“The Champs-Elysees is a busy street.” These could be the lazy words of a bored travel writer. Or they could be a quick-draw magic spell with the power to make a room full of people COMPLETELY LOSE THEIR SHIT!

That is the effect Sydney trio Art Vs Science has on people. Whether the punters are churning up the grass of a festival field or jostling for space on the Hi-Fi Bar dance floor: pandemonium is promised.

They are one of the best live acts in the country, and their Magic Fountain tour has undoubtedly blazed through each bar, blowing the roof off and leaving a mess of puffing, panting and delighted punters in their wake.

This particular show at the Hi-fi sold out within 24 hours. The boys, looking dapper, pay homage to the Melbourne crowd and tell us this was the gig they were most keen to play. And we can believe them. From the first thump of their keyboards, they play like men possessed; like they are mainlining Ritalin; like this is their last show, ever. The atmosphere is electric.

They are serving us dance hits in the guise of a rock show and the crowd responds with an appropriately mental mosh pit. It’s not just their energy that is intoxicating; they are masters of manipulation. They have studied the art of anticipation; festivals and clubs have been their libraries. The build-ups in their songs can still a wild crowd momentarily before the unleashed chorus has them bouncing around like maniacs.

The entire gig is just a big ol’ kid’s party for grown-ups. The clown act comes in the form of their surprising and cheeky lyrics. Two brilliant covers deliver the giddy delight of the jumping castle. And who the hell needs lolly bags when you have fat guitar riffs like those*Dan Mac* is gleefully ripping out?

The light show is impressive with lasers reaching out from behind Jim Finn and Mac right across the crowd. Highlights are many: the crowd belting back the refrain in New World Order and the fearless audio alchemy of Higher. Blinder Friend in the Field is a set favourite and all the more enjoyable after hearing it’s about Dan Mac getting lost at Falls Festival. Magic Fountain gets a colossal response and, despite being a somewhat polarising song, is no denying the alluring whimsy of the lyrics.

The first cover of the evening comes when Dan Mac straps on his guitar and launches into Electric Six’s Gay Bar. Cue crowd explosion. Mac thrashes his guitar around like an aristocrat on acid; his neat cravat a mess by the time the song is through.

The second cover is festival favourite, Jazzy Jeff’s Boom Shake the Room . From the scratching to the rapping; they nail it. Dan and Jim meet in the middle of the stage to delight us with the running man and a bevy of bad dance moves before an enthusiastic call and response and a final moonwalk brings the house down. They end it with a running chest pump and high five and command the crowd high five their neighbour. We do so, enthusiastically, despite looking like a room full of American frat boys.

The pièce de résistance (how appropriate) comes with Parlez-Vous Français? An almost Mexican wave of ‘spirit fingers’ rides out the build-up until that familiar opening line grants us permission to erupt. Mac dramatically rolls up his sleeves before peeling out a squealing solo (one for each side of the stage). He absolutely milks it and it is insanely endearing. He skulls a beer while still playing. He’s like a little kid living the dream. Someone throws a bra onstage. The scene is complete.

Next up is Flipper and the rest of the night’s bill — the boys from Jinja Safari and Tim and Jean — dance onto the stage with a parade of quirky instruments and platters of food. Now it’s an all-out melee of madness — some of the food, including tiny triangle sandwiches getting tossed into the crowd. At one point everyone sits down to let drummer Dan W take centre stage; which he does effortlessly.

The band avoid a contrived encore set-up and round out their massive 90 minute set with Hollywood . Their mantra/war cry Art Vs Science spurs one last mammoth call and response effort from the crowd.

This band brings all the unashamed fun and energy you hope for in a live music experience. We can look forward to more of the same as they join festival line ups across the country.

The ringing in my ears lasted for days afterwards. At times I swear it actually formed words. It whispered: pull out your dancing shoes, summer is coming.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE NIGHT HERE