The Duke Spirit’s Australian tour to promote their sophomore album Neptune has been surrounded by an excitable hype. So it’s no surprise that such eagerness translated into an intoxicating buzz as the night at last arrived.

Before The Oxford Art Factory got an opportunity to open its doors, a small bunch of animated fans began to collect on the footpath. As the bouncers pulled back the rope barrier in front of the entrance, punters came streaming out of all of the adjacent pubs.

It’s always hard to ignore the manufactured cool of The Oxford Art Factory. Brick walls, perfectly manicured to look worn and industrial, are met with clean sheets of glass and edgy black bench-tops. But it all feels so in place when the DJs fire up a few tracks as you’re crammed between hordes trying to get a few drinks.

Just as I was checking the set times, black curtains parted to reveal a stage billowing with smoke. As it began to clear Jack Ladder stepped forward, clutching the mic, black guitar hung around his neck. His opening grabbed the attention of a splintered crowd grouped in conversation and his velvety voice turned everyone’s heads in his direction. The recent winner of the Red Bull Award In Recognition Of Outstanding Potential began to really prove his worth.

There were tones of blues, soul and rock, backed by his pulsating and anguished voice as his tall frame writhed knock-kneed on stage. It was all going so well until his second song was delayed by a lengthy re-tuning session that led some ungrateful audience members to yell, “Your first gig mate?” Jack responded politely without making much fuss, but the incident seemed to affect his nerves, drawing the focus away from his unquestionable talent. Instead the rest of his performance was cautiously timid.

Bodies started to pack into the centre of the club quietly, searching for the best view. As the striking blond hair of Leila Moss appeared from behind purple smoke and drawn curtains, the crowd quivered but never broke out into dance. Amidst fans standing still, I watched as Moss jumped around on stage like the perfect frontwoman. She threw about her mic stand in-between innumerable changes of percussion instruments. Her voice filled the room as The Step And The Walk was performed with such character and precision it blew the recorded version of the water. However, my personal favourite was a grungy and hard-hitting rendition of This Ship Was Built To Last.

The hype was justified. Flawless vocals were backed by a practiced and clinical band, standing like thin black pillars around Moss. Luke Ford and Toby Butler kept to their own corners, as if afraid of being seen. At first I thought this was simply their – œlook. However, when they both let rip during the encore I couldn’t help but wish they’d been so animated throughout the whole performance.

I stood, like everyone, just plain happy to watch some solid rock – œn’ roll again. The Duke Spirit are true masters of building up and breaking down rhythm. Each slow ballad seemed like it was perfectly in place. Once all was said and done, the band quickly left the stage without to much to say. Looking around me, I could tell everyone had just seen a truly great gig.