Live Review: Husky - The Zoo

Husky's return to Brisbane feels like it should be a little more triumphant than what the early number of punters indicates, but this evening's of entertainment promises to be nothing short of stellar nonetheless.

Sure enough, ex-Rocketsmith Dom Miller takes to the stage armed only with an acoustic guitar and suitably impresses and charms the pants of the small but eager crowd that has shown up early. Miller is easily part of the Brisbane furniture and extending on that analogy, he's a comfy recliner as he warmly enchants the crowd with warm banter and cleverly executed folk songs, including one highlight towards the end called Gone Away and a cover of The Beatles' White Album favourite Rocky Raccoon.

Next is The Trouble With Templeton, a local solo project of singer-songwriter Thomas Calder, though tonight he possesses a couple of secret weapons in Betty Yeowart and Hugh Middleton, a pair Calder clearly has much affection for. Tonight's performance is nothing short of jaw-dropping, to the point of almost stealing the limelight from the headliner all together. Songs like Please Don't Ask Me, single I Wrote A Novel and the title track from album Bleeders absolutely kill while Calder's presence captivates entirely.

Husky's up next and by now there is quite the crowd in attendance, all clambering up front to get near the Melbourne four-piece. They present themselves in a line at the front of the stage while opening with the brooding Dark Sea that quickly and neatly flips into the bouncy Hundred Dollar Suit. The quartet are now signed to Sub Pop but nothing has changed, the outfit as subtly brilliant and effortlessly classy as ever while there isn't anyone more charming in Australian music right now than frontman Husky Gawenda. There isn't much on offer in the way of bells and whistles tonight, just four guys armed with an incredibly captivating set of songs, mostly lifted from their debut album Forever So. Not much touches the sublime beauty of Tidal Wave, but the likes of Fake Moustache and The Woods are as good in another way. Their recent stab at triple j's Like A Version – INXS' Need You Tonight – gathers a rapturous response, while their encore consisting of Farewell and biggest single to date – History's Door – sends this captivated crowd away happy.