I have a new aim in life. Some people aspire to get a better job, buy a home.. but that’s not for me. I want to join The Polyphonic Spree’s choir, so I can travel the world in an orange robe watching audience members weep. You want some explanations? All right then.

The Palace in St. Kilda is a relatively large venue which has hosted gigs by The Flaming Lips, The White Stripes and Franz Ferdinand amongst others. It’s by no means an intimate venue, the sound is big, large and occasionally murky.

This was playing in my mind as Melbourne’s New Buffalo aka Sally Seltmann took to the stage. Having seen Seltmann perform a few times, I was worried that her decidedly low-key music wouldn’t work well in a large, echo-y room. But having garnered a lot of attention for 2004 debut The Last Beautiful Day – one of the albums of the year – a lot of people have arrived at the venue early to see her. Sometimes Seltmann performs solo, sometimes she has a full band, but tonight a lone keyboardist accompanies her. Playing a thirty-minute set largely comprised of album tracks, my reservations about the size of the room were partially right – these songs are in no way suited to a large venue. But that’s no fault of Seltmann’s – she is in fine form. I’m more than happy at the inclusion of the stunning, sample-laden On Sunday and closing with the upbeat Recovery, Seltmann seems to have won over some new people once again.

Genre-mashing kids Architecture In Helsinki are up next. The eight piece, multi-instrumentalist group are no strangers to big rooms, having supported Belle And Sebastian and headlined the Speigeltent in 2004. Their sound rises to the occasion, filling the venue easily and making it one of the loudest AiH shows I’ve seen. Playing a set comprised largely from debut album Fingers Crossed, the band seem to have having a great time. And why wouldn’t they? The Owls Go is a highlight as always, and new single Do The Whirlwind from forthcoming album In Case We Die sounds superb. The hour long set is over all too soon but as Kellie Sutherland (also of Your Wedding Night) tells us to “enjoy The Polyphonic Spree”, we’re reminded of why we’re here, and why we’re so excited.

Even before they’ve hit the stage, there are reasons to love The Polyphonic Spree. Firstly, their merchandise includes full-length robes. At $50 a pop, they’re all gone by the time the band gets on stage. Secondly, the stage setup is remarkable minimalist – with no fancy backdrops, and only a two-level stage at the back to house the choir giving any indication that this will not be a normal show. The lights are dimmed as a lone Spree strums a harp in the corner as the remaining 20+ members take to the stage, heads bowed. The time it takes the band to arrive on stage is equivalent to the amount of time it would take the Spazzys to tear through an entire EP. Once they’re on stage, they rip into Together We’re Heavy opener We Sound Amazed. And the entire band – including 2 drummers, 2 guitarists, 2 keyboardists, a brass section and an 8-piece choir, begin to dance. It’s a true spectacle. Even if the music sucked, this would be fantastic. But the music is rich, grand, full, and sounds designed for the venue – even if it is only two thirds full.
 
Four of my favourite Polyphonic songs – It’s The Sun, Hold Me Now, Hangin’ Around and Two Thousand Places – arrive back to back next and I have died and gone to heaven. Singer Tim DeLaughter leads the crowd, jumping on top of the amps, getting the band to hush while the crowd sings the songs. I look around and people are crying. Those who aren’t crying have stupid grins on their faces. This isn’t a gig – this is spiritual enlightenment.

The gig is surprisingly banter-free – DeLaughter offers a laconic “we’re The Polyphonic Spree from Dallas, Texas”, exclaims “now THAT’S a rock song!” at one point, and that’s about it. A stunning version of Soldier Girl from The Beginning Stages Of The Polyphonic Spree nearly brings the house down, and it is followed by a cover of Bowie’s The Memory Of A Free Festival, with the everyone chanting “the sun machine is coming down, and we’re gonna have a party” ad nauseum. Before you know it, the set is over and the band returns for a three-song encore, including another Bowie cover (Five Years) and a sing-a-long Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Afterwards, people are saying that the gig was even better than The Flaming Lips’ shows of a year ago – which seemed to be widely acknowledged as the finest thing since Slash’s solo in November Rain. One of those rare yet very special gigs which leaves you speechless – did The Polyphonic Spree put on what will be hard to top as the gig of 2005? Absolutely. (good luck Blues Explosion, Scissor Sisters et al). And I’ve been practicing my dancing and harmonies all morning. That choir spot is mine…