Franz Ferdinand/Philadelphia Grand Jury
The Big Top, Sydney
04/03/2010

For a venue in the middle of an amusement park, a stone’s throw from the Sydney Opera House, The Big Top is a strangely characterless and ugly proposition. Despite its connotations, there’s no stripey tent, no clowns or parading elephants – just a room that slightly resembles a school hall. It doesn’t help of course that Luna Park has shut down for the evening – no smell of popcorn and hotdogs, dimmed lights, the rollercoaster silent, the big wheel unmoving. And with a lack of punters waiting outside the venue, under the shadow of the Harbour Bridge and the watchful eye of the city lights in the distance, tonight’s surroundings are well… a bit creepy.

Tonight’s headliners Franz Ferdinand certainly have the jaunty quality that suits the idea of playing at the circus, but plenty of people have turned out to see local boys Philadelphia Grand Jury open-up with their feel-good, swinging 50’s rockabilly and wacky voiceovers. Curiously, rather than address the crowd themselves, the band have what sounds like Chris Rock introduce each song in a hyperactive squawk while they sip beer and tune their instruments a tad awkwardly. But there’s nothing uncomfortable about these undisputed pop gems and catchy choruses that were made for mainstream radio. ‘I’m Going To Kill You’ and ‘Ready To Roll’ sound like they took TV On The Radio’s bass licks and the best parts of Jet and injected happy pills up its arse, while ‘Going to the Casino’ could be found playing on the Happy Days diner jukebox.

And although there’s nothing particularly innovative about the The Philly Jays musically, as bassist Joel Beeson AKA MC Bad Genius tears through the crowd for ‘I Don’t Wanna Party’ hugging fans and screaming in people’s faces – it’s clear the best entertainment isn’t always the cerebral kind.

Dannii Leivers