinds, and starts again, scratching together the blend of a trillion samples he knows by heart. Passing back to Abs, he explains he’s “senile as f*ck!” Apparently he had started thinking mid-rap and it had put him off. “You’ve given them a look inside a rapper’s brain”, Format informs him drily. It’s a perfect fit: them and Bristol. “Bristol always represents, Man”, Abs shouts as he leaves the stage. Let’s hope they get to rock the Thekla again one day.