To ‘Celebrate!’ the impending release of ‘The Big Doe Rehab’ I have been digging in the crates for my first live Wu-Tang experience – some vintage Ghostface from 2004.

Date: 12th October 2004. Venue: Shepherd’s Bush Empire. In Attendance: Me, Tes. Occasion? The legendary Ghost Deini, on stage unmasked.

Note: All references to track names are circumstantial and will bear no relevance to either the names or listings that appear on your own, completely unique, copy of ‘Supreme Clientele’.

The party actually started the previous afternoon in Oxford’s Covered Market with the purchase of two pairs of Wallabies for £40 each. Unfortunately Tuesday afternoon’s rain was cock blockin’ the rockin’ so I donned “my first” Timberlands and headed for the Smoke. Waiting on Buses is like waiting on babies, as a result I’m hours out on the ETA so when I finally complete the trip from Bampton ‘in the’ to Shepherd’s I am already bushed. After nursing a solitary pint for time I met with Tes and we set off looking for bad directions from jokers. Surviving both said directions and a random heckling about my bball skills upon entrance (and not just from Tes) we made it in.

It is announced that Grim Soldiers (possibly ‘Soldierz’) are about to take to the stage, PARTY TIME!! Well at least the effort was made to provide live acts as a warm-up and before too long there is also a Jumpoff hosted dance contest and an impromptu performance by a local duo which went down well.

All in together now:

IT’S THE GHOST-FACE-KIIILLLLAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

“Tony Starks, makes you feel, he’s a cool exec with a heart of steel…”

Ghost takes the stage accompanied by Theodore Unit, resplendent in large black fluffy Kangol style hat and a black and grey robe he looks like a medieval nobleman, albeit one also wearing an orange doo rag. This is not the polished routine of many a top rap act nowadays and the sound system often blurs the vocals and at times makes it difficult to hear anything but the bass line. Sound system gripes aside I’m not complaining though, Ghost spits with wholehearted passion and in place of a set routine there is the air of an intimate and unique live jam and nothing less should be expected from one of rap’s most charismatic and enigmatic (not to mention baffling) entertainers. We are treated to songs from the whole catalogue including most of the defining record that is ‘Supreme Clientele’, a few shiny coins from ‘Wallets’, classic verses from ‘Cuban Linx’ and joints fresh from ‘The Pretty Toney LP’. If ‘We Made It’, ‘Cherchez la Ghost’ and ‘Ice Cream’ rouse the crowd it is nothing to the response that is elicited by the surprise appearance of a Grey Goose guzzling RZA. The pair rips straight into ‘The Grain’ and, after a pleading request from Ghost for anyone ignorant to the correct words to “keep your mouths shut”, A Capella sing-alongs to classic Wu verses. As it was no one struggled with the opening verses of ‘Nuthin’ to Fuck Wit’, ‘Triumph’ or ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya’.

You know it’s about to get crazy when Ghost tells the sound man to “turn it up loud like we talked about earlier” and informs us that it’s time for a cardiovascular work out, with that ‘Run’ drops and on cue the whole crowd jumps up like Clyde Drexler. In his element ‘the Black Boy George’ needs “about 12 girls to come up on stage”, the quota is quickly filled and ladies, remember Ghost said take your clothes off! Even Caramel Sundaes are getting touched. (Thanks T).

The show begins to wind down amidst childhood anecdotes of fond Soul memories, shout outs to the English Cobblers of Clarks, a rendition of Slick Rick’s ‘La-Di-Da-Di’ and a promise of return if we “phone the promoter and ask for Ghostface”. The excitement is too much for some as a signed T-Shirt thrown into the crowd results in a furious tug of war. Ghost seems upset and tries to calm the over exuberance (“your fighting over a T-Shirt”), caused by the angry presence of the Devil amidst all the positive energy. After dropping a Jewel and increasing the peace autographs are signed whilst RZA leads the girls backstage. Despite the lights up a last pleading wish for ‘Daytona’ is granted and run through A Cappella, crouched on the edge of the stage right in front of the fan with Trife filling in Rae’s verse. We exit as the last signatures are being penned.

Adios, thanks Ghost, One Love.