Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

After being accosted by a man dressed in a red sack (accompanied by attachable blue rubber gloves and face paint) and a group of 17 irate women proclaiming their distaste of men, alcoholics and hearing voices, I’m somewhat exhausted before the headline act. Oh, I probably should mention they were the support acts (in the form of the marvellously dancey Misty’s Big Adventure and the forthright pop-riot girl choir Gaggle, with the latter receiving a rather mixed response).

Taking to the stage adorning a schoolboy-esque cap and his signature beard, Scroobius Pip is accompanied by the woozy electronica of Dan Le Sac. Pip is keen to explain that there was no expense spared for the ‘biggest gig’ they’ve ever played, exclaiming that the coloured lights adorning the stage’s backdrop cost £180,000. Although this may be a little hard for the majority of the audience to swallow, a man that can grow a beard that magnificent has my complete trust.

Blasting through songs from albums ‘Angles’ and ‘Logic Of Chance’, the English Folk Rap duo have the crowd in the palm of their hand, with Pip’s rising anger during the politically-based ‘Stake A Claim’ and ‘Great Britain’ compelling the crowd to act equally as annoyed (albeit in the form of jumping and crowdsurfing, rather than through violent protest). With side-splitting onstage banter and a sound system to blow your ear canals into oblivion, it cannot be argued with that this act are better live than on record. And I’m sure their families, whom Pip pointed out at the back of the packed West London venue, would agree.