Live Review: Tully On Tully, Playwrite

Dispelling Election Day blues within seconds of kicking off their set, Playwrite bounce their drama-laden brand of percussion-driven funk rock off the walls of this largely empty room. While claiming influences of Animal Collective and TV On The Radio, the epic grandeur of Elbow and the bongo/floor tom fury of Local Natives are more accurate likenesses, which, in these hands, is no bad thing. Clearly a massive asset to any festival line-up, Playwrite deal in music to feel and dance to rather than just hear. It's strange to see the smallish room gradually fill and the audience respond with trademark warm politeness (the kind that keeps this country on its knees); when singer Jordan White pushes his impressively powerful voice, these songs deserve an arena of fans, arms around each other and fists aloft.

To fractured projections of The Wizard Of Oz, Tully On Tully take to the stage to wind up their national tour promoting new, stonkeringly good EP Weightless. Dancers push their way to the front of the now-packed room as the band launch into opener Hunt You Down. With two years of consistent gigging behind them and a solid, unchanged line-up, tonight's gig feels like a new high for the band. TOT are always a note-perfect, formidable pop machine, but tonight they seem ready to take it to the next level. Singer Natalie Foster is a mesmerising presence live and she moves with a feline quality. Inhabiting her words she enters the audience. The band's radio hit Naked and the sterling So Close To Over really highlight the role of Foster's four-piece backing band – not only the musicianship but also the personalities of the band members shine through in these songs now. It's as if two years of gigging has finally made the band comfortable to play the parts and be themselves.

While highlights Quiet Company and EP opener Going On Like This noisy-up the crowd, it's the Hayden Calnin-featuring triple j hit Stay that sees the entire room burst into singing that's so emphatic it nearly drowns out the band. Calnin's absent tonight but ably covered by guitarist Greg Rietwyk and keyboardist Pete Corrigan. Watching Tully On Tully share disbelieving smiles as the crowd lift their voices is the highpoint of a blazing set. It's a powerful reminder of what music can do and, no matter what happens elsewhere in the country, there are few places in the world we'd rather be.