Live Review: Phil Jamieson, Tim Smyth & Holytrash, Royal Chant

Sydney upstarts Royal Chant are a mixture of garage-rock and '90s nostalgia that have everyone paying attention thanks to frontman Mark Spence. As the band deliver surging and melodic alternative tunes, it's Spence who steals the spotlight. The American's hilarious banter has the crowd chuckling while he slowly undresses, ending the performance in just his jocks and The Flash t-shirt before tackling bassist Ryan Stuart to the ground in a hail of feedback.

Local Melbourne act Tim Smyth & HolyTrash follow with an entertaining set of melodic alternative-rock numbers channelling former Aussie underachievers Motor Ace. Smyth begins things solo before HolyTrash join him for a lively showcase of rock-pop, with their latest single My Imagination the standout.

Casually strolling into the crowd with acoustic guitar in hand, the room suddenly falls silent as Phil Jamieson covers Meredith Wilson's Till There Was You (made famous by The Beatles). Wearing a black suit - minus the tie - Jamieson appears relaxed and in good spirits for the last-ever musical performance at Shebeen Bandroom. Without a solo record to his name, Jamieson spends the evening rolling out Grinspoon covers for his adoring fans. Sweet As Sugar, Bad Funk Stripe and Repeat are given a softer edge before Jamieson launches into his quadrilogy of wedding songs. Comeback starts things off and is followed by the harmonica-featuring Better Off Alone. Neither song gives off wedding vibes until Jamieson slips in a cover of Bryan Adams' classic Heaven, although surprisingly only a few in the crowd seem to know it. Jamieson has always been a charmer and tonight is no exception. In between songs he ponders Brexit, discusses the unfortunate demise of Shebeen and calls out a punter for wearing a flat cap. He's a seasoned performer who's gone from rockstar to mature crooner and has the air of someone who'd be at home playing Vegas casinos belting out the hits.

Swapping the acoustic for an electric guitar on Black Friday, Jamieson is joined by Royal Chant's bassist Stuart and frontman Spence on the drums for the final few numbers. Together the three turn No Reason into a country anthem while adding a dash of reggae to More Than You Are. Just Ace ends Jamieson's wedding quadrilogy and invites a singalong before an extended jam of 1000 Miles ends things on a high, Jamieson doing his best to cement his position as one of Australian music's most endearing personalities.