“I want my crown back, do you understand me, Brixton?” bawled Mike Skinner as he revived The Streets’ rap revelry.
The first of three sold-out gigs here was packed with a beery crowd who helped make a Wednesday evening feel more like a big weekend.
Skinner soon got into the spirit by spraying the audience with booze and urging them to hold their two-pint glasses aloft to mark The Streets’ first tour in seven years.
It was as if he’d never been away, although UK urban music has changed completely in the intervening period. As a rapper, Skinner’s flat Brummie delivery is hardly likely to trouble the grime stars who have supplanted him.
The garage groove of Let’s Push Things Forward from The Streets’ 2002 debut album now had a retro feel. Of course, that hardly bothered the fans as Skinner ran through a succession of ballads and bangers that showed off his lyrical prowess.
While the juddering Don’t Mug Yourself and its reference to “beer lairy-ness” could hardly fail, this crowd was also able to appreciate tender tunes Never Went to Church and former No. 1 Dry Your Eyes.
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The backing of a full band and original vocalist Kevin Mark Trail gave Skinner freedom to roam among the audience for his comeback. But it was at times patchy, especially when he delved into later albums for tracks such as the woeful rap-rock of Going Through Hell.
The encore, featuring grime MC Jaykae on new song Boys Will Be Boys, hinted at a harder sound, though madcap classic Fit But You Know It ended the evening with a bang.
With little new material, this was really a chance for Skinner and his admirers to reconvene after seven years and toast past glories.
