Sydney quartet Futher comment that it’s “been a while” since they have been in Brisbane. It would appear to be a welcomed return. Scoring a support slot in several cities for Future of the Left (as they did a year ago), it isn’t a stretch to see why. Beginning the set with a misleading, slower instrumental song, Further soon increase the intensity. The group are excellent at what they do; garage punk songs with thick bass lines and screaming vocals. Their in-between song banter leaves a little be desired (a fact they seem well aware of), but this overall doesn’t detract from the performance. It is very enjoyable 45 minute set, and an incredibly suitable support for the main act.

Some bands can efficiently translate their repertoire to a live setting, and depending on their quality, this is usually enough. Then there are certain bands that use their music as a foundation for something else entirely. Future of the Left is one of those bands.

From the opening guitar lines of Arming Eritrea (a track which almost always opens their shows), the crowd cheers and celebrates. There is a feeling the eclectic crowd know what they’re in for. Considering the band played here exactly a year ago on Falls sideshows, that really isn’t a surprise. It shouldn’t be surprising either that they are all back for round two; as they breeze through the set, who wouldn’t want to experience this for a second (or a third, or forth) time?

This is evidenced from several front rows towards to the front of the stage, filled with a small but clearly dedicated and enthusiastic branch of members. A lot of bands playing club shows can’t get any portion of the crowd moving; Future of the Left can invoke people to stage dive. There is so much dedication in the crowd that Andy Falkous forgets the changes on Small Bones Small Bodies and suggests the crowd are to blame due to their enthusiasm.

The reason for the enthusiasm is right there on stage. Many Future of the Left songs are intense on record already. However, their live counterparts are a whole different beast. Guitars and keyboards have that extra punch; their whole performance is stepped up in terms of intensity and ferocity.

It would seem the set is slightly different to their 2010 shows, with roughly five new songs played, all of which are barely introduced. New songs can often alienate a crowd, but the quality is so high everyone maintains their enthusiasm. That isn’t to say the set isn’t filled with old favourites, selections from both Curses and Travels With Myself And Another. Also making the cut are several McLusky Songs including To Hell with Good Intentions and Without MSG I Am Nothing.

The encore has mostly McLusky tracks as well, beginning with ballad Fuck This Band before segueing in to Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues, clearly a crowd favourite and may be the best thing anyone in this room will hear all year. Future of the Left pull out one last track, a shortened (yet ultimately extended) version of Lapsed Catholics. It proves to be a fitting end to a fantastic set.

Many people’s favourite gigs, much like award winners, tend to be realised closer to the end of the year while they are fresh in the mind. We are barely in to 2011, so it may seem like gigs such as this may be easily swept under the rug and forgotten. Future of the Left put such an idea to rest, producing a show that won’t easily be forgotten as the year pushes on.