Laverys, Belfast
Friday 25th October, 2013
Tonight, the usually indie centric Gigantic club shakes things up with a Hip-Hop Special, to help MC Bee Mick See launch his new single ‘Love’. Cue warm up tracks from Dr. Dre, Public Enemy and a bit of A Tribe Called Quest. There’s a makeshift merchandise table set up in the corner, and Bee Mick See can be seen running back and forth, selling t-shirts, chatting away and even nipping out to find some fairy lights to jazz the place up a bit – very hip-hop indeed.
As Bee takes to the stage, or rather a microphone is set up in the middle of the floor, the crowd quietens down and huddles round. The Portland born, Belfast raised rapper grabs the mic and calls out for someone to get him a ”water beverage”. It’s clear that we’re in for an amusing night.
Bee has brought some friends along to help out - best mate Paul Denver and Ciara Donnelly from Dublin indie/folk band Yellowbridge. Kicking off with ‘My Favourite’ - an ode to his favourite Fermanagh lady - Bee bounces up and down giving it stacks. The crowd draws in closer, rowdier by the second. Ciara shows off her powerful voice, giving ‘Awkward’ an all-new sound, while Paul Denver tries his hand at rapping. “It’s pretty easy,” he claims.
After announcing the release date for his upcoming album as St. Patrick’s Day, Bee and Ciara debut their collaboration ‘Love’, a song about the painful and stubborn thoughts experienced following an argument with a loved one. It’s a touching departure from his usual tongue in cheek lyrics, made more poignant by the fact that he makes the entire crowd crouch down on the ground for the whole song.
As the show comes to a close, Bee commands the crowd once more, starting a circle pit, crowd surfing, hanging from the rafters and even instigating a human pyramid. Like a hyperactive child (in the most endearing way possible), Mick See can’t stay still, and as he springs around the floor yelling profanities in a thick Belfast accent, you can’t help but think that this is the kind of unique experience that you couldn’t find outside of Belfast.
Laura Caldwell
