Last Friday night saw HQ playing host to Art Vs Science, bringing their all-new stage show to life on the Adelaide stop of their ‘The Experiment’ Tour. Supported by Melbourne act Strange Talk (who you would have heard of from being a ‘feature artist’ from Triple J’s Unearthed competition, and their tracks Climbing Walls and Eskimo Boy gaining rotation on radio recently), the show was definitely not one to miss.

The electro-pop provided by the openers fit the vibe of the night perfectly, with Stephen Docker and co. keeping the audience moving on the cold, rainy night, and their unexpected cover of No Doubt’s Hella Good was a pleasant surprise. There was a few technicalities that showed their youth as a band at times – the vocals seemed overpowered by their instruments, for example — but overall, they are definitely a band to watch.

The crowd was definitely ready by the time the headliners took the stage, who opened with radio and fan favourite, A.I.M. Fire and followed up with current single Higher. The Sydney trio had their set-list tighter than tight, running through hits from their debut LP The Experiment effortlessly, and used the venue’s updated lighting rig to full advantage; creating a fitting visual component to the show that only added to the spectacle. Their quirky style was shown in the video backing; with their trademark mix of lo and hi-fi graphics ranging from fiery explosions to Tron-like grids, and during Take A Look At Your Face, a Brady Bunch-style light show came into play.

Unlike many electro bands, their sound is only enhanced with live instruments, creating a sound much bigger than you would expect from a three-piece, and seeing them live shows they are truly skilled musicians, not just ‘those guys’ with the mimes in their video. They kept the night interesting by not only having great interaction with the audience, but with each other as well, culminating in Dan Mac’s guitar solo during Parlez Vous Francais? on Jim Finn’s shoulders.

Tracks like Friend In The Field and Finally See Our Way showcased Dan Mac’s vocal ability; showing more substance than can be heard through the vocoder, and crowd favourite Flippers turned HQ from a nightclub into a festival mosh pit. The feel was electric; with everyone in attendance on their feet and dancing.

With the last chords of the closing track Hollywood played, the crowd was left wanting more, which often is the case with an AvS show. Friday night marked the fourth time I’ve seen the boys live in the last year, but their shows are that entertaining and inventive that none of their tracks feel stale. They really are one of the most original and exciting bands of the moment, and did not not back down on their opening promise of “playing some good music for you on a Friday night”.