While many citizens of Brisbane wouldn’t step out on a school night for a local act, the international headliner tonight has pulled many people from their burrows early on this Wednesday night. Gracing the early arrivals with a performance tonight was To The North and the set hadn’t even begun before the first mistake was made. Playing on a tiny drum set, one wouldn’t be wrong for thinking that Simon was sitting on the floor, though this wasn’t the case. While Errol, Simon, Josh and Cam make full use of the half stage they’re given there is no doubt that Cam’s voice is of acquired taste. Most punters navigated their way around the bar and into good viewing positions. The one diehard fan at the front made most people feel like they were missing out on something though.

Melbourne’s own Stealing O’Neal joined the American tourists for this journey around Australia and The Zoo is where the adventure was to begin. While punters showed a pinch more excitement for the five piece simply by moving forward, there was still a severe lack of enthusiasm from most patrons. Chris Scott – œs vocals, in parts, bear an uncanny resemblance to Claudio Sanchez of Coheed and Cambria. Butterflies and Chin Up Baby were clear stand outs of the evening. The interaction between the five friends makes their pop-punk not only infectious but also makes them appear to be the friendliest of gents – a characteristic which is lost on many of today’s bands.

American pop-punk outfit and for the most part nostalgia generators, The Ataris took to the stage and straight into it Unopened Letter To The World. It was one of the first songs to be played to the unmoving crowd and lack of movement can be blamed on one thing. School night gigs result in sober punters and sober punters never look like they’re actually having fun, despite what they tell you. So Long, Astoria closely followed Summer Wind Was Always Our Song further cemented this thought.

Kris Roe seems to go through band members like tissues, with no current member being in the band long enough to have actually played on one of their five studio albums. This didn’t seem to bother anyone in the slightest and despite only having been a member since 2008, drummer Jake Dwiggins played the skins like he’d been a member since the band’s 1995 inception.

Kris Roe did his best to give flack to New Zealand, however NZ is somewhat like Australias little brother. We can give it shit all we like but as soon as someone else tries it on for size, it isn’t cool anymore. With 1-15-96 it was all forgotten, In This Diary saw feet begin to actually move and I.O.U. One Galaxy was confessed to be a love song about a now ex-wife.

Their (or more correctly, Kris Roe’s) most famous song and cover of Boys Of Summer appeared to be what most people had paid to see. The Hero Dies In This One, Takeoffs and Landings, San Dimas High School Football Rules, Your Boyfriend Sucks and Boxcar were, for some punters, songs that took one back to high school, teenage angst and that point in life where the biggest worry was that Mum wouldn’t buy you that Stussy shirt you wanted so damn much. Bitch.

Though nostalgia fades along with the three minute songs it was a half-decent set from the five piece but expect them to be back soon. It feels like they’re here almost every other week.