Live Review: Bodyjar, Luca Brasi, The Sinking Teeth

With stumps pulled at the Gabba many hours ago it's a well lubricated crowd in the house tonight, punters eager to reconnect with an old punk friend. But with booze things considered, The Sinking Teeth should be enjoying a far better response; their Brand New-esque post-hardcore strains are volatile, and each member of the trio plays their part creatively and with conviction. The only problem? Their between-song banter. It's shithouse. Play your songs boys – they're fantastic; leave the stand-up to someone else.

Luca Brasi don't need any jokes to win the crowd over – the front rows are shouting every single lyric from the get-go and the Tassie group – playing as a three-piece tonight with one of their guitarists walkabout – are smashing it out with such conviction that you can't help but cheer for the boys. Julian Doan from The Sinking Teeth comes out for a bit of a sing before the group finish with Southbound and Theme Song From HQ.

Bodyjar are probably the coolest old dudes going. Seriously, if one of these guys was your dad, you'd be king of the kids in the playground. Rocking shorts and Vans like the eternal groms they are, the forefathers of Aussie pop punk prove that age shall not weary them, playing a blistering set of new cuts and classics that leans towards both sides without spilling over completely.

Role Model opens, acting as a bit of an appetiser, before Remote Controller, Fairytales, One In A Million and You Say blaze by with force. Shane Wakker is the ultimate punk rock drummer, hammering his kit like he's trying to nail it to the floor; meanwhile, the frontline axe wielders Grant Relf, Tom Read and Cam Baines – who barely missed a vocal note all night – reel off riff after riff while harmonising choruses with effortless ease. Is It A Lie still stands as one of the Melbourne quartet's finest moments, while new track, Stranglehold, comes with a thick rock edge, showing that Bodyjar are never going to go quietly.

After a brief break for some tomfoolery involving bass bogan Relf and a serving of volcanic hot chicken wings, the foursome are delivering the goods once more, calling Luca Brasi frontman Tyler Richardson back to the stage to sing Joey Cape's part on Hope Was Leaving before oldies Glossy Books and Sequel finish off the main set. The guys then sign off the night the right way, showing Too Drunk To Drive doesn't need Adalita to be amazing, before Hazy Shade Of Winter concludes one hell of a punk-rock master class. You're always welcome north of the border guys – visit again soon.