Macklemore, O2 Academy, Birmingham - review with pictures

That's the Macklemore of old, but not so much on his new album, Gemini, which has seen the Grammy award-winning artist return to his funky, sometimes funny, and always catchy style.

It's his first solo effort in more than 10 years, after he decided to go it alone following two hugely-successful releases with long-time collaborator, Ryan Lewis.

Dressed up in his well-known Willy Wonka outfit for part of his stunning gig at Birmingham's O2 last night, the rap star was at the top of his game from the first song – which also happens to be the opening track off his new album.

Ain't Gonna Die Tonight set the tone superbly, with its driving drums and bass line, which made way for Macklemore to stamp his authority all over the venue.

"You can't kill me, not my spirit. History is ours tonight. The people are chanting, can't you hear it? Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh," he shouted to the crowd.

There was certainly plenty of chanting throughout as his fans danced, screamed and jumped about for the entire set.

Macklemore is different to many A-list rappers in that he doesn't talk about guns, sleeping with x-amount of women or being better than everyone else – OK, he sometimes says that – but his music is all about having fun, not taking yourself too seriously and getting the crowd dancing.

He has had a very public battle with drugs and even produced a very informative and eye-opening documentary on his battle with prescription pills and alcohol, and how addiction has swept America – even bending the ear of then-President Barack Obama.

But for now, his goal is to make people enjoy themselves, which was evident when he got two members of the crowd on stage with him to move to catchy comedy tune Dance Off.

His rapport with his fans is what helps him repeatedly sell out arenas and, even on a late Sunday night, when most people were getting ready for work, everyone who was at the gig the Birmingham yesterday woke up this morning knowing they had seen something special.

Firebreather is another song that doesn't take itself too seriously, where the rapper admits he bought a Guns 'N' Roses T-shirt purely because he liked the design - he was a college art student after all - and it delighted the crowd as well as Marmalade, with its lovely piano introduction which made way for more pulsating bass.

These songs show a complete contrast to what is perhaps Macklemore's most famous song, Thrift Shop, which topped the US charts back in 2012.

With lyrics like 'I'll wear your granddad's clothes, I look incredible', it also shows this artist does not take himself too seriously and instead just likes making catchy, foot-stomping tracks.

Same Love is one of his more serious efforts, and a track that brought him a lot of affection and respect from the LBGT community, as it focuses on gay marriage and how the rap genre wrongly attacks same-sex relationships.

His opening lyrics about thinking he was gay, because he liked art and 'kept his room straight', purely because that was how society made him feel, was a very brave statement to make and sets him apart from many of his contemporaries.

But back to the fun-side of Macklemore, he was soon belting out Willy Wonka, dressed in full character attire. There was no way you couldn't raise a big smile.

Aside from the show, the song itself is just a great track, again with the driving bass and Macklemore in full flow – quick, sharp and to the point. He really is 'an icon'.

Returning to another Lewis track, And We Danced is all about organising 'the best dance party in the world'. It's worth watching the video to just to do the track justice.

It was refreshing to hear a rapper making light of the industry he has found himself thrust into.

Good Old Days touched a nerve with the audience – or at least those in the 30s and above age bracket – as it simply ordered those still partying hard and finding their way in life to make the most of it before getting old (amen to that).

Downtown, a personal favourite of mine, had the lot. Catchy beat, great chorus, piano making way for trumpets at the start and then lyrics that make no sense whatsoever in the grand scheme of things.

The gig really was a Glorious effort, and when the same-named track ended the evening's entertainment, we were truly glad Macklemore 'was back, and never left'.

His new pop-infused album is a wonderful effort, but hopefully he'll be back challenging the political elite again soon – because, after all, that's what art is really all about.