On the last Friday of April, Billboard played host to a mixed bag of punters, with plenty of older fans chancing the weather and the hefty ticket price to observe the latest incarnation of UNKLE.

When the lights were dimmed at 9:45 it was immediately clear that we would be traversing well trodden ground. As an ageing crowd welcomed some ageing travellers to a very well worn stage, this reviewer was left searching for context, unsure whether to applaud politely or whistle and cheer. My feelings were only exacerbated when frontman James Lavelle, donning a sunnies and leather jacket combo strongly resemblant of Duke Nukem, entered the stage with the Willy Wonka theme blaring in the background.

UNKLE’s track selection was enjoyable but very safe, with reliable old favourites like Chemistry and Restless filling spaces that could just as easily have been occupied by new tracks with the potential for great stage energy. The set was lively and entertaining in parts, but often overwhelmed by subdued and somewhat procedural renditions of tracks that neither needed nor received an introduction. While this wasn’t a completely disconnecting experience, we often caught ourselves lamenting the lack of atmosphere in what was a dwindling crowd.

Aside from opener The Answer, the new tracks that did make the set-list were essentially performed “as is” without much creative variation. For myself, this meant that the elation which accompanied the start of each UNKLE classic was accompanied by the uncomfortable thought that nobody cared much for their new material. Responses to the new album indicate that this isn’t the case, yet the lack of excitement in the room during Ablivion could have fooled anyone into thinking that they were the support act.

Despite much endeavour and frequent on-stage adjustments, the production crew struggled to execute the grand lighting and visuals that accompanied the band. This was no fault of their own – rather, the depth of the performance area and the closeness of the stage to the audience made their job very difficult. Rather than being immersed in the ethereal projections and intense strobe lighting, many patrons were mere metres from the screen and suffered from a very localised perception of the overall production.

Whether due to poor planning or the lack of a better venue option, we experienced a night of enjoyable music in a less than appropriate setting.