Two of Australia’s most promising acts of 2008 combine forces to bring us lucky punters the double headlining – œImmaculate confection’ tour. Tonight’s show at the EBC closes the tour that has weaved it’s way across Australia for the past month so promises to rip the night down. The Holidays based in Sydney and Yves Klein Blue coming from the Brisbane Coast have both yet to release a full length recording, but have both had critical acclaim this year through enthusiastically welcomed E.P. releases. The EBC hasn’t sold out but the black back room is full enough of an eager crowd.

The four piece The Holidays take stage donned in Halloween costumes full of enthusiasm clearly enjoying the response from the crowd that is slowly starting to fill the room from the main bar – you can feel a genuine excitement from the lads as they play songs from the latest release When the Ship Goes Down of which the title track is probably the best in their set list, though the radio friendly and crowd favourite Holiday from their debut EP is the lynchpin of the night for them.

During the interim before YKB take stage I managed to have a few words with the very grounded songwriter and lead singer Michael Tomlinson whilst the heaving bar was sic man deep. He was in buoyant mood, rightly so, about the bands rise and rise in the past 12 months culminating in tonight’s gig – “We just never ever expected it at all, the whole thing has snowballed really fast and were just having a blast along the way and trying to enjoy every second of it!”. He politely interrupted the conversation as the theme tune to Clint Eastwoods High Noon came whistling through the room – “Shit, I’ve got to be on stage!” 30 seconds later he was exactly that, spotlight on him, wearing what is fast becoming his trademark leather jacket and an acoustic guitar around his neck delicately delivering the opening line – “What the world needs now is a war” to a pressing, intoxicated crowd. Half way through the song the remainder of the four piece take to the stage and assume positions.

The bands appearance resemble a garage/grunge band of the 90s with everyone of them bar the front man, donning wavy long hair. They launch into the second song Not What I Want a song from their debut EP Draw Attention to Themselves with a ferocious energy that sets the pace for the remainder of the hour long set – despite Tomlinson’s 19 year old placid demeanour and delicate delivery, the band are surprisingly heavy compared to expectations given from the recorded material. The backline rhythm section held together each song from spiraling out of control by the aggressive bass playing of Sean Cook and the solid drumming of Chris Banham, who shared his birthday with the close of this tour, perhaps further explaining why the boys were clearly having so much fun on stage!

We were treated to a few new songs mid set that showed good promise of musical direction for the band, and further cementing their influences and inspirations of 80s English lyrical driven artists like the ska motivated Police, The Specials, Elvis Costello and even the Clash on some of the heavier tunes. These songs were arguably the best of the night despite the crowds reluctance or perhaps bewilderment to hear songs they hadn’t heard before. This possibly confirmed by Tomlinson on stage; “We are playing Polka last so you all stay until the end!” (_Polka_ being the heavily rotated radio friendly song that has recently been picked up by Mitsubishi for a TV commercial).

The remainder of the set stayed true to form and didn’t deviate too far from what had proceeded it, punchy powerful songs delivered by a very promising act that looks set to blow up in the near future – this very much seemed liked their coming of age tour as they seem a lot tighter as a unit than the previous times I have seen them live. Polka was delivered as promised and the remaining crowd rapturously responded accordingly – however the set, and subsequently the tour, was closed by 13 musicians on stage for a rendition of Lennon and McCartney’s With a Little Help From My Friends. This ended up a bit of a fun and free for all with the bassist of the Holidays Alex Kortt upon the shoulders of Sean Cook still playing along. In the crowd groups of guys arm in arm drinks aloft were singing along content that they have received a good Friday night out in Melbourne.