Alright: there’s a lot to say, so I’m just going to skip the formalities and dive straight into it. Howl, six suspiciously-young-looking boys from Ballarat, were up first to fill out the The Evelyn stage quite impressively. It might have been nice if all they had to do was turn up. Regrettably, however, some tunes were in order, and it was there that it all fell apart. Surely I’m overreacting? Well, hear me out: something needs to be said about their stage presence. Right from the get go, band members were, well, standing around. Hands in pockets. Sometimes clasped together. And occasionally behind backs. It probably wouldn’t be so bad, except Howl play rock and roll. You know, that music you rock out to? The sound that makes you jump around and go crazy? The very sight of it was enough to make you feel as uncomfortable as the band often looked. I know this sounds like a pretty trivial point, but let me make one thing perfectly clear: Howl are a rock and roll band, and being half-arsed about it in any way whatsoever is always going to undermine everything they try to create. Image issues aside, they weren’t that good. I saw a keyboard, but I can’t say I understand its place in the band. They alternated vocals, which would have been nice, but not one of the six are particularly strong singers. The extent of their dialogue with the crowd was the repetition of a lame joke that never went over to begin with. The one song that did seem to really work was a blatant, and instantly-recognisable rip off of The Fratellis’ anthemic Flathead. And each member seems to sing below – and not directly into – their microphones. Enough said.

Next were Melbourne five-piece Young Lovers, to present to us their new wave, indie rock stylings. They have a distinct on-stage energy about them, and the drummer going shirtless just two songs into their set is testament enough to that. They gave a spirited performance, and genuinely seem to enjoy their music. Synth layed over their heavy, guitar-driven sound grants the band some extra substance, and an interesting direction reminiscent of a rockier instance of The Killers. A highlight of their set included a cover of the INXS track Just Keep Walking, which effectively sold me on the band. Single Talking French was also particularly successful in bringing to the light their knack for that likable (if sometimes formulaic) pop and their ever-present chorus hooks. Luke Carlson is a particularly effective frontman, working the mic with ease both during and between songs. All in all, despite some sloppy moments, Young Lovers proved highly entertaining, and certainly a band to keep an eye out for.

Perth band Harlequin League took to the stage, and begun significantly heavier than the previous two acts. They have a noticeable punk edge to them, displaying a technically sound performance. The band opened with the fast and frenetic Living A Lie, and soon had everyone at The Evelyn moving and grooving. Personally, I wasn’t blown away. This is not to take anything away from the band, necessarily: they’re good at what they do, but I felt that the set needed a little variation. The tempo never really shifted down at all, which can feel alienating for the casual gig attendee. Again And Again gives you a good idea of what to expect from the band, and its likeable, but I’m not quite sure what Harlequin League have over the myriad of bands in Australia aiming for the exact same sound.

Finally, Sugar Army. Unfortunately, by this stage, I was craving the beautiful strum of an acoustic guitar. Amazingly, I had not seen one all night. Let this be an indication of what’s in store when you see either Howl, Young Lovers, Harlequin League, or, indeed, Sugar Army: its loud, very loud, all the time. After some brief technical difficulties, Sugar Amy got underway with a storming, stomping rock opening to pump the crowd up for the set ahead. They’re a passionate bunch, and like Young Lovers, they take great pride in their music. Again, I found myself brainstorming what separates them from other bands trying the exact same brand of heavy rock that they create. At times, their sound becomes a little predictable. They have, however, crafted some perfectly catchy hooks, in which repetition’s the key (‘I’ve got to learn how to let this go, and also ‘And now you’re old enough I think that you should know…’). Their vocals are particularly strong and hit the mark to match the intensity and the emotion of their music. All in all, a solid performance, though nothing that rocked my world from its axis.

I left the Evelyn neither here nor there off the back of a night noticeably reluctant to indulge in variation. It was rock, it was roll, and it was around three and a half hours. More importantly, it wasn’t anything absolutely spectacular. And to that end, I really felt like I was being tested. Whilst Young Lovers emerged as a bright, exciting talent in selected moments of their set, it was all-too-brief an interlude from an otherwise beige array of acts.