The Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO-declared world heritage site, took some sixteen years from design to doors opening. The journey of UNKLE only just surpasses that, with a history dating back to a time where British school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy created a musical outfit whose style would not only change, but so too, the band members that it was comprised of.

Come Monday night, despite the frosty conditions outside, when a good-looking strings section was joined by Lavelle and the likes of Gavin Clark (vocals), James Griffith (bass), and Joel Cadbury (guitar), there was an air of excitement that went all the way back to the moment this gig was first announced. I mean, seriously – ‘UNKLE, Live with Strings’ at the Sydney Opera House. Who wouldn’t be even just a little excited?

As everyone nestled into their seats, stalls, or for some, their standing positions, whatever excitement there would have normally been for an artist of Lavelle’s gravitas had the gig been held in a club or a warehouse, was arguably restrained in the Opera House. People clapped and cheered, but they didn’t quite lose their minds as they might’ve had the gig been elsewhere.

And that would essentially be the story of the night. They launched into a collection of some of their best, with plenty from their latest album Where Did the Night Fall as well as highlights including Heaven, Lonely Soul and Money and Run, the latter including a video version of Nick Cave planted on the screen behind the band. At other times the screen had visuals that while entertaining, were still a touch short of being, “OMG WTF that was awesome”. Remember, however, it was the Opera House. People expecting to have their minds melted may have misjudged this gig.

While Lavelle did Jesus poses and hand plants off the table, Cadbury in particular gave us a performance full of absolute passion, and sitting close enough to the front to almost see his sweat bead, he did not hold back and his performance was one of the highlights. The strings were a great touch, and when their sound came to the fore, it was similarly truly something to appreciate. Unfortunately, more often than not, their calming sound was drowned out by the rest of the band coming through just a little too loud. Soundcheck please.

Strangely or not, the vast majority of the crowd remained seated. Yes, it was UNKLE, but it was also a Monday night at the Sydney Opera House. While a DJ and a band will always feed off the energy they get from the crowd, and vice versa, many were quite happy to remain seated and enjoy the show: strange times. That said, the biggest response came at the end, when they closed their encore with In A State. Yeah, pretty special.

One could walk away from the gig thinking it was a little disappointing, largely due to the crowd response and some sound issues. Someone else could walk away thinking that it was pretty epic just to hear UNKLE in the Opera House. On the large part, I think most would nestle themselves somewhere comfortably in the middle.