All has been quiet from The Vines camp since late-2008, when the band cancelled its upcoming tour commitments in the interest of Craig Nicholls’ mental health. A couple of months back, drummer Hamish Rosser assured FasterLouder that the guys were back in the studio working on new material, with plans to return to the live arena in 2010.

On Saturday night in Sydney, though, The Vines decided to jump the gun with a clandestine show supporting You Am I at the Annandale Hotel. Billed as The Crimes, the four-piece (with Red Riders recruit Brad Heald back on bass) put in a rollicking performance before the headliner. A new song from the forthcoming album got a workout alongside the likes of Get Free and Ride, with a clearly happy Nicholls in fine form.

As FL’s reviewer Chris Familton writes of the show: “Gone were the erratic tantrums and unpredictability from the frontman. The signs were still there but he appeared relaxed and enjoying clearing out the cobwebs.” Read the full review here.