It's the way he holds his guitar. It's the way he delivers his vocals. It's the way he wears his shirt. It's the way he smiles slyly. Knowing one thing. Britt Daniel is the coolest man in Rock and Roll. Spoon returned to Sydney on Friday night and we were grateful. Smiling wildly and longingly into the night. For Spoon are just a great band. Period. Efficient and proficient. Loose AND tight. Soulful and melodic. Playful and meaningful. Wonderful.

It began quietly and subtly. Just Britt on acoustic and Eric Harvey on keyboards. Playing a stripped back version of "The Mystery Zone". Sublime. Then we were handed a good chunk from the new album, including a fiery version of "Written In Reverse". Another great early highlight was a storming rendition of "Don't Make Me A Target". Or how about the atmospheric "The Ghost Of You Lingers". Pretty great, huh? Then it happened. IT occurred. The moment. A cover of Wolf Parade's "Modern World". Done superbly, I could have walked away here. Totally satisfied. But, I stayed. For next was "The Beast And Dragon, Adored". This song just absolutely kills live. Barnstorming. Another feature of the night were the massive guitar shredding jams. Especially on "They Never Got You" and "My Mathematical Mind". These showed off the band perfectly. Daniel is not only a great and distinctive singer, but an expert axeman. Harvey adds the required keyboard notes and Jim Eno keeps rhythm perfectly. But special mention should also go to bass player Rob Pope. His bass really underpins a lot of the band's songs. Thumping and driving all the way. "The Underdog" was naturally a joy, although no horns this time and the acoustic appeared again on the sublime closer "Black Like Me". A encore was to follow and I was overjoyed to hear my favourite new track in "I Saw The Light". A great way to end a great night.
Spoon have IT, in spades. Greatness never sounded so good.

Set List
The Mystery Zone
Written In Reverse
Got Nuffin
Don't Make Me A Target
The Ghost Of You Lingers
Is Love Forever?
Love Song (The Damned cover)
Small Stakes
Modern World (Wolf Parade cover)
The Beast And Dragon, Adored
Anything You Want
Don't You Evah
They Never Got You
I Summon You
I Turn My Camera On
My Mathematical Mind
The Underdog
Nobody Gets Me But You
Black Like Me

I Saw The Light
Rhthm & Soul
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb