Live Review: Mikelangelo & The Tin Star, Tas Flemings' Hawaiian Trio

Walking into the bandroom tonight is like walking into the soundtrack to SpongeBob SquarePants – in the best possible way – thanks to Tas Fleming's Hawaiian Trio. The theme for tonight's gig is “Beach Party”, and in case the music isn't a dead giveaway, a stage decked out with palm trees, flamingo lights and leis sure is.

Mikelangelo & The Tin Star are on next, and the capacity crowd are ready for the show – for when it comes to a Mikelangelo performance, it really is a show, not just a gig. And what a show it is. There are multiple costume changes (some on stage) and guests galore, with the wonderful Go Girl Gadget Go Go!, the always always-sultry Saint Clare, and Stu Thomas, who is on guitar duties for tonight. Armed with a number of favourites, such as Action (Is My Middle Name), as well as a couple of songs penned just for tonight, the band's set is non-stop unadulterated fun. You can't help but admire the effort this band go to in the name of entertainment – after all, how many bands would create their own “vintage” home movie of a trip to the beach just to be played as a backdrop for one show?

It doesn't take long before Flap! have the audience dancing up a storm to their blend of early jazz, gypsy swing and folk. Eamon McNelis (wearing the shortest of snugly-fitting shorts possible) and Jess Guille (in a fetching Carmen Miranda-esque get-up) lead their band triumphantly through a set which culminates in the merging of the two headliners for a couple of Beach Boys covers, namely California Girls (nicely appropriated as Inner-Northern Girls) and Kokomo. Now this is how to have a beach party!