Live Review: Sheppard, Reece Mastin, No Frills Twins

Explosive and eclectic, the No Frills Twins open the night with their signature unconventional style and sound. Dressed in bright purple, Avatar-esque costumes, the girls capture the punters from the bar to the world they are creating with their alternative but grounded and authentic house/dance music. But it's a fumbly performance with a few technical faults — whether due to nerves or something else — so it is hard to stay captured, though the two solider on and close with an intimate and enthusiastic performance of their latest single, Love Me Tender.

Later on, adoring fans both young and old fawn over a stripped-back, rock-inspired acoustic performance by none other than Reece Mastin. The matured X Factor winner oozes confidence in his stage presence, and the audience is lapping up every bit of it. Heartache Blues is a gritty and passionate ballad; he shifts the spotlight to his pal, Taylor Sheridan, and the duo showcase their intensely chill and raw acoustic abilities.

The lights lower and a faint blur of long, bright hair and bright outfits flood the stage. From the word go, they are infectiously poppy and energetic. Sheppard have come back to Melbourne for the first time in three years, and the opening of their set is a teasing look at the new album. "You're like the second crowd in the whole world to hear this," says George Sheppard. So, each track is somewhat new to us but, still, we aren't unfamiliar with that irresistibly sweet indie-pop sound they are known for.

The band's new single, Edge Of The Night — like every track — has a strong hook and arrangement that holds every crowd member in the moment and lost in the passion dealt out by the band. We Belong sees audience members trying furiously and hopelessly trying to sing along with catchy lyrics they don't know yet, and it's impossible to resist. The family dynamic and enthusiasm they project make us feel part of something special.

Despite the unrelenting energy and enthusiasm the crowd is giving back to every new track, they are definitely waiting for something. Punters shout and holler classic, and familiar, song names. "You've been patient enough," says vocalist Amy Sheppard, before the three launch into a collaborative band and audience sing-along of Let Me Down Easy. It's a light and beautiful track that has everyone in the room echoing the lyrics back to the band. George, who is now perched on the edge of the stage leaning into the crowd, eggs them on to get louder and jump higher for their final song, Geronimo. The hit is explosive, and you can feel the vibrations of the energetic clapping and jumping, and, when the track ends, it ends in an epic instrumental, courtesy of bass player Emma Sheppard, guitarists Jay Bovino and Michael Butler, and Dean Gordon on the drums.

"Did we trick ya?" says Amy as they bound back out to the tune of screaming fans. Their encore performance starts off slow, with a rendition of DJ Snake's Let Me Love You (as sung by Justin Bieber), but they soon find their trademark bubbly euphoria and Amy throws herself from the stage to run through and join punters in one final dance. Tonight, the band proves that timeless adage: the family that plays together, slays together.