When the Manchester creative venue Antwerp Mansion announced the launch of new club night, Levelz, they promised it would be a way to showcase some of Manchester’s best musical talent.
By inviting the hip-hop act The Mouse Outfit for their October 1 launch, they did just that: the Mouse rocked the Mansion.
The last time the Manchester hip hop act played in Rusholme’s musical venue, it was on a sticky July night. A sell-out crowd turned up as they launched their debut album Escape Music. For their return gig, they were the headliners and their performance left fans feeling equally as hot.
Don’t let the name fool you, their eclectic mix of funk, soul and jazz influences make a big impact and left Antwerp Mansion’s crumbling walls throbbing.
With a rotating line-up of more than 30 contributors their ‘outfit’ can turn into more of an entourage. For this gig they brought along a whole heap of the featured rappers from their album Escape Music.
As well as performing some of the stella tracks from the record, like Shak Out, whose unlikely use of a menacing cello base line typifies their distinctive sound, they dropped in some extras to catch out those regular fans already able to sing their lyrics verbatim.
Long-time collaborator Dr Syntax added ammunition to the powerful performance.
The be-spectacled rapper heralds from Oxford and looks like he should be in an office rather than spitting lyrics on stage, but once he opens his mouth he flows effortlessly from politics to girl troubles with knowing nods to his unlikely rap career. Manchester musicians Sparkz and Dubbl O added to an action packed performance.
It was a special night, returning to their old turf was something important for a band whose work is so obviously inspired by the city. Mouse Outfit member Chini Paul Hooley told MM that such a big line up is rare and only really happens in Manchester gigs.
“It’s just not feasible to take them all along to every gig so it’s great when we can get them all involved,” said Paul.
Inspired by the city, their lyrics reference areas in Manchester and in videos for tracks like Slicker than Average they rap against the backdrop of the city’s skyline. In the past year they’ve performing all over the country but they clearly rate the Manchester’s musical output.
“I feel a lot of the local artists are releasing their best stuff at the moment and really raising their game,” Paul said.
The night provided another example of Manchester talent in the form of musical amalgamation Levelz, a couple of whom are major collaborators with The Mouse Outfit. They will be an on-going Tuesday night presence as Antwerp Mansion plan to get a new local talent to headline each week.
They also hail from ‘Manchester 0161’ and members quip facetiously that they’re from ‘the Costa Del Salford.’ Mixing up lyrics, smooth beat transitions and classical samples, at one moment you’ll have someone drop a line about ‘Wagamamas’ at another they’ll throw in a lyric like ‘my metaphors open up like a hyacinth’.
Overall, it was a promising start to a new addition in the Manchester music scene. Antwerp Mansion really lived up to its name with big-billing.
The Mouse Outfit were playing at the launch of Antwerp Mansion’s Levelz Tuesday club night. For more information on upcoming events visit: http://www.antwerpmansion.com/
For The Mouse Outfit tour dates: http://themouseoutfit.wordpress.com/
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