A heritage act selling a show that ignores the tried-and-true fan favorites to instead get an audience across a new record is a tough ask, though The Church have sold out a seated Old Museum tonight to share their 25th record Further/Deeper.

Never one to follow the obvious path, rather than playing the 12-song tracklist from start to finish, Steve Kilbey leads his bandmates into the darkness of album track number four, Toy Head, and Ian Haug’s first guitar solo of the evening. Replacing founding member Marty Willson-Piper, the ex-Powderfinger guitarist’s presence is a novelty to gape at initially, though as the set continues his chemistry with founding guitarist Peter Koppes and drummer Tim Powles, along with the inimitable Kilbey, is the real kicker. A midset progressive/psychedelic segue has the four locked into a deep rock groove of which the hypnotic though challenging Love Philtre is a set highlight. Laurel Canyon offers an acoustic reprieve, a tender moment of sunshine-y pop, while Pride Before A Fall feels like a grandiose declaration, particularly given Kilbey chooses his higher register over his usual low, deep tones.  

Skipping the hits of yesteryear isn’t going to send everyone home satiated, and there are a few disappointed by the promise of an encore that brings just one deviation from the Further/Deeper setlist in ‘80s cut Don’t Look Back – which in itself is perhaps a statement. The Church didn’t get to be namechecked as key influencers by the likes of Thom Yorke by conceding to the weight of demand created by a song so heavily steeped in national identity as Under The Milky Way – and thank goodness for that. Tonight’s set feels like a statement indeed, on artistic integrity, career longevity and survival.