Attending Sunday night gigs requires dedication, particularly in the clutches of a Melbourne winter. An intimate gathering assembles and Sola Rosa immediately warms the room with sexy, rumbling bass. Those who have braved this overture to the working week shake their thang to instrumentation until we’re instructed, “Put your hands together for Spikey Tee!” Though this tremendously talented vocalist is vertically challenged, the mic has been set up for a giant. He struggles to adjust it, chuckling and shaking his head to acknowledge the sight-gag in progress. Abandoning this task he opts to persevere without the stand and beckons for the audience to take a couple of steps forward. The Kiwi fraternity’s out in full force and a nearby punter greets his mate with a “Hey Bro!”

Sola Rosa’s irresistible, driving sound is punctuated by funky wah-wah guitar and frenetic bongos. The band’s enthusiasm reflects the passion they feel about this particular brand of Auckland dub. Percussionist John Highsted employs a vast array of facial gymnastics to help him apply just the right touch and at one point he appears to be playing a lampshade. Founding member Andrew Spraggon is in charge of gadgets and effects and works mysteriously behind his Mac. For all we know he could be checking his emails but his movements suggest something a lot more complex. Spikey Tee’s effortless, lilting vocals are the piece de resistance. He supplies an authentic dose of Jamaican sunshine and confusingly leaves the stage not long into the set. The band does well to maintain the vibe but the featured vocalist is rapturously received upon his return. Bewitched by the beats the entire room bumps and grinds involuntarily.

Spikey Tee sheds some light, “That encore stuff is definitely bullshit!” adding that this is the last night of their tour. The sparse crowd indulges in a bit of simple, stage-directed ‘Simon Says’ choreography – we’re definitely feeling it like toddlers at a Wiggles concert. Sola Rosa have come a long way, from using a crappy burner to press one CD at a time to securing record deals that ensure distribution beyond New Zealand and Australia to America, Germany, Japan, Spain and the UK. The band concludes with a few kicking new tracks from their forthcoming fourth album and Spikey Tee can’t resist a Borat impersonation to close – “And we will be back to give you high-five!” Choice.