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Hardly a Gomez tour goes by without the sounds of frustrated fans about the place. After more than ten years and six studio albums, the frustration this time centres around the lodging of such Brit-pop wunderkinds in surrounds which are barely more than glorified pubs. Despite being considered by some as better than The Verve or Massive Attack, mainstream success was only fleeting for this band of musical geeks, leaving them as the much loved chew-toy of a generation who now guard over their prize with fierce loyalty. Fortunately, this loyalty sees them able to release albums as wonderfully hooky and accomplished as their recent offering A New Tide, and Gomez grace our shores almost annually to reward their fanbase.

Tonight’s frustrations seemed to boil over into the band, however, with what seemed like a transit glitch leaving them floundering in a very late soundcheck with some begged and borrowed instruments, the venue doors steadfastly closed for some time. A good couple of hours after scheduled doors open, little known Sydney quintet Parades blasted their way through an impressive set aimed purely at enticing the punters. The Triple J darlings succeeded in displaying their rather impressive chops to the filling Hi-Fi Bar, as many a Gomez fan was seen to nod approvingly at their crunching guitar-pop-meets-pseudo-psychedelia style. As was seemingly the trend tonight a triumvirate of vocals saw the songs being shared amongst keyboardist Bec Shave, frantic guitar attacker Daniel Cunningham and drummer Jonathon Boulet. Their sound is not an altogether new take on the buzz-saw guitars mixed with emotive electronica atmospherics of the current crop of British popular rock and leading into climactic closing riffs and power-chords a-plenty. Latest offerings Dead Nationale and Hunters are warmly received within the too short set, but they very clearly tick off their one and only mission of whetting the audience’s appetites for what’s to come.

The telltale staccato opening riff from How We Operate rang out before the heavy blue curtain even began to retract, signaling the beginning of an almost cult-like love-in between the band and crowd which was not to abate for the rest of the night. The audience reaction to this rather peculiar opening line took this reviewer by surprise in its sheer power and adoration, setting the one-in all-in feel of the full to overflowing venue. Vague troubles in getting from the previous night’s gig in Canberra and tonight’s were almost immediately obvious, with various on-stage gestures and sideways glances indicating not all was well with the perfection-driven performers. With Ben Ottewell ’s guitar cutting out at the beginning of second song Airstream Driver adding to the steaming atmosphere on stage, Tom Gray tried desperately to lighten the mood with his crafty on-stage banter. But it was the audience who was determined in pulling the group from its funk; Bring It On’s Whippin’ Piccadilly had the walls rattling with the combined thousand-strong vocals. With that the band members finally seemed to come around and all efforts were rewarded with a blistering rendition of Tijuana Lady and an almost tangible energy exchange between audience and performers.

While offerings from the new album were politely received, the back catalogue is what had the audience salivating. The end of the set saw the band noticeably more relaxed with Bring Your Lovin and Ruff Stuff – complete with roadies on vocal duties for Ben’s telltale “come back!” refrains – before a smooth finish featuring the 60s-pop infused girlshapedlovedrug and Shot Shot. The encore offered a closing which undoubtedly left many a throaty voice for Monday morning work duties, with maximum participation for the seductive blues of Get Myself Arrested and an all too abrupt end to proceedings. While things may have started off a little rocky, the over-protective audience ensured their much-loved messiahs were eventually on form and once again proved their point – this is clearly one of the best and most accomplished bands around and it is truly a travesty that the entire world was not as bonkers for them as we were tonight.