If there's one thing Body Type know how to do, it's warm up a crowd, which is what they're doing tonight (26 April) opening for UK's Wolf Alice at the Big Top Sydney.
The lion's share of the Sydney band's career has been spent with their name prefixed by 'with special guests' on tour posters, with everyone from King Gizzard to Holly Throsby, to Pond to Japandroids all giving them support slots. Even still, there's a particular fire under the quartet at the moment as they roll-out their debut album 'Everything Is Dangerous But Nothing's Surprising'.
They're charging at every set with precision and focus, while also simultaneously allowing themselves to let loose and be unfiltered in the moment.
The rumble of songs like 'Sex & Rage' and new single 'The Charm' get heads moving, while frontwoman Sophie McComish's irrepressible between-song banter endears her to the quickly-gathering audience.
If you aren't already rooting for Body Type and their riot-grrrl take on indie rock, you certainly are by set's end.
Roughly a month ago at this very venue, an international tour passed through Sydney for the first time in over two years. The surreal nature of seeing artists from outside Australia back in the country has absolutely not been lost as Wolf Alice files onto stage.
There's a palpable excitement – particularly from bassist Theo Ellis, who comes out fists raised as if he'd won a boxing match – which bubbles up to boiling point once the band serve the opening cut 'Smile'.
Since last they were in Australia, a few key things have changed. They're a quintet, for one, with touring keyboardist Ryan Malcolm filling out their sound even further.
They've released their acclaimed third album 'Blue Weekend', for another, hitting #1 in the UK and achieving some of the best reviews of their career.
Both impact the set in their own way. The former allows for frontwoman Ellie Rowsell to ditch her guitar more often and embrace her vocalist role a little further to great effect.
While cuts from the latter serve as clear highlights throughout the set. The lush 'How Can I Make It OK?' turns the packed Big Top into a makeshift choir, while 'Play The Greatest Hits' ensures the mosh is kept lively in amidst the slower numbers.
Even after ostensibly being away from the stage for a couple of years for obvious reasons, there's not a skerrick of rust on Wolf Alice's live show.
From the close-knit harmonies to the surprisingly impeccable mix (the Big Top isn't exactly known for its acoustics), all the way down to the shadow-play of the impressive light show, the London band have spared no expense in bringing the best possible show to an audience that has clearly been waiting with bated breath for their return.
"I didn't expect there to be so many people," says Rowsell at one point, looking out incredulously at the crowd.
We'll do you one better, Ellie – we weren't expecting any international acts to turn up at all. Many happy returns on both fronts.
Read our recent interview with Ellie.
