Live Review: Dollar Bar, Undead Apes, Tape/Off, Roku Music

Roku Music's take on the shoegaze formula continues to be galvanised by a rising stock in confidence and the added influence of Jody Gleeson on bass and Tom Roche on drums. The alternating vocals from guitarists Donovan Miller and Innez Tulloch are perfectly calibrated to provide an undulating calm amidst the rising wall of noise, while Gleeson's backing vocals cut through the mix towards the end like a haunted afterthought. The multitude of effects and sounds mesh together in a tumultuous crescendo of warm noise, both jaw-dropping and heart-stopping. An amazing set.

It's hard to see anyone topping such a display, but rabblerousers Tape/Off give it a good crack. It seems that the protracted time away from the bright lights has steeled them, as the four-piece dive into their set, a caterwaul of tempered slacker ambition. Nathan Pickels' howl is impassioned and desperate; Branko Cosic's trademark drum bashing at fever pitch. Cam Smith holds sway in the middle, the centrifugal force. Mainstay Backseat closes out a welcome return to rock form.

Undead Apes shred, they thrash, they trash talk with witticisms and drunken flights of fancy, and they look dashing in black. It's like these obnoxious bastarderos never left, such is their proclivity to ramp the party up past 11. This set is poppier than recent shows with Violent Soho – possibly as a measure to step in sync with tonight's headliners – yet it's pop at breakneck speed, V guitars and flailing limbs.

But everyone's here for the launch of Paddington Workers Club, the decade-in-the-making sophomore record from perennial guitar pop dignitaries Dollar Bar – and they don't disappoint. Dale Peachey is battling a sore throat, but the crowd doesn't let him rest and he embraces the challenge with dedicated fervour. Brendan Rosenstengel propels the band forward, allowing the three songwriters their time to shine – Peachey's Everyone's Everyone's is an acerbic delight; Chris Yates plays light and loose on (You're) Blind Baby; while Pat McCabe's Half The Battle is an inimitable grower, the song being the anchor halfway through the set to set the boys straight for a raucous finish. They also delve into the back catalogue for a few not-so-forgotten gems, and the rousing reception for Cute Gurls Have The Best Diseases highlights how good they've always been. Their penchant for glorious covers also comes to the fore, first with Lorde's Royals before the stage is stormed by Conwae Burrell and a cohort of Extrafoxx ancillaries for a loose rendition of Big Pineapple. The waves of fun and goodwill emanate from band and crowd alike; it's shows like this that remind one how music brings people together.