Live Review: Island Records ARIA Week Showcase: Andy Bull, Chance Waters, The Cairos

There was an aquatic feel to the Oxford Art factory for Island Records Excuse To Get Loose, in front of a painted beach backdrop Brisbane boys The Cairos showed Sydney who they are.

Big dirty riffs and instrumental atmosphere blended with clever lyrics and song structures ever so sweetly. Alastair Richardson's edgy sixties vocals held the sound together, while Alfio Alivuzza and Reuben Schafer were technically perfect on their respective lead and bass guitars. At the end of the set many thought it would be the best fourty minutes of music seen that night.

Next Chance Waters took the stage, and the nicest MC in the country (probably) pulled out some big guns in his return to Oxford Art where he had a three week residency in 2010. Opening with the infectiously upbeat Looking For Something, Waters dance moves and crowd banter were adorably awkward but endearing and refreshingly he doesn't take himself too seriously. Surprise guest Gossling took the stage for a few songs, singing Lisa Mitchell's bit for Young and Dumb and backing up for Waters' inventive cover of Little Lion Man.

Finally the curtains opened on an empty stage, soon filled by Deep Sea Arcade drummer Carlos Adura, Andy Bull's long time guitarist Alex Bennison and the man himself, who maneuvered two microphones and two keyboards, live his loops, brilliance on keys and soaring vocals scream out James Blake. “This song was in the hottest 100, it's not a big deal I'm sure it happens to everyone” Bull jerked before busting out Dog singing both his and Lisa Mitchells verses.

A polished performer Bull builds eighties love ballad atmospheres and drenches them with jangly bluesy keyboards and vocals that cut you in half. Bull and band sailed through Baby I am nobody now without flaw and went straight into his like a version cover of Everybody Wants to Rule the World.

Totally at home on stage Bull joked about touring, recording and thanked Island Records for “dealing with an artistic genius like me”. Keep on Running was last and had Sydney begging for more.