Live Review: Major Leagues, Jody, Black Zeros

Black Zeros don't bloody muck around. Their classic garage-rock songwriting doesn't break any new ground, but the execution is undeniably fiery and a solid mix means their propulsive drums and power-chord backing are operating at maximum capacity. The result is a crowd-pleasing set of two-minute toe-tappers that leave ears ringing, helped out immensely by the towering vocals of frontwoman Joe Jackson, who seems at home amidst the chaos.

Jody have, thanks to a very busy 2015, built up a hell of a live show. Their songs work their way into pretty fierce grooves, with twin jangly Rickenbackers interlocking with tight drums before emerging in attention-grabbing choruses and even more frenetic solos. There's a classic rock sensibility informing these songs, but the band's energy and passion feel authentic, and there's no Jet-like cheapness to their crowd-pleasing. Just about every song ends with a big slowed-down drum fill, but the gratuitous rock'n'roll showmanship is totally earned. Give these guys a year (and maybe a big single) to pull together a crowd who know every word and there'll be no stopping them.

It's been a pretty long time between drinks for fans of Brisbane's Major Leagues, but the wait has paid off and tonight the crowd is reminded instantly of the band's unique sound. Behind the aloof vocals and effortlessly cool stage presence is a ton of hard work. Balancing gloomy melancholy with playfulness is tough, but Major Leagues achieve it with keen ears for complex textures.

Guitarist Jaimee Fryer takes lead vocal duties on several new songs that pepper the set, including vibrant new single, Someone Sometime, as well as the dreamy Feel, whose resplendent post-chorus showcases some amazing drumming and atmospheric gazey guitar noise. The new songs are almost enough to make you forget the hit parade that is the band's first EP —but not quite, as new versions of Endless Drain and Teen Mums make a welcome reappearance towards the end of the set.