Live Review: The Jungle Giants, Lastlings

Brisbane heavyweights The Jungle Giants revelled in the adoration of the Republic Bar, dishing up hit after hit to a blissful sold-out crowd.

Off the back of their successful March release Verses, brother and sister duo Joshua and Amy Dowdle aka Lastlings opened to an expectant audience in North Hobart. None were disappointed as Amy Dowdle's glossy vocals glided over luscious electronic production. As standout track Time breathed itself into motion with its atmospheric synths, the crowd swayed in unison like stalks of grass in a breezy field. Joshua Dowdle's swelling guitar sections gave the tracks an irresistible momentum. Lastlings felt, at times, very different live to their dreamy recorded sound, with the deep chillhop of Stranger casting a trance over the crowd. The Gold Coast duo were joined by drummer Dave Jenkins, who has played with many exciting Australian acts over the past few years - Vera Blue, Dustin Tebbutt, Gordi - and impressed throughout with minimalistic beats.

It was no surprise that Lastlings were received with strong applause, with a fluid stream of musical styles that blended together perfectly. Several tracks were so loose and dreamy that many members of the crowd closed their eyes and swung slowly from side to side, like the peaceful Verona. The pair leant into their immersive synthpop sound to get people moving again, with a pulsing drumbeat slightly offbeat. Threads of colourful synths laid over piercing, breathy vocals in You transported the audience with longing lyrics like "What am I supposed to do?... How am I supposed to prove?" While Lastlings are newcomers, their expansive sound heralds a new generation of polished musicians. Australian indie music is obviously in good hands.

The Jungle Giants are old favourites of Tasmanian gig goers, having toured here for years. They wasted no time in winning over the tightly packed crowd with their infectiously positive vibes. Cheers erupted at the distinctive opening strums of She's A Riot, people immediately bobbing all across the Republic Bar. Lead Sam Hales was quick to show his gratitude to the venue for selling out. The most euphoric indie rock makes you feel like part of the sound and the collective vibe of the crowd, rather than an individual, and The Jungle Giants hit that note effortlessly. When Hales called on the crowd to jump about and wave their arms from front to back, the crowd obliged. The four-piece gave the crowd exactly what they wanted, having them chanting along in Anywhere Else and violently head-banging in Devil's Play. And when Hales hung over the audience, atop the speaker, he was wrapped in the arms of the front row.

The Jungle Giants varied their strong catalogue with the unrestrained sound of their earlier music, the quirks and monologues of their second LP and the concentrated, mellowed-out indie pop of their most recent release. The delicate falsettos and cinematic synths of their rhythm-driven third album Quiet Ferocity was reminiscent of the live texture of The Rapture with Andrew Dooris on bass, hitting their highest note on In The Garage. Hales teased the crowd with an encore, before the artists delivered a joyful conclusion to the set, leaving to a long ovation.