With a tight and captivating performance, locals The John Steel Singers demonstrate why they are more than worthy of the national support for The Dodos tour. The boys look completely at home on The Zoo stage and charm us with a flurry of catchy indie-pop tunes, including Strawberry Wine, Evolution and Rainbow Kraut.

Frontman Tim Morrisey looks dapper in a polka-dot shirt; Scott Bromiley and Pete Bernoth delight us with trumpet and trombone, whilst Luke McDonald lets loose on some killer guitar solos. Perhaps inspired by the percussive beats of the headliners, the drum-heavy Masochist is a highlight and the perfect preparation for the upcoming act.

The Dodos are not your conventional indie band. Originally formed with Meric Long on the acoustic guitar and Logan Kroeber on the drums (sans bass drum), they specialise in intensely drum-driven, tom-filled pop songs. The US duo have recently enlisted Keaton Snyder to play vibraphone, sometimes with a violin bow, and bash the shit out of the cymbals. Who needs a bass guitarist when you can have auxiliary percussionist like that?

Starting off with the better-known Fools, from their acclaimed album Visiter, they play a satisfying set of old and new songs. While their slower numbers are delicate and fragile, it is the explosive percussion in the more upbeat songs that shake the walls of The Zoo and get everyone’s heart pounding to their beat. The minimalist nature of The Dodos’ setup is refreshingly uncluttered. The guitar and drums are crisp and Long’s voice rings out clear, opting for a loop machine to create layers with his own voice rather than employing backing vocals.

A highlight of the night, the dramatic God? is mesmerising, with Long using the loop machine to build intensity, projecting his voice to the point of shouting. The dancier Fables, from the new album Time To Die is well-received and gets some hips moving. The band finish with the epic Jodi, to immediate calls for an encore. They return to treat us with seven-minute-long Joe’s Waltz, alternating between striking vibraphone moments and intense drumming, followed by the heart-warming Red And Purple.

Does anyone else get the irony of seeing Dodos at The Zoo? Let’s hope there is another sighting soon.