The Phillie Jays were setting up for a Melbourne gig last year at the tail end of a three-band line-up. The energy levels in the room were dropping quickly and it seemed unlikely that many would stick around for these scruffy-looking fellows and their raw, grizzly-sounding combination of indie, punk and soul. But then they started playing Going to the Casino, the sweaty, slightly tongue-in-cheek party anthem that has done much to secure their reputation, and suddenly all bets were off. These guys play a mean live set and it goes without saying that no one left: indeed, when these guys play, you'd be a fool not to stay. The band consists of Sydneysiders Joel Beeson and Simon Berckelman and a rotating roster of drummers. Their debut album, Hope is for Hopers, was released in June last year and reached No 34 on the ARIA album charts. Performing here with the Boxer Rebellion, the first indie band in history to enter the Billboard chart on digital sales alone.

Review, 2 January 2010