Live Review: Sunnyboys

The full Concert Hall was a mix of old and young faces, lending the evening an inter-generational feel. Sure, most were 45+ but you got the sense that the band has also picked up newer fans, via their parents or natural musical inquisitiveness. Earlier in the evening many had also attended the premiere of the film, The Sunnyboy, and been moved by Kaye Harrison's excellent documentary about Jeremy Oxley's personal journey through schizophrenia, music and interpersonal relationships. That gave the band's performance an even greater emotional weight and from the moment the four stepped on stage the warmth and vibe in the room were palpable. It only took three songs before the majority of the crowd was up standing, their bodies bouncing and shaking in the distant ways of youthful exuberance.

If their Enmore show a year ago was a joyful return then this was certainly a lap of honour where the band could revel in and relish the applause with less of the nerves and musical rustiness of that first gig. They were clearly having a blast up there with guitarist Richard Burgman grinning and bouncing around like a kid on Christmas morning. Bill Bilson was the rock, locking down their surprisingly tight sound while bass player Peter Oxley's joy at their reformation was omnipresent throughout the night. Jeremy too cracked a few cheeky grins and showed he has lost none of his vocal and guitar-playing abilities. Solos were dispatched with visceral precision, his voice still conveyed emotion and drive, and the band nailed those classic harmonies. The song titles barely require a mention at a show like this but Happy Man, Show Me Some Discipline, You Need A Friend and Love To Rule were particular highlights in a show that felt as important for the band as it was for the audience. This was nostalgia in its purest form with people transported back to their formative years, lost in the music and emotion of a band they still clearly love.