“I am a human being,” he beamed as the crowd yelled for an encore. “I am not a robot!”
However, Baker Boy (Danzal Baker) can move like one as demonstrated by one of two dance interludes he took during his show at Black Bear Lodge in Brisbane on Thursday night (31 May).
In a short, sharp show (as MC Dallas Woods said, they were there for a good time, not a long time), Baker Boy and his assembled and talented crew powered through his releases as part of his ‘Marryuna’ tour.
The floorboards of the venue were literally heaving when he launched into the rock-based 'Black Magic', with the small venue providing an intimately enclosed, while not overbearing space.
As well as MC Dallas Woods, Baker Boy was accompanied at various times by dancers, vocalist KIAN, drummer and the ever-present DJ Mixer; so there was always something to look at and someone to follow.
Click here to read our review of Baker Boy's Perth show.
Overall, the set only lasted about 40 minutes. But no one would have left disappointed as they performed hits like his remix of ‘Treaty’ (released for the ‘Treaty Project’), the hugely popular ‘Cloud Nine’ and latest single clearly inspired by Kendrick Lamar's 'King Kunta', 'Mr La Di Da Di'.
Everything was high-octane and his vocal performance blending English and Yolngu Matha just flowed with smiles all round on people who were trying to keep up and rap along with him; even though most didn’t quite fully understand what was being said.
Baker Boy, who shared that he spent a year living in Brisbane to study dance at ACPA, also showed off his considerable skills on the didge after he and his crew closed with an energetic rendition of ‘Marryuna’.
The first-ever headline tour for the performer known as ‘the Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land’ and he seemed genuinely grateful to see and feel the reactions of the crowd throughout giving his heartfelt thanks at the end of the set that people would come to see him perform saying: “This is my dream come true!”
He also partly described his move from the bush into the city (“The city crazy!”) and apologised if people couldn’t understand him properly all the time as English was his “fifth language”.
But that summed up the wonderful vibe of the whole performance: a young and talented performer enjoying his time on stage with people who have supported him; sharing his story, language and his culture with people who loved seeing what he can do.
The Baker Boy ‘Marryuna’ 2018 national tour continues tonight (1 June) at Black Bear Lodge as well as Sydney and Hobart later in June. A show definitely worth your time – and get ready to dance.
