Live Review: Snarky Puppy, The Sticks

The Sticks sat at the front of the stage, playing an outstanding and experimental instrumental set. The Sydney band warmed the early comers, in from the cold, with elements of jazz, electronic and R&B. The central figure played a strange instrument that looked a little like Nintendo Wii controllers and made a plethora of percussive sounds. Sojourning basslines and pulsing synth sounds capped off a spirited performance.

Anticipation filled the air as Snarky Puppy toyed with an eager and expectant crowd. Their opening was an explosion of sound and fury — a mess of guitars, horns, percussion and keys — combining all the elements that make this band one of the exemplars of jazz fusion in contemporary terms.

The fans were a mishmash of jazz aficionados, those who were eager to get a taste of Snarky Puppy's tunes before they head to Bluesfest over Easter and instant converts. "We play weird shit," said bassist and bandleader, Michael League. "So it's nice to see so many of you here to listen to our weird shit."

While there is some truth to this weirdness, the individual musicianship of this big band (a nine-piece for the Australian tour) is insurmountable - keys player Shaun Martin providing joyful asides to rouse the crowd as the band kicked into overdrive.

Songs like Lingus were unequivocally infectious. With a smattering of horns from Mike Maher, Justin Stanton and Chris Bullock, these incredible jam-like concertos were capped off by keys from the legendary Bobby Sparks.

This band is one of the most exuberant out, with instrumental tunes that go from strength to strength. Snarky Puppy do what only great, creative musicians do: take simple ideas - melodies, riffs, basslines, beats - and take them to places you'd never expect.