RPM (13th April 1994)
Craig Thompson:
Thanks to EMI'S just-transferred promo rep Rob Chubey, I was given a ticket to check out the exciting Beastie Boys show at The Palladium (May 25). It was a one-off number for the group, preparing for its spot as one of the main acts at Lollapalooza. The show was pretty solid, but once again the Palladium sound system faltered and failed to catch the nuances and small embellishments that make a Beastie Boys album what it is. The instrumental numbers were the strongest of the bunch, showing a smooth, funky and soulful side of the band that may be explored in more depth on upcoming projects. The new rap songs were great as well, as were the throwbacks to the Same Old Bullshit-era material. The only problem with the show was that it started early than I had expected. I missed Graeme Kirkland and his psycho drum/ karate clinic and Canadian rappers Punjabi By Nature. Also, why wasn't the hall packed to its gills? There seemed to be quite a bit of empty space for such an anticipated and closely-monitored (in terms of ticket sales) gig.