Live Review: Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Backy Skank

The Melbourne Ska Orchestra returned to Sydney in force on Friday night in one of the final shows of their Get Smart Tour, which will soon take them overseas to various jazz festivals in Canada and Europe after they recharge their considerably large batteries. Supporting them were Backy Skank, a hometown team with plenty of experience and gumption. It was a fun night, but an unpolished mix didn't do it any favours.

Backy Skank have been on the scene since the late '90s, when ska-punk was going gangbusters with bands like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and The Porkers. It was a decent set, with all the prerequisite soloing and tikky-tak guitar work, but it lacked real bounce. Perhaps that couldn't be helped; playing before the onslaught of the MSO, who dwarfed them in size and sound, would be a daunting prospect. Nevertheless, their cheery swagger and tidy arrangements felt breezy and lighthearted, and Mr Smith and Uncle Pete did their best to keep things lively.

By now the Melbourne Ska Orchestra have got their act locked down tight. All the gags, introductions and performance beats have been polished to a spit shine and all been done before, but it still makes you smile. The dance moves, the swaying, the banter from the band and the arrangement on stage – none of it is new – but they bring the hustle like nobody's business. One of the joys of the MSO is watching all the members go about their business. There's so much detail on stage, with each individual (maybe 25 in all) having their own little idiosyncrasies and moves, that it never gets old.

The setlist was a tried and true one too, with the Get Smart theme song sounding tight and lively. Lygon Street Meltdown felt good, but the intro to When Dean Went Down To Mexico went on too long and as a result things needed time to warm up again. Paradiso was a nice smooth antidote to the high tension ska preceding it, and Night Boat To Cairo was as good as ever.

The mix was strange though, and there was a big hollow spot in the middle of the room that echoed and reverberated awkwardly, and standing under the speakers was the only real remedy. Trouble was you're now standing right under the speakers…

Technical missteps aside, it was a strong performance from the group and a welcome return to the Sydney stage.