A combination of the Vines at the Tivoli and Halloween parties all over the place left the Zoo feeling a little empty for tonight’s Youth Group / Redsunband show but the fine Australian acts battled adversity to put on a terrific show.

When Laura Imbruglia takes the stage, there are less than ten people inside, sitting along the edges of the venue and playing pool. But those ten are keen to show willing, and as Imbruglia makes her way through her acoustic folk set, there’s generous applause being offered, especially for the star track, the quirky My Dream Of A Magical Washing Machine. Other highlights include Wouldn’t Be Surprised and the countrified You’re A Parasitic Germ, and Imbruglia never lets the big empty space work against her.

Youth Group, it turns out, have had a bit of a rough time on their way to Brisbane, having left their trailer behind “under the watchful gaze of a giant prawn in Ballina”, frontman Toby Martin reports. The small crowd gathers down the front (but not too close), as Youth Group crash through Two Sides and Good Time from new album The Night Is Ours. Unfortunately, the hijinks earlier in the day meant they missed out on a soundcheck, and as a result the mix is off, with the bass too high, riding rough over the guitars. These problems quickly get sorted, and Martin discards his guitar for One For Another, moving around the stage as if he is just a conduit, the music flowing through him. He thanks Laura Imbruglia as he borrows her acoustic for Lillian Lies and the country twang of new single All This Will Pass. The crowd cheers a stripped back version of hit single Skeleton Jar, and they close with In My Dreams. Freed from the shackles of international superstardom, Youth Group have gotten back to what they do best – emotionally stark garage rock that’s a cut above the rest – and even though there’s barely 100 people in the room, there’s still a sense of sharing something special.

Some people leave after Youth Group, which mean they miss out on Redsunband’s tight set of droning rock songs, with diminutive frontwoman Sarah Kelly putting together her usual fine soulful vocal performance. There’s some feedback trampling over new single Heartbreaker, but Shiralee is a definite highlight, with it’s almost-power-rock opening riff. Redsunband don’t put on much of a visual show, prefering to let the music stand for itself, but there’s a throbbing intensity that keeps even the slower numbers barreling forward. A lot of the energy comes from drummer Jasper Fenton, who, having replaced original drummer John Matthews, has stepped keenly and ably into the shoes. Older number Sleep Forever still packs a punch, and Redsunband hold the small crowd in the palm of their hand, as people watch with rapt attention, and applaud each number loudly.

It’s a pity that any Youth Group fans left, especially since Martin told us that Youth Group would be returning to join Redsunband for a combined special encore (and it also appeared as such on the run sheet at the front door). Imbruglia comes on stage too, and the now-nine-piece band kick off with a cover of Jesus and Mary Chain ’s Sometimes Always, with Martin and Kelly sharing vocal duties. They’ve saved the best for last – Forever Young is a pretty good cover, regardless of the mainstream saturation it received, but with Kelly adding her vocals to it, it becomes almost transcendent. Fenton is drumming on a second drum piece in front of the main, while Youth Group skinsman Danny Lee Allen plays on the main set, and the two put together a nice rhythm to segue into Youth Group’s Shadowland. Finally, the eight piece conglomerate rock out for Redsunband’s Devil Song. Although tonight’s set was decidedly under-manned in terms of audience, those that were present know they’ve seen something special, two bands who have turned a long running friendship into a fantastic show. They deserved better than they got, and hopefully will see better crowds as the tour continues.