Gig Review: Seth Sentry at ANU Bar 14.3.15

As the crowd assembles in front of the stage, a slight flicker of the lights gets the crowd chanting “Seth, Seth, Seth, Seth…”

Melbournian hip-hop rapper Seth Sentry took to the stage and performed to a sold-out Canberra crowd at ANU Bar. His stage presence was undeniable as he had the crowd clinging to every word he said as he paced the stage, rapping, chatting and telling stories to his crowd, connecting with them through his music, charm and wit. Sentry held the crowd in the palm of his hand.

Once Sentry starts the crowd go wild, supporting the rapper by singing the words to his songs for him, leaving him standing on stage in awe with a big grin spread across his face.

Sentry’s set was a clever mix of old classics along with little hints of his new album which left the crowd wanting more and more at the end of every song.

The highpoints of the night were without a doubt Sentry’s old classics The Waitress Song and Float Away. Both had the crowd singing along word for word from start to finish.

Sentry connected with his crowd by telling them his stories and experiences, mostly stemming from his hate of the hospitality industry. This is something Seth has done at every show of his I have been to. Throwing a bit of banter around, chatting to his crowd to create the perfect transition between every song.

Sentry has since given shout outs online to, the ‘drug dealer’, the ‘calamari ring crowd surf’ and ‘the song request girl’ who were all a fun part of the show, connecting him with his crowd.

It is this playful attitude and his down-to-earth personality that has gained him so many fans. His performance was entertaining to watch with the music, the energy and the overall sense of community felt by hip-hop lovers who have come together to appreciate good music and rhymes.

Sentry has played in Canberra several times, usually performing in smaller venues such as Zierholz and Transit Bar. It is clear that Sentry has made his mark on Canberra’s hip-hop scene, with a growing number of fans, now performing to his biggest crowd yet here in the Nation’s capital.

Text and pictures by Monika Damcevska