On a cold and dewy Friday night, Sydney’s bohemian crowd flocked for some warmth and layered grooves to The Basement. As tonight promised to be a night of music, theatre and anarchy as Sydney’s darlings of everything boho, Coda, took to the stage after a rather lengthy break (since Sydney’s Cockatoo Island Festival).

Arriving at around 10pm, we were greeted to new kids on the block Waiting For Guinness, as they warmed up and started getting festively into the spirit of things, for this full capacity room. This is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of checking out these guys, and I was happily surprised at how much fun they actually were. Living up to their description ‘garage punk meets gypsy cabaret’ almost immediately. I joined the legion of dancing fans up the front and happily got into the fun loving spirit of the night, looking around, I felt as though I had stepped onto the set of ‘The Cat’s Meow.’

With stage presence a plenty, the WFG guys sing and dance their way through a tight set of fun, gypsy cabaret. Even making up songs in between songs about no bass in the foldback etc. These genre blending guys are one band to watch out for, no matter what it is you’re into these guys will warm you to their unique blend of cabaret punk pronto.

Next up were the band everyone had been anxiously waiting for, taking the stage at around 11.30pm, Sydney dance, jazz, atmospheric bohemian five piece Coda. Taking the stage in a slightly different line up than usually seen, with the addition of a couple of new players including Prop’s Jarred Underwood on drums. Dressed in their usual eye catching eclectic costume style, Coda wasted no time unleashing their blissful beats and crafty folk compositions on a loving home town crowd that lapped up every minute, in an entranced silence as they watched and danced on the borders of the room or sat deathly still watching in awe from the dancefloor.

Coda treated us to a number of live favourites from their recent releases and new and unreleased oeuvres. Highlights of their 2 hour set included ‘Giraffe Girl,’ which Naomi explained in her cute innocent little girl way, was written about a girl who used to get teased at school for being too tall; the flavoursome ‘Circus Bizarre’ from their ‘For Our Animal Friends’ EP and a fresh cut tentatively titled ‘Schoose Your Rhythm’- gaining it’s title via crowd suggestion in Byron Bay last week.

There’s no doubting that Coda are still one of Sydney’s most exciting and inspiring live acts, tonight’s show was just one of many tightly structured sets of colourful, mesmerising, intricately layered performances Coda have spent their career perfecting. Borrowing from such a large array of influences it’s hard to see anything lacking in their performances and easy to see why they have such a wide spectrum of fans flocking to their shows, which are often sold out. What a magical way to end the week, a delectable treat, that my words simply can’t do the justice Coda deserve!