In a rare moment of riveting morning television, I witnessed Kochie (the bespectacled male presenter from Channel 7’s ‘Sunrise’) trying to be cool. He closed one of last week’s shows with a shout-out to The Roots. Observing his female co-host’s panicked expression, he quickly clarified he had enjoyed this band’s performance the previous night. I’m not sure whether it was her reaction to their name or the visual of Kochie shaking his thang that most tickled my fancy.

Chuckling at this recollection, I enter the already busy venue. My eardrums appreciate True Live live. This classically trained 6-piece is one of Melbourne’s finest collectives. They look stylish up there – Tom Butt plucks his double bass sporting the latest designer trakkie and foxy frontman RHyNO MC seems to be trying Guy Sebastian’s discarded ‘fro on for size.

True Live’s ‘TV’ is currently the soundtrack for a Fox Sports advert and elicits a disappointing response tonight. “Let’s just bounce around!” falls on deaf ears and lazy limbs. They sound slick but the punters are saving themselves.

Fellow 6-piece The Roots extract appreciation aplenty. Black Thought’s flow warrants much respect and there are no bumps between their tracks, which need no introduction. ‘Long Time’ is an early highlight and the joint is heaving. Nearly every bouncing body I speak to tonight is a repeat offender – unable to resist the urge to re-live the magic they experienced during The Roots sell-out 2005 Australian tour.

A medley of covers is devoured by the devotees – JT’s ‘SexyBack’ has never sounded so good! Salt’n’Pepa follows and I imagine Kochie busting a cringe-worthy move. The Roots re-energise tracks people have forgotten and pay tribute to the best of the rest – much like a Grandmaster Flash DJ set played live.

?uestlove’s drum solo will definitely stretch my vocabulary. It’s impossible to function so fast! He pelts the skins and punctuates our cheers with rhythms that captivate and debilitate. Forget dancing, an epileptic fit couldn’t keep to the beat! A roar goes up to the rafters, we’re aware we’ve witnessed greatness beyond compare.

The pinnacle is (what must be close to) a 15 minute rendition of ‘Don’t Feel Right’ which is way too short. Panic sets in as The Roots disappear from view. Foot stomping and side-wall slapping woos them back onstage. I think there would have been a riot if the lights came up depriving us of an extra chance to bounce!

Satisfied, we all turn to face Bourke Street. Everyone attempts to spill out of the entrance at once. Rocking from right to left and not making much forward progress calls to mind ‘The March Of The Penguins’. All that’s missing is a commentary by Morgan Freeman.