Live Review: The Smith Street Band, Andrew Jackson Jihad, The Sidekicks, Flour

Playing to a handful of the faithful, first support Flour are loud, fast and don't skimp on the haze. Guitarist Paul Pirie has delightfully gravelly vocals. Their final song Silverspoon goes down well with one punter yelling, "Fuck yeah, Flour!" as the curtain closes.

The Sidekicks, all the way from Ohio in the US, specialise in whiney white-boy pop-punk. For example, Hell Is Warm incorporates the lyrics "the pain it turns to razor burns" and guitarist Toby Reif has a killer fringe and wears a Green Day T-shirt. Singer Steve Ciolek is amazing and consistently hits crazy high notes. Their closer, a cover of Prince's Kiss, is legitimately (and surprisingly) the highlight of the night.

Andrew Jackson Jihad are manic, high energy and funny. Sean Bonnette's vocals are crystal clear in all their earnest glory.Their lyrics are amazing, each song boasting gems: "Hating you won't make you suck any less" (Kokopelli Face Tattoo) and "I hate whiny fucking songs like this/But I can't afford a therapist" (Distance) for example. Slower songs such as Love Will Fuck Us Apart allow the cellist Mark Glick to be heard; nevertheless it is enjoyable watching Bonnette shred an acoustic guitar. The final song of the set Big Bird is cathartic and epic. Just like in the latest Mad Max movie, Bonnette sprays silver paints on his own mouth, then his bandmates and anyone in the front row who wants it.

Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Want To Have Fun playing over the PA has half the crowd bopping and singing along as the curtains open and The Smith Street Band take the stage. It's Alright, I Understand quickly has everyone moshing and it only takes until the second song Surrender for the first crowd-surfer to go sprawling over the front of the mosh. The sound is good and the band play even better. Singer Wil Wagner prefaces Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face with the apt introduction, "This is a song about a guy who has been reduced to another racist uncle at Christmas." Halfway through the gig the mood takes a nosedive after one particularly brain-dead crowd-surfer earns a very public admonishing from Wagner after kicking a lady in face. Lucy Wilson of The Sugarcanes brings her amazing voice to the stage for the duet I Scare Myself Sometimes. Final song of the set Young Drunk goes off as The Sidekicks' drummer Matt Climer takes over from Chris Cowburn who gives an A+ demonstration on how to crowd-surf respectfully and responsibly (all the while playing a pink tambourine).