When Lawrence Poole headed to Metronome last Friday night, it quickly became clear that this would be an unusual night out. With Goldie Lookin Chain dropping in, the air was filled with bombastic beats and wryly observant lyrics...
From the moment we walked into The Angel for a pre-gig pint, it was clear this wasn’t your average Friday night out. As the autumn leaves gathered outside, a table of middle-aged men in vintage shell suits, baseball caps and faux chunky gold chains caught up on their working weeks like their attire was the most natural thing in the world.
On arriving at Metronome, it was immediately apparent they weren’t alone. Whether you’d arrived in said chains or bought them from the merch stall (£20 a pop), it was an evening to dress for the occasion.
The Newport sextet Goldie Lookin Chain, surely annoyed that their beloved football team had been inconveniently scheduled to play at the same time in nearby Chesterfield, exploded onto the stage following a raucous and Gossip-inspired set by fellow countrymen Chroma (below).
Landing in predictably bombastic form, the six-piece mirrored the audience in a mixture of classic Adidas, Nike and Lidl trackies and didn’t let up for the next 90-odd minutes.
In town to celebrate their 20th anniversary, Mike Balls, Eggsy and Co. interplayed brilliantly, taking turns to lead from the front with their wry take on classics and originals mixed with bon mots about consumer society and weekend stimulants.
Checking political correctness at the door, tracks such as Ice Ice Dildo, 70’s Muff and 21 Ounces tipped a comical (baseball) cap to Vanilla Ice and So Solid Crew, while This One Goes Out To The Ravers sent the masses into a retro tailspin. By the time their signature tune, Guns Don’t Kill People, Rappers Do, and Your Missus Is A Nutter were aired, the joyous crowd were bouncing as one and the trials of the working week forgotten.
A live DJ would have given it more of an authentic feel, although the sight of band members taking turns to press play on the backing track did give it appropriate comedic value. All in all, a cracking Friday night out, and, I’m sure, well worth missing a trip up the M1 to see their beloved football club on the other side of the Nottinghamshire border.
Goldie Lookin Chain performed at Metronome on 18th October 2024.
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