Live Review: Peter Bjorn & John, Hein Cooper

We stumbled out of the rain into a fairly sparse Metro Theatre for support Hein Cooper. He makes acoustic guitar-based indie-pop. It's soulful and heartfelt, and Cooper does really seem delighted to be back home playing shows, telling us about tradies triple j's Richard Kingsmill spotted singing along to Rusty. If we were more familiar with his work we'd sing along too. He sets a warm, joyful tone.

9.30pm does seem like an early time for a headline set, and sure, it's raining, and people have already started the trek up to Splendour, but that still doesn't go far to explaining how few people are gathered here tonight — the band to follow deserves more. Swedish indie-rock trio Peter Bjorn & John don't seem to mind though, opening with the upbeat May Seem Macabre from 2011's Gimme Some. Just try not to feel light and breezy when a song whose main refrain is "It's beautiful…" is being performed with such gusto in front of you, the band themselves in front of an intricate, colourful, strangely mesmerising light display. It's music giving you a hug.

Peter Bjorn & John play a song or two from each record (more of 2009's Living Thing would've pleased this reviewer), but the focus is mostly on this year's Breakin' Point, starting with What You Talking About?, the title track and In This Town. They bring a solid amount of energy to each song. Frontman Peter Moren loves a little bit of showmanship, jumping split-legged in the air and strutting into the crowd for It Don't Move Me. He spends more than half the song bouncing around on the floor, curving around to sing to as many cheery audience members as possible. Bassist Bjorn Yttling also loves a dance, careening back and forth across the stage during set highlights Amsterdam, at times seeming to buckle under the weight of his sturdy bass lines. Drummer John Eriksson unbuttons his shirt towards the end of the set and swings it around — but he's still sensible in a T-shirt. Moren is on this back on the stage after a theatrical collapse during set closer, the upbeat, joyful Objects Of My Affection. Peter Bjorn & John are joined by touring members on keys and "a little bit of everything", who are introduced to us as Klaus and Freya. Freya does a stellar job of the female vocal on expected encore number Young Folks. The encore is bolstered by Hard Sleep, Second Chance and an extended I Know You Don't Love Me.