Abandoman @ Udderbelly, George Square
Abandoman delight their fans, but leave us with mixed feelings
Life + Rhymes is a high-energy show that tells the fictional story of Rob Broderick and Sam Wilson's journey to fame, using psychedelic lights, dizzying SFX, numerous costume changes (bling, bow ties and fatigues – you get your money’s worth) and abundant stage smoke.
Make no mistake; it takes a very specific skillset to pump audiences into quite the frenzy that Abandoman manage to, but despite the good premise, there's something empty about this show.
Rapper Broderick seems overreliant on macho showmanship; it's the state-of-the-art tech, rather than the adlibbing, that leaves tonight's audience cheering their lungs out. Somewhere in the background Wilson presses buttons on the synthesiser and delivers auto-tuned choruses into the mic. The chemistry ends there.
Not that their fans mind, and that's what matters tonight. However, for those of us hoping to see their talented musical improv, it's style over substance.
Abandoman: Life + Rhymes, Underbelly, George Square (Udderbelly),>3-29 Aug (not 15 & 22), 8.45pm, £10-15.50