Live Review: Mark Sultan, Go Violets, Lovely Legs

Rising locals Lovely Legs kick things off tonight with punk-flecked panache, missing Jeremy Neale behind the kit but covering smoothly with a typically raucous set of desert-tinged garage rock. Frontman Alex Dunlop seems both aloof and charismatic, and while their music is slightly bratty in delivery they've accrued a stockpile of good songs – surely the bottom line – and the way they channel urgency but not desperation is perfect for this kinda thing.

Next up we're treated to another bunch of burgeoning Brisbanians, this time in the form of Go Violets. Again it's the songwriting here which is the standout feature, numbers such as Runner and the driving Late Night showing a swag of promise, while the frontline pairing of Phoebe Imhoff and Alice Rezende carry the band's retro-stylings with aplomb and pitch in tight harmonies on top of each other's strong vocals. The clap-or-ama vibe of Teenager is a highlight, and when they finish with infectious recent single Josie there's definitely a lot to love here.

Soon the one-man garage band phenomenon that is Canadian Mark Sultan enters the fray clad in a massive red robe and a gold turban – clearly a costume still in his suitcase from his recent southern foray with The King Khan & BBQ Show – and as he sits behind his kit and gathers his guitar he sagely offers, “This is going to be a love story of hate tonight” before bashing into a faux-metal intro and then segueing perfectly into the gorgeous singalong I'll Be Loving You. This basically sets the tone for tonight's proceedings – one weird-looking guy playing both guitar and drums as he belts out amazing garage-soul numbers which seem like classic hits from an alternative universe – and Sultan just powers on unrelentingly without a break, spit flying liberally as he bashes out tracks like I Wanna Be The Only One and Beautiful Girl, the latter building into a snarling punk monster. The besotted crowd gather tightly around the stage trying to catch a glimpse of the four-limbed behemoth smashing it before them, dancing and singing where appropriate, but mainly just watching in awe as an a capella I Am The End takes thing to a new level and the '50s glory of Out Of Time makes us wonder why this guy isn't massive despite the rampant affectations inherent in his shtick. Only the occasional metal growl, gurning facial expression and quick gulp of beer separate the songs, and it's testament to Sultan's stamina that he completes the marathon set without respite and even has the fuel in the tank to return for a brief encore. Amazing music, good-time delivery: Mark Sultan, take a bow.