GOLDIE LOOKIN CHAIN
Stourbridge City Corridor
eleventh October 2025
Newport comedy rappers Goldie Wanting Chain popped into Stourbridge City Corridor – Al Maslen was there to assessment the gig for Louder Than Battle.
These of us sufficiently old to recollect the Intercourse Pistols can these days be overheard within the pub boring our mates with riveting info like Dwell Help was forty years in the past, Annie Lennox is now an octogenarian, and three complete a long time have handed since Robbie left Take That.
So when Welsh hip hop / rap legends Goldie Lookin Chain introduced a tour to rejoice the 20 th anniversary of their ‘Protected as F*ck’ album, a ticket was a no brainer, despite the fact that today I’m extra involved with an upcoming hip op, moderately than hip hop.
The GLC roadshow rolled into the West Midlands on eleventh October, and a packed Stourbridge City Corridor hailed the Newport-based rappers with a full throated welcome that wouldn’t have been misplaced within the Valleys. For an hour and 1 / 4 the seven-man Cambrian crew vaulted, sprang and machine-gun rapped their means by means of banger after deliciously vulgar banger, the gang bouncing alongside in sync. And judging by the large quantity of fake gold bling chains rattling round on followers’ necks it appears Temu has carried out fairly properly out of this tour as properly.
The phrase ‘they don’t take themselves too significantly’ may have been invented for the GLC. Such is their mastery of the self-effacing gag that they strike the proper stability between (a) showing to take the piss out of rap and hip hop, whereas (b) coincidentally managing to be the among the many sharpest and most entertaining acts within the style, in the identical means that Spinal Faucet began life as a spoof however turned the definitive rockumentary and The Princess Bride got down to parody the swashbuckling film and changed into the very best ever swashbuckling film.
Not for GLC the drained cliché of constructing as much as the large hits and holding them again for the encores, this set opened with a Prime 20 smash – the gloriously specific ‘Your Missus is a Nutter’ which on this tour has a extra drum-and-bassy backbeat than the unique but when something this has made it stronger. Laughter and cheers abounded by means of established favourites ‘I Like Ingesting’, ‘Ice Ice Dildo’, ‘Cleaning soap Bar’ and ‘Your Mom’s Acquired a Penis’ whereas the newer tunes replicate the band members’ arrival of their forties, with the catchy summer time hit ‘Pink Wine All The Time’ (“Pink wine you simply can’t fail / other than in a college or a excessive danger jail”) and the that means of life explored by way of the hysterical mundanity of ‘Center of Lidl’ (“This Christmas goes to be prime drawer / my nan’s going to like this round noticed”).
It was nice to see a full-strength crew on stage. Humble murderer Mike Balls was fortunately over the dangerous chilly that had saved him confined a few reveals in the past, and he introduced his stable rockstar authenticity to the celebration. Mischief-maker-in-chief Adam Hussain rabble roused magnificently, Eggsy was rapid-fire excellence all through, and Rhys / Hutch captained the crew, enjoying ringmaster, dashing purposefully between the DJ desk and the entrance of the stage. When you’ve got Eggsy and Adam in assault any person must play in central midfield, and hardworking Billy Webb labored the channels with aplomb, whereas Phil-I-Am delivered a high-quality supporting function, mild on solo traces however grafting for the crew all through. Final however actually not least, Graham the Bear’s charismatic stagecraft places him up with the very best, and he continues to develop his hair in order that he can presumably entrance a Foo Fighters tribute if GLC ever name it a day.
An honourable point out for help band, Cardiff primarily based Breichiau Hir. Set the possibly difficult job of performing Welsh language emo/punk fifteen miles from Birmingham, the six-piece held their line admirably with a assured mix of restrained fragility and growling energy – undoubtedly one to observe.
Ending the place we started, with ‘Your Missus is a Nutter’ we may argue all day about whether or not the sentiment is related in these wakeful instances, however who can disagree that the world is a greater place for such rhyming couplets as “Final week she ended up on a binge / bought off her tits and confirmed the bouncers her minge.” You is aware of it. Get pleasure from these sensible, fearless males whilst you can.
GLC Tour dates: https://www.youknowsit.co.uk/tickets
Breichiau Hir dyddiadau teithiau: https://www.breichiauhir.com/stay
Al Maslen often writes for Louder Than Battle and that is his creator profile. Picture Mike Balls
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