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Following their performance at the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships in Alaska, Adelaide’s The Beards returned to the stage at Jive for an energetic and highly entertaining night.

Sir Gerbil opened the evening’s revelries with a rock performance that was good considering that they had only practiced together twice. Their rendition of Electric Six Danger! High Voltage was the highlight of their set.

Queensland’s The Rooftops followed with a reggae-funk inspired show that, while close to sounding like The Cat Empire, managed to retain a personal style. The feel-good vocals of front man Euan Grey were nicely complemented by the horns, keys and rhythm sections of the six piece band. Their honest and uncomplicated performance was a pleasure to watch.

In distinct contrast to the organic groove of The Rooftops, Melbourne’s Woohoo Revue worked the crowd into a maniacal frenzy with their gypsy music infused with Latin, rock and big band swing. It was surprising to see such a competent world music performance from an Australian band. Their frenetic and energetic show certainly got the crowd moving and ready for the headline act.

The Beards did not fail to satisfy. Preaching to their loyal fans, they delivered a highly entertaining and strangely powerful performance on the sanctity of facial hair. The Adelaide parody rock band has clearly spawned a following in SA, attracting a large crowd, many of whom boasted impressive beards. The adoring crowd patriotically sang along to old favourites If your dad hasn’t got a beard, you’ve got two mums and No beard, no good.

Johann Beardraven is a deserving front man, capturing the attention of the crowd as he strutted and paraded across the stage. He forcefully, yet humorously, preached his ‘bearded propaganda’ to the adoring crowd and you couldn’t help but notice beardless members of the audience cowering in shame. The punters hung off every word as Beardraven paced across the stage in his aviators and delivered the occasional sax solo.

Bass player Nathaniel Beard delivered a solid performance, maintaining his place in the limelight with his humorous interludes and bizarrely impressive mutton chops. Likewise, Facey McStubblington held his own, shredding old-school rock guitar lines and delivering piercing backup vocals. Drummer John Beardman wore a fake grey beard for the duration of the performance, strangely revealing in the encore his impressive beard hiding underneath.

The quartet was very reminiscent of Tenacious D, reflected in both their performance style and old-school rock musical influences. Previous thoughts that The Beards could only appeal to a niche market of beard devotees and parody rock enthusiasts dissolved away as I left the show a bearded convert.

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS HERE.