Photo: Matt Palmer

A half-capacity crowd bears witness to an unlikely tour partnership tonight: Sydney hip hip group Snob Scrilla are at odds with the dramatic rock sounds being exhibited by tonight’s two other acts. Despite this, the crowd soon warms to the five-piece, thanks largely to the friendly and personable stage presence of hulking MC Sean Ray, who I later catch dancing to current Triple J golden boys (and girl) Sparkadia. The praise and exposure recently heaped upon the quartet is out of proportion to their unremarkable musicianship and performance. Kiss Of Death and set closer Jealousy are highlights among a set populated by the same inoffensive, by-the-numbers alternative rock as Expatriate. Ultimately unfulfilling, like light beer.

Two strong albums, a significant fanbase and now, commercial airplay: up is the only direction for Faker, a notion which speaker stack-climbing singer Nathan Hudson takes to heart during encore Hurricane. Their sense of urgency is maintained from subdued opener Sleepwalking through to set closer Are You Magnetic?, wherein the band are joined on stage by dancing skeleton-dressed fans. Their impressive introduction consists of an animation featuring more cadaverous images – a multimedia theme which is continued throughout most of the show. The pause before the last chorus of This Heart Attack is positively enormous; the band’s greatest quality is that they appear genuine at all times, instead of its antonym.

ANDREW MCMILLEN

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