Live Review: City Calm Down, Ali Barter, SKIES

Opening the night with a generous dosing of electronic pop were local boys SKIES. Enticing early comers with layered soundscapes and punctuated vocals, they masterfully filled out the dancefloor halfway into their set. The depth of sound this four-piece built was easy to get lost in, from two-person percussion solos to shining synths and harmonies, there was never a dull moment. A gutsy, rock-tinged cover of James Blake's Limit To Your Love was a welcome turn of events before giving dedicated fans their long awaited singalong with Speed Boy.

Ali Barter arrived with a five-piece ensemble, treating us to punchy, indie-rock songs from a number of EPs released since 2014. Announcing a debut album set for release next year, she teases with her most recent single Girlie Bits - a feminist anthem with a '90s punk rock backbone. While putting a heavier twist on crowd-favourites Hypercolour and Far Away, an unapologetic and bold stage presence from Barter turned the set into a dynamic performance. Ignoring sleazy remarks shouted from drunk dudes, she carried herself defiantly and left the crowd confident that her upcoming album won't be a quiet one.

As the smoke machine intensifies and the lights dim, a bunch of shadowy figures take the stage. The crowd cheer as frontman Jack Bourke clasps the mic with both hands, hunches over the front row and begins to fill the air with a throaty, brooding voice. A voice that could belong to none other than Melbourne nu-wave outfit, City Calm Down. Despite a three-year hiatus working on their debut album, In A Restless House, the four-piece are back touring a visually stunning and well-developed set. With a distinct '80s influence, tracks like Son and Border On Control were drenched in nostalgic synths and featured a live horn and saxophone section. Match these instrumentals with Bourke's haunting vocals, reminiscent of The National's Matt Berninger, and the result is an incredibly powerful production.

Not to ignore their roots with their favourite track to play live, Pleasure & Consequence got a run before they pulled out a cover of This Charming Man by The Smiths. Instantly the crowd turned into a sea of goofy grins. It was impossible to tell the band were sleep deprived from early morning interviews during their huge rendition of Rabbit Run and closing track, Your Fix.

With some passionate cheering from a patient crowd, the visibly humbled and overwhelmed band returned to do their first encore of the tour. Quickly relearning the chords from a fan's iPhone, a celebration of David Bowie's Let's Dance finally satisfied the crowd and sealed the night joyously.