Live Review: RUFUS, Lanks

Tonight got sweaty fast under the cover of the surrounding trees that loomed over punters at Wollongong's University Gardens.

The forest vibes melded well with support act Lanks (as a duo) cruising through the first half of their set with slow electronic ballads. Punters contently sat on the grass and soaked these cruisy tunes in until singer-songwriter Will Cuming announced the "bangers" were about to begin. Relying somewhat heavily on backing tracks (but compensating with a spontaneous flute solo) to carry these songs over did little to diminish the crowd's enthusiasm. Dancers got to their feet but, given the clear talent Cuming has for songwriting, it would be great to see him come back with the accompaniments to boot.

The sun set and the stage was brought into full focus when RUFUS emerged to blast out tunes under the starry sky. The Australian setting brought out sentimentality from the trio as they repeatedly confessed their genuine excitement to be back in Australia after their North American tour. An added bonus was the stage lights that used the surrounding trees as a blank canvas to project an array of mesmerising light patterns across the venue.

Kicking off with Be With You, the Sydney trio stuck to their working formula — non-stop bangers, with no filler. These guys have a ferocious rock band presence and, thanks to drummer James Hunt's transitions, also have the smooth fluidity of a capable DJ, which kept punters grooving. Lead man Tyrone Lindqvist shared all of the band members' personal history with The 'Gong before performing an even more dance-friendly version of early hit Desert Night. The ten-minute electronic saga Innerbloom got a full play before closing off the main set emphatically with Like An Animal.

Their encore set proved to be just as enjoyable, playing earlier track Take Me, which, like all of RUFUS' radio-friendly tunes, sparked a euphoric singalong. You Were Right wrapped up the evening, proving to be a wildly successful return show for RUFUS. Patrons couldn't get enough of these guys, who only left them begging for more.