Photo: Matt Palmer

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more consistently entertaining or engaging local act than The Rocketsmiths. EP favourites Worth It and Modern Life are attacked with panache and gusto, while material from their October-due debut album is nothing short of impressive. Keep an ear out.

Schoolfight's understanding of the Saturday night crowd is soon apparent, as they've got not one, but two songs about gettin' pissed that are naturally revered by the drunken demographic. Aside from their reggae tilt and some scorching lead breaks, there's very little differentiating them from fellow Brisbane hip-hop delinquents, Butterfingers. More challenging lyrical matter? Yes, please.

The Paper Scissors waste no time in proving their worth on this Less Talk, More Problems tour that they've been showcasing across the country for the last two months. It's singer Jai Pyne's birthday, and I can't help but think that watching several hundred people dance to his music must be a pretty cool present. We happily 'whoa-oh!' along to Yamanote Line and We Don't Walk, which have all but become part of the Australian indie rock canon.

Sydney boys Bluejuice effortlessly work the capacity crowd into a frenzy the moment they take the stage, which is a considerable evolution from last September's performance to mere dozens at the Alley Bar. By now, you know the drill – rapidly-fired, often nonsensical lyrics that flow from the mouths of MCs Jake Stone and Stav Yiannoukas over live keys, bass and drums – but the concept's far from dated. To describe their set as energetic would be the ultimate understatement: Jake and Stav hang from lighting fixtures, embrace the side-of-stage security guard atop the bar and incite excessive crowd-bouncing, while their bandmates play and smirk nonchalantly. As the clock strikes one and they close with The Reductionist, the room's high temperature belies the fact that it's officially winter.

ANDREW MCMILLEN

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