Arrested Development (or Motherboy, as fans of a certain TV show may know them), played to an audience mostly made up of thirty-something’s in Stylus. Frontman, Speech wore a long fluorescent orange coat, complete with dreadlocks and black-framed glasses that would appeal to the edgiest fashionistas of Leeds. 


I expected a Dad’s garage band performance from this aged group of alt hip-hoppers. What I got was a high-energy group exhibiting themselves to a captivated audience. There was so much positivity; it felt as though I was at a wedding reception. One female dancer, who could probably squat double my weight, was jumping for at least half of their performance, maintaining a teenage pop group vitality. Their backing singer had an incredible voice, reminiscent of a gritty Aretha Franklin, giving their sound greater depth, and with that, greater audience appeal.

Their set featured many recognizable songs from their ‘92 debut album, which made me ponder on the nature of hip-hop and how it’s changed over the decades. Speech’s made his thoughts very clear, stating, “Hip-Hop is about what’s going on in the world”, confirmed by his lyrical content.

Arrested Development got everyone in Stylus moving, including the engineers and bar staff. Their music is infectious, and they knew it. At one point Speech asked the lighting technician to turn all the lights off, just so the audience could feel the music for what it was in a decidedly ethereal movement.

I love pleasant surprises at gigs; I had few expectations, but left having received some much-needed musical therapy. Questlove has stated that The Roots are one of the last hip-hop bands left; perhaps true, but Arrested Development are definitely holding their own, two decades on.

Shaun Gaisie

photos: Sam Lewis