An evening at The Toff with some of Australia's biggest upcoming acts appeared irresistible, as a formidable crowd shuffled into the venue for seats at the foot of the stage. Despite advertisements pitting Andy Bull as the headline attraction, such a privilege would be reserved for Melbourne's Owl Eyes. It appeared an unnecessary decision, but it would not prove a concern given the sensational music that followed.

The night got off to a shaky start with Jessica Says seizing her platform, showcasing an exercise in curious melancholy. She possesses a sonic fixation upon a brooding, almost gothic aesthetic, her approach potentially polarising to audiences. Her set was fuelled by resourceful tendency to switch between instruments. Naturally - as a known member of Sally Seltmann's band - she appeared most at home utilising her soulful cello, only pedaling the tone of the set further. That her music's outlook appears so relentless promises to either work with her or against her. On this occasion, most of the audience were non-plussed by her dreary expedition through emotional drudgery, despite a certain special quality to her performance. There's something uniquely captivating about Jessica Venables herself, all the while matching the understated spirit of her music. It's unfortunate that her musical repertoire failed to capture the same sort of attention, suffering from a melodic similarity between songs, messy impression in which sounds tended to bleed together.

The evening would soon take an auspicious turn however, Andy Bull gracing the stage. He would indulge in a cover of The Shins' classic New Slang to open his set, his extraordinary vocal talents emerging at once. It would appear that no octave is beyond the Sydney-sider, each silky, honey-voiced sentiment surging effortless from his station. Between songs, Bull recreated his charismatic best, his endearing banter forging a real connection with the Toff. It was easy to get into the set, especially when much of Bull's material - including songs from his Phantom Pains EP - proved completely and utterly sublime. From the sincere pleas of My Street to the pained carousel of Dog, Bull could do no wrong. With brilliant piano-pop from beginning to end in a light-hearted showing courtesy of the charming performer, this was a fantastic set. Andy Bull, somehow, remains an undiscovered gem. Hopefully it's only a matter of time before the singer-songwriter deservedly finds himself with due recognition. A must-see.

The final act of the evening was Owl Eyes, a specialist in evocative pop tunes. Although not entirely imposing in their craft, the band sure know their way around a melody. Their pop sensibility is sure to take them places, their flagship single 1+1 indicative of this very fact. Its lyrical ideas are simple enough, but their expression proves addictive - a thread that runs throughout Owl Eyes' performance. Another stunning cover would continue the evening's fine form, Long Distance Call by Phoenix re-imagined to perfection. An on-stage collaboration with Jessica Venables for a new song, Wait, gave early indications of an EP for release later this year. They might not set the world on fire, their set lacking in any grand adventure or experimentation, but there's something about Owl Eyes' brand of pop that's easy and appealing. A band to watch.

On the whole, this was a thoroughly enjoyable evening at The Toff with three acts perhaps on the cusp of their share of industry and public limelight.