Live Review: The Temper Trap Sydney Opera House 0612

On Friday evening, the bright lights and big crowds of Vivid swelled around Circular Quay, buzzing at the festival epicentre of the Opera House. While the chimes rang out for the Karen O crowd next door, those of us in the Concert Hall filed in for the charming opening act of Melbourne musician Nick Murphy, aka Chet Faker. Striking a gnome-like figure with beard and beanie behind keys and sampler, Murphy live now comes complete with band that helped produce a tight and totally engaging set. Opening with Cigarettes And Chocolate, Chet Faker's music is, from the go, a beautiful mix of electronic pop and rock, soaked with r'n'b and blues influences. With looped samples that sound like scratched records and wooden heartbeats, Murphy's warm melodies perfectly compliment his strong soul vocals, aptly connecting the emotional imagery of his lyrics. His cover of No Diggity, the track that opened all the doors for Chet Faker, was saved for last – and what a closer. His rendition of the Blackstreet '90s hit started off as a slow jam before picking up pace and sizzling with a blues outro heavy with keys.

In a shower of flashing lights, The Temper Trap came thumping out of the gates with London's Burning, one of the strongest numbers off their new self-titled album. Encouraging the crowd to get on their feet, this was a band that engaged with their audience from the outset and reaped the rewards of a Concert Hall that was alive and joyous, even through a set loaded with new material.

While the pummelling drums of latest release, Need Your Love, and the familiarity of Down River had things warming up, it was past hit, Love Lost, that had the crowd teeming out of their seats and singing along. Through tracks Rabbit Hole and Fader, lead singer Dougy Mandagi's voice was the star, faultlessly shifting register before dissolving into a gospel-like plea in the beautiful Trembling Hands. For Science Of Fear the band truly opened up, a long instrumental had bass player Jonathon Aherne wildly swinging around the right of stage and Lorenzo Sillitto unleashing haunting guitar riffs that echoed down the song.

Sweet Disposition was always going to be the curtain closer and their live performance of their biggest hit did not disappoint. In a song that delicately balances intimacy and desperate energy, the punching riffs lifted Mandagi's falsetto, bringing a great night of live Australian music comfortably home.