Odd Future @ O2 ABC, 1 April

The touts are doing brisk business outside the ABC tonight. Inside the venue, the queue for the merch stall almost rivals that of the bar. Odd Future, who are known for their entrepreneurial spirit, would no doubt approve.

The LA collective have attracted some fierce criticism, mostly centred around their lyrical content, ever since rising to prominence. But the several young men (and one woman) who shamble onstage tonight don’t seem particularly fearsome. In fact, for the first half hour of the show, they seem rather awkward. Then Mike G makes one particularly bad slip up, and the resulting slagging from his bandmates seems to put them at ease – remorseless teasing being an Odd Future forte.

The best tracks are led by their three finest MCs; Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis and the undisputed leader of the gang, Tyler, the Creator. Odd Future play a 90 minute set but they could easily have played 90 more. It’s their principle downside – the sheer number of members, tracks, and side projects competing for your attention has a dizzying effect.

The quality of the material dips and rises according to when they were recorded and who leads them. The fierce electro and stinging rhymes of Rella is a world removed from dumb shout-along tracks like MellowHype’s Fuck the Police. Odd Future are evolving at breathtaking speed; love them or loathe them, it looks like yesterday’s provocateurs are ready to become tomorrow’s hip-hop superstars.