Sydney hip-hop crew Bliss n Eso played one of the biggest shows of their career at Festival Hall on Friday. We were there to capture the...EXPLOSIONS?

We were skeptical at Bliss n Eso's transformation from hip-hop party crew to entertainers. At Splendour in the Grass last year we weren't convinced:

A quick trip across the field to catch the opening strains of Bliss N Eso reveals that enthusiasm for Australian hip hop is alive and well at Splendour. It’s a shame then that the trio's stage show hasn’t moved much beyond the "hype man" role; exhorting the crowd to jump, say "hey" and "make some noise" etc etc. It’s only when these kind of crutches are pushed aside that live hip hop really shines and while the crowd are vocal, it seems to be for the moment rather than the message.

Yet at the Melbourne Sound Relief back in March, the group entered the giant arena in the midst of an apocalyptic thunderstorm that would've decimated many of their peers, and played to 80,000 sodden ticket holders as if it was every one of their 21st birthdays. We said:

Bliss n Eso are up next and I'm convinced the Sydney hip-hop trio are going to go down like a sack of shivering punters. They are, instead, fantastic. As the heavens pour they enter the arena on a wave of goodwill and party starting, which as it turns out is exactly what the lubricated ground levels need. Some focus. Even their standard "Say oh-oh" goes down a treat, and after the jumbled sound for Augie March and Paul Kelly, the crisp thud of 'Up Jumped the Boogie' travels satisfyingly all the way to the back. Halfway through they lose power to the stage, suggesting the weather is relieving itself harder than welcomed. It's soon back on and they return as if nothing's amiss.

Sound Relief was their zeitgeist moment and it's their honed embracing and return of goodwill that has seen the band's fanbase increase tenfold - not to mention the Sound Relief triumph surely attracting a bunch of new fans. And a sell out Festival Hall show to boot. In to this heady climate the energised band stepped at the 3000 seat Melbourne venue over the weekend, for two nights of music. And towels. And fireballs. Matthew Miller was on hand to capture it all.

(Pics: Matthew Miller)