Concert Review: Public Enemy, Auckland Town Hall

Flavor Flav of Public Enemy performs at Auckland Town Hall. Photo / Hugh Sundae

Where were all the homies? The bros? This was meant to be a celebration of Fear of a Black Planet, Public Enemy's classic and uncompromising 1990 album that touted empowerment and a chest-beating "fight for your right" agenda among African-Americans.

Yet there was a noticeable absence of PE's Polynesian brothers in the crowd. Still, as rapper, co-leader and lyrical enforce Chuck D said, "This is a planet of colour, we can't treat one better than the other."

And besides, Fear of a Black Planet was always more than just a hip-hop record. Along with It Takes a Nation of Millions and Apocalypse 91 - PE's three essential albums and among the most important albums ever - it helped cement hip-hop in the mainstream and made it the force it has become over the last two decades.

While this show was billed as a special 20th anniversary live performance of the album, in fact it was more like a Public Enemy party. There was everything from a blues jam, an AC/DC tribute, and a Nirvana nut-off by DJ Lord ("The Lebron James of the wheels of steel"), through to hits like Bring the Noise, Don't Believe the Hype, and a riotous double dose of Shut 'Em Down, and Can't Truss It.

But it was the songs off Fear of a Black Planet that provided the highlights - and showed why Public Enemy were such an important band. With its swinging funky soul blended with heavy punishing beats and a barrage of rousing sentiment, it's a brute of an album that can be merciless yet wildly poppy all at the same time.

Even if PE don't have the clout of old, and the show lacked the power and fire befitting an album of Black Planet's standing, there's no faulting the searing Welcome to the Terrordome, the cheeky rant of 911 Is A Joke, and, of course, militant party song Fight the Power.

And despite Flavor Flav's incessant and tiresome bragging about his feats as a reality TV star, and the often chaotic, clanging mess of sound, it was still a jumpin' good time.