Flav for Prime Minister: Public Enemy address the nation. Cambridge Junction 24/05/08

Cambridge. A curious place for one of the most pivotal bands of all time to perform what is widely regarded as the finest album of its kind in its entirety, especially given the selectivity of the tour (Manchester, Dublin, Nottingham, Glasgow and London were the more conventional choices). But if you were to believe the rantings of the larger-than-life Flavour Flav (adorned with his equally large clock), playing in Cambridge means a lot to Public Enemy, and on the basis of this monumental night, who could disagree?

Entering the stage to the sound of air-raid sirens, Public Enemy quickly got the packed Junction crowd moving with the invincible duo of Bring The Noise and Don’t Believe The Hype, the opening tracks of the seminal It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. The unique dynamic of Chuck D’s hard-hitting rhymes and Flav’s comic additions were every bit as exhilarating live as they are on album, and age has done nothing to tarnish their intensity or rapping abilities (Chuck D’s referral to Flav as “the world’s oldest teenager” was right on the money). Stirling support was supplied by DJ Lord, who honourably assumed the name of his predecessor Terminator X on Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic, whilst showcasing his own formidable scratching skills in a remarkable solo display towards the end of the night. The instrumental tracks meanwhile, provided the menacing looking S1W the chance to strut their moves.

There was plenty of in-between-song banter, with Chuck D promising the Cambridge crowd that they were receiving their own unique rendition of It Takes A Nation…: certainly, this was not simply a by-numbers performance, and a good deal of improv was evident. The bruising metal underpinnings of She Watch Channel Zero?! was arguably the highlight of the set, and even as the album’s finale Party For Your Right To Fight came to a close, PE were far from finished, launching into a range of hits both new and old. Finally bringing the set to a close with a brilliant rendition of Fight The Power, Flavour Flav clearly felt that Public Enemy’s political agenda wasn’t clear enough, with an impassioned rant to the crowd ensuing, and some rather unflattering comments on certain political figures made. Few bands are capable of pulling off such preaching with dignity, but Public Enemy are certainly one of them. Rant over, and the time 11:30pm: a full 30 minutes after curfew time. Perhaps the powers that be were looking at the hands on the stationary clock around Flav’s neck. But then who would want to bring a night like this to a close?