Live Review: The Presidents Of The United States Of America, Hey Geronimo & Ashes

Opening for a band arguably touring on the back of the '90s nostalgia dollar would be no easy task, so there is a certain level of forgiveness that can be afforded to Ashes. The suited-up five-piece played radio-friendly, incredibly safe pop/rock and clearly loved doing it. There was nothing offensive or particularly bad about the group, but their ever lost in mid tempo sound is presumably destined to always open, never headline.

For a group with a startlingly similar musical modus operandi, Hey Geronimo could not have been more different. Again channelling the mid-'90s radio rock sound, the quintet – with additional horns – just knew how to write a pop song. Catchy hooks, endearing lyrics and a passionate performance earned them their warm reception. The horn and keyboard additions benefited the group with an almost Bosstones-reminiscent ska sound. The crowd was loose and down to dance.

And dance they did. Strutting on stage to a classical overture, The Presidents Of The United States Of America held no pretence about the night, proclaiming, “We are the rock band, you are the rock audience” before breaking into Tiki God. The crowd was bopping and screaming along from the word go and the level of joy coming from the band was infectious. After a smattering of later career hits, the main event of the night began – a full play through of the band's debut self-titled album.

Such laurel-resting ideas can go either way – they can serve as reminder of how great certain records are, or solidify that a band's best years are behind them. The Presidents' energetic 13-track run through managed to be both. There was no denying the level of fun had by everyone present – by both band and audience – as the group rocked their lanky bodies through post-grunge-alt-rock classics Kitty, Peaches, Lump and Back Porch. The reception the first half, latter period hits received seemed cool in comparison. The fuzzy, often pedal and overdriven riffs couldn't mask what sublime pop songsmiths this group was in 1995.

A medley of covers as an encore only solidified the levels of fun. The band's essential Video Killed The Radio Star cover served a brilliant closer. They left the stage with the declaration, “We are now and forever at your service.” It was a point hard to argue.