CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS FROM BIRDS OF TOKYO’S SYDNEY SHOW HERE.

Musical ‘side-projects’ have it tough sometimes. Not only are there constant comparisons to the bands from whence they came, it’s also hard to escape the view that they exist merely for their members to have a bit of fun. Birds Of Tokyo, the Perth band formed from members of other Perth bands like Karnivool and Tragic Delicate, can know this only too well.

They arrive on stage tonight to the sound of Tenacious D’s Classico, a joke song by a joke band formed for a bit of fun by a couple of successful actors. It seemed to be their way of saying, “Yes, we know. We’re a side project. Deal with it.”

But if ever there was an opportunity to rise above ‘side project’ status, this was going to be it. Playing to a sold-out Metro midway through a very big tour across Australia, in support of their acclaimed album Universes, tonight allowed the four-piece to shine on its own terms. And so they did. Opening with recent single Broken Bones, frontman Ian Kenny was greeted with the most excitable crowd I’ve seen at a Sydney gig. The mosh-pit stretched towards the back of the room, causing the floor of the second-storey venue to vibrate in a vaguely alarming manner.

This continued for the entire performance. Illuminated by a spectacular light show, the super-tight band powered through tracks from both their albums, with Kenny’s soaring vocals and occasional acoustic guitar bolstered by Adam Sparks’ fearsome riffs. It was the songs from Universes that enjoyed the best response, and even when the pace slowed slightly mid-set for the likes of Train Wreck and Head In My Hands, the band held the rapt attention of every member of the audience.

Following the most token of gestures towards the conceit of an encore (Kenny mutters a quick, “Thanks and goodnight”, and leaves the stage for, ooh, about twelve seconds before returning to his mic stand, the rest of the band staying put), the band played the final song of the night, Sillhouttic. The song, with its crashing drums and thundering guitars, garnered another huge reaction.

As its “There goes my baby” refrain drew to a close, Ian Kenny stood triumphant, looking out at wave after wave of crowd surfers crashing over the barrier, and every hand in the venue in the air. He must have known that Birds Of Tokyo have finally stepped out of the silhouette of his ‘other’ band.