The John Steel Singers - The Old Museum

There's a horse in a cape playing an organ. No, really, there's a horse in a cape playing an organ up there. The John Steel Singers' keyboardist/trombonist Pete Bernoth introduces their set in equine form by taking to the enormous church organ set in the top corner of the Old Museum. Part drama, part comedy, it's an appropriate greeting from the Brisbane sextet, who've attracted a couple hundred fans to this beautiful building on the Valley's outskirts.

Bernoth de-capes and gallops downstairs to join the band as they ease into material from their forthcoming debut album, Tangalooma. The first half of the set is brimming with the unreleased, though not unheard: several of these songs have featured in the band's recent shows, including 'Overpass'. Owing to the sheer accessibility of their indie-pop sound, the decision to lead with new material doesn't compromise the mood. The band trade primarily in memorable vocal melodies and innovative drumbeats, both of which abound on the songs from Tangalooma. Sticksman Ross Chandler hits his snare rim almost as often as the skins to elicit curious, shallow sounds that allow Damien Hammond's basslines to fill out the bottom-end.

This is the final show of their tour in support of new single 'Masochist', the shuddering rhythm of which is punctuated by trombone blasts and a newfound fondness for keyboard leads. A suite of established favourites follows. As on their debut EP, 'The Staged Intervention of Poor Rich By His Righteous Peers' segues into 'Strawberry Wine', while 'Evolution' sees singer Tim Morrissey invite members of support band Little Scout to dance and shake tambourines. Eventually, adventurous punters and bar staff join the 20-strong throng.

The stage invaders sheepishly remove themselves at song's end, but the fuzzy bass of set closer 'Rainbow Kraut' invites their return. Mel Tickle and Laura Kovic of Little Scout echo multi-instrumentalist Scott Bromiley's colour-call in the chorus, before the brass section sounds out their tour.

by Andrew McMillen