Live Review: Cosmo Jarvis, Lime Cordiale

Every once in awhile you get a gig that just ticks all the right boxes. Not only a great headliner but also solid support acts, an awesome venue, a jovial crowd and decent beers on tap. Cosmo Jarvis at the Annandale Hotel was one of those gigs.

Young Sydney quintet Lime Cordiale kicked off proceedings with an energetic set chock full of infectious ska-pop melodies. New single, Sleeping At Your Door, which echoed the pop-rock sound of the 1950s, was an enjoyable little gem, as was Pretty Girl, which also allowed the boys to display their multi-instrumental abilities. Massive props to a band that can have a clarinet on stage and make it look cool.

The crowd within the Annandale was a good mix of really enthusiastic, really young fans and slightly older, slightly more relaxed admirers. When Cosmo Jarvis hopped on stage, supported by a back-up guitarist, bass player and drummer, and delved into opening track, Whatever, a wave of hands and young, jumping bodies began to form within the front section of the venue. By the end of his second song, the much loved, energetic Love This, you would have been hard-pressed to find a soul in that venue who wasn't bopping along to the Englishman's songs.

Jarvis comes across physically as more of a rugby player than a musician. Big muscles, strong neck – he definitely emanates a sense of power physically. He managed to channel that power through his performance, impressively maintaining not only his energy levels but also that of the crowd for a set that lasted over an hour and a half. The crowd happily sang along to a song about our disillusioned generation on Train Downtown and swayed side to side as Jarvis slowed down for Look At The Sky.

Three of the boys from Lime Cordiale got up on stage and provided some brass back-up for the fun, fast-paced She Doesn't Mind, which probably gained the second best reception of the night, after Jarvis' somewhat signature track, Gay Pirates. Joyful roars of 'Yo Ho Sebastian!' throughout the crowd accompanied Jarvis, plucking away at his ukulele, and solidified in many minds just how talented Jarvis is, not only as a performer, but also as a songwriter.