Festival Hall was stormed by a hoard of adolescents (and some of their parents) for the latest teen sensation on the Australian music scene, Short Stack.

On the road for their “Stack Is The New Black” tour, the New South Wales boys wowed their young fans with their musical mash-up of punk, rock, pop, electro and even a hint of glam. Since they emerged in 2005 the band has collected a remarkable following, and after Friday’s performance one can be assured that their Melbourne support base is destined for continued growth. A night full of impressive jumps, fringe flicking, and pop-inspired youth anthems, Short Stack delivered exactly what their target audience wanted.

Setting the pop/rock/electro pace of the night, Sydney’s Die For You took the place of opening support act. Met with a combination of cheers and screams, they were very warmly welcomed to the stage and from here the crowd’s appreciation of them only increased. Encouraging and engaging with the mostly full room, they drew the audience in to their performance with their keen interaction and their attractive electro beats. Frontman Robbie Whelan’s voice was not an overly strong one, however it suitably complimented their chosen genre and effectively had the crowd eating out of the palms of their hands.

With powerful vocals and a stronger rock-based sound, Adelaide five-piece The Sundance Kids were the second and final support to enjoy the eager attitude of the audience. Captivating all with ease, singer Ash Gale was vibrant and demonstrated not only an incredible vocal range, but also a near flawless pitch. Moreover, each band member contributed something unique to the set with their style, presence and musical talents, and collectively showcased numerous admirable rhythms and guitar riffs. Without question, they are a group of solid performers who captured the hearts of their audience with a genuinely nice demeanour and the presentation of a highly positive vibe producing the standout set of the night.

As the curtains closed for the set change, the anticipation steadily built. Any sign of Short Stack’s arrival was greeted with a frenzy of screams and a chorus of chanting, which reached its peak when their signature skull and crossbones lit up across the drapes. Finally, the lights went out and the crowd erupted with a new heightened level of volume and the darkness was lit up by a sea of mobile phone and camera screens readily poised to catch the action.

The curtains were drawn back, putting into view a stage decked out with inflatable dinosaurs, a colourful light display, and lastly the boys the crowd had been waiting for. Firstly greeting their fans with a happy hello, they then launched right into a fast-paced and lively set. As they struck that initial chord, the reaction was immediate. The floor was covered with jumping bodies and their lyrics could be heard throughout the hall, coming from the stage and from the audience alike.

Shaun Diviney (vocals/guitar) and Andy Clemmensen (vocals/bass) worked their audience with expertise, triggering a typical crowd mentality of synchronised applause and fist pumping, while Bradie Webb showed immense strength on the drums with their beat dominating the speakers. The room could only be described as mesmerised, with the band continually winding them up and receiving more noise and more enthusiasm with each effort. The fans clung to their every word, dedicating and involving themselves in every step of the performance.

Lead vocalist, Shaun’s, voice embraced a slight whine typical of the pop/punk genre which, although not powerful, meshed well with their electro/pop theme and the nature of his lyrics. Most songs focused on girls, love, heartbreak and the general experiences of being a teenager, ultimately relating directly to and being specifically aimed at the demographic of their fan base, which could be assumed to be quite the clever tactic. One could not doubt that it has worked very well for them.

Hardly a moment passed without the sounds of girlish screams penetrating the atmosphere and barely a song went by that the crowd didn’t know every word to; it was a level of audience control that was rather amazing to witness. All songs appeared to be crowd pleasers, yet it was popular tracks Sway, Sway Baby, Princess and Drop Dead Gorgeous which caused near explosions. Set highlight, however, came in the form of Bradie’s drum solo accompanied by the theme of the original Super Mario. It further demonstrated his instrumental prowess and added some original entertainment to the set list.

Although their music may not earn your respect, one cannot deny that Short Stack are talented at what they do, and that is winning over a huge proportion of the teen market. They have taken punk/pop and made their own sub-genre by aiming it specifically at young teens, and this has won them a huge amount of success. It is hard to see them moving beyond their current status, but with the response that their show received they really have very little reason to try.