Live Review: The Smith Street Band, Joyce Manor, Ceres, Allison Weiss

Opening the night, Allison Weiss is the surprise package for many who arrived early. Catchy alt-pop tracks with lashes of punk influence such as Motorbike are a fun draw, where the sixties radio melody of I Was An Island leave her set as one that has many heading for the merch stand to pick up a record.

Following on, Ceres don't mess around, and they arrive fierce and wild to the stage through Happy In Your Head and '91 Your House. Lifting the room and relentlessly holding vigour, the closest resemblance to allowing space to breathe was the introduction of Wil Wagner as a guest spot on current single Stretch Ur Skin.

After two strong support acts and a room that was heavily anticipating their set, Joyce Manor disappointingly didn't reach the heights most expected them to for the night.

While their setlist was strong, dropping in Heart Tattoo, End Of Summer and Midnight Service At The Mutter Museum, they appeared as if they were running their set on autopilot. The devoted few in the pit clearly didn't care and just wanted to hear their favourite songs, but for most, it was time for a smoke break by mid-way through.

Taking on what was double the attendance of their previous largest show in Perth, from the moment the stage banner dropped, The Smith Street Band delivered their best show yet to the local crowd.

Charging into the opening Suffer under the backdrop of an LED screen featuring their latest album artwork, the dance floor instantly swirled with bodies heaving into the barrier. The four lads hold an intense energy on the stage, pounding into riffs while appearing in awe of the punter's crazy celebration of the tracks. The live sound is stepping up by the addition of Lucy Wilson of The Sugar Canes on keys and Jess Locke on guitar, bringing a further richness to the lush harmonies of Birthdays.

After rather relentless touring for several years, the resonance with fans of tracks like Young Drunk and Surrender has a heavy impact with Wil having to do his best to scream above the crowd's own singing. Positive, sincere and smiling throughout, The Smithies delivered a sweaty 20-song set that struck hard on every level and exemplified the band's propulsion to the next rung in the Australian live music scene.