Wu-Tang Clan, HMV Forum, London

These days, when Wu-Tang Clan perform live it is pretty much a given that they won’t turn up in full force. However, many of their fans arriving at the Forum in Kentish Town are less than pleased to be greeted by notices informing them that RZA, Raekwon and Inspectah Deck have failed to make the trip out to the UK. Tickets for the night cost the best part of £40 and refunds are available but despite some audible disappointment at the depleted Clan I don’t see anyone ask for their money back.

Inside, in the support slot recent Shady Records signing Yelawolf proves why his star is rising. Even though he has yet to release a studio album he manages to get large sections of the crowd jumping and shouting with approval when he announces his more well known tracks. He acts like like pro, doing a solid job warming up the bodies under the sea of hoodies and T-shirts emblazoned with yellow Wu logo but he knows they’re holding back for the main event.

With nothing on stage apart from the raised platform for DJ Mathematics’ turntables, no merchandise available at the back of the venue and three of their key members missing in action you could be forgiven for thinking Wu-Tang Clan would put in a half-hearted performance. But you would be wrong. Stepping out of the shadows to ‘Bring Da Ruckus’ they set a high-octane pace that doesn’t let up for the hour they are on stage.

Really the show should be called Method Man featuring Ghostface Killah perform Wu-Tang classics, as the handful of other members there add little to the proceedings. There is a break in the set for Mathematics to showcase some impressive exhibition turntablism that culminates on him pulling his shoes off while he juggles the beat and then flick the crossfader back and forth with his toes.

But if he had to, Method could probably carry the night on his own and I imagine few would complain. He stands on the barrier towering over the crowd as he powers his way through ‘Method Man’ eventually leaping onto them. He’s the one to say Ol’ Dirty Bastard in a comedy English accent, to bizarrely big up the pound for being such a strong currency and to push the crowd from going mental to ape shit.

Ghostface pads the stage like some sort of cheerful hip hop bear, adding the occasional verse in a voice that is still one of the coolest in the scene. Of course ‘Gravel Pit’ gets an airing and the group also work though most of ‘36 Chambers’ with a few tracks from GZA’s ‘Liquid Swords’ thrown in as well.

Halfway through the set Method hits on what makes Wu-Tang such an exciting live act. He tells the crowd that the more energetic their reaction to the songs, the more energy the MCs will fire back at them. And with such a devoted following Method has no problem getting the audience to raise hundreds of Ws in the air or to jump as high as they can.

It would have been more memorable with all the members here and for anyone who had seen them play these tracks before the ticket price might still sting. But as everyone makes their way out into the North London night any previous consideration of getting a refund was long forgotten.