If there’s one local act who has blown up within the last twelve months, its Art vs Science. The Sydneysiders have been blowing things up lately, whether it’s spins on radio or festival dates, so it should come as no surprise that Art vs Science’s debut headlining tour is selling out shows. The East Brunswick Club is no exception, selling out weeks ahead of the band’s first show in Melbourne. Along with supports Hercules In NY and Foxx On Fire this show should have dropped an atomic bomb inside the EBC’s bandroom, but only ended up lighting fireworks.

With the crowd slowly stumbling into the bandroom, loud thumping drums mark the start of Foxx On Fire’s set. Bossa-nova keys and heavy base quickly follow and this set is go – Polizia being the first track off the block. Foxx On Fire are the latest group to decide that the 80s are better than today and play a throwback sound that fuses new-wave with rock; something that sounds twice as dated due to so many groups doing the same thing right now. Ultimately the music is performed quite competently, but the weak link in this chain is the vocals of Paul Housden which sound ill-fitting compared to the sounds being output. Girls put their coats on the floor to dance, holding their stubbies tight while keyboard player Edward Housden informs the crowd that we are taking a ‘transcendent pop journey’ while urging them to come closer to the stage. Not many take the bait. The band closes with Out Of Control, leaving the stage with thank you’d in Italian followed by feedback that booms through the EBC’s speakers. They end up looking like amateurs when they return to the stage several minutes later to pack up their gear.

Bright yellow lights illuminate the stage and the call goes out -’Melbourne are you ready!?!’ No, it’s not Russell Brand up on stage it’s Mark D’Angelo, frontman of second support act Hercules In NY. Just as the previous act displayed ego with some overstated claims about their music, D’Angelo follows their lead and amps things up tenfold. ‘Music is about what you give and what you get back!’ he passionately bellows, and once again not many take the bait. This Girl has the band’s DJ mix in N.E.R.D’s Everyone Nose, while Lost In The City shows off D’Angelo’s vocal technique of starting off a chorus deep and finishing in a high pitch. You can’t help thinking that without the DJ and keys Hercules In NY would be another average rock band, but even with them they are not all that memorable. No time for any thank you’s or encores tonight – right as Hercules In NY’s set finishes the curtains close and the set is declared over.

With the crowd anticipating headliners’ Art vs Science the curtain was flung open a tad too early, only for an angry roadie to close it minutes later. When the curtain opened properly the crowd cheered to the flood of red light as the three piece entered the stage. Dan Mac and Jim plug away at keyboards for opener Friend In The Field, sounding a bit more rocky then usual thanks to Dan Williams steady hands behind the drumkit. The crowd claps along with new track Higher, but for the first time all night rises as one for Parlez Vous Francais?, with Dan Mac skulling a beer and taking part in a guitar solo that went on a tad too long.

The downside of this set – too often the crowd was subject to filler. New World Order had the cool futuristic buzzing of keys, but the crowd stood motionless for the most part. Slower track What Does It Mean provided a chance to cool off and head to the bar. It picked up when Triple J favourite Flippers hit the speakers, with near-pandemonium breaking out. Sure, people weren’t doing flips off the walls but with girls going up on their guy’s shoulders and everyone moving, who is to say it was bad? It featured a really overdone finish, but most people didn’t notice. Hollywood closes things and the three bow before heading off-stage, not returning for an encore.

Art vs Science are a cool band that makes fun music to dance to, but the music they make is disposable and at times a tad boring. If a sold out crowd only reacts for your two singles, it’s a sign of worry – this isn’t a crowd full of hardcore fans willing to follow every word. With an eight song set that included one cover, a question has to be asked. Will these fans buy tickets when Art vs Science return?

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