Before I begin delving into the awesome spectacular that was The Polyphonic Spree's set at the Forum Theatre this past Saturday night, I want to get some essential preliminaries out of the way:

1 - Besides being aware of the Spree's return to our shores, coinciding with their appearance at the recent Playground Weekender festival in northern New South Wales, I had no idea about the gig specifics of their Australian tour.

2 - Upon entry to the Forum on Saturday night, my partner and I were directed to help ourselves to physical accoutrements which were laid out on a table. These aforementioned accoutrements included feathered head dresses, peacock encrusted masquerade masks, flashing wristbands and trilby hats. At first, I assumed these were part of the band's quirky and elaborate show antics, until I realised all of these fancy-dress accessories were branded with the words 'Southern' and 'Comfort'. Inside the venue, the branding was emblazoned across the room; 'SoCo Carnivale' snapshots slid over the stage, the bar advertised an impressive list of Southern Comfort beverages. It felt a little strange, but meh, no biggie. I can only imagine the cost involved in bringing a band the size of The Polyphonic Spree out all this way.

3 - The support act, New Orleans Bingo! Show, a generic and soulless melange of capable musicians doing incredibly boring performance art, incited earplug action on my behalf. Thank God for A Place To Bury Strangers' recent Melbourne gig or I would have had been forced to waste elements of my remaining hearing on an act I defiantly did not enjoy.

Sounds like I had an average evening, no? Actually, I left the venue feeling more uplifted, liberated and touched than I have been in a long time. In the space of the last four years, The Polyphonic Spree have somehow - with no bitterness or negativity intended - made their way to the back of my music library. As my musical tastebuds explored and evolved, they were one of those bands I unintentionally left behind. Fond memories exist of seeing them in 2005 (five years ago, people!), about two days after my grandmother had passed away. Their genuine joy and passion for sheer existence was a remarkably cathartic antidote to my grief at the time. After that show, I hugged everyone in sight. After I got home, Together We're Heavy" took on the role of therapist, absorbing my negativity and gently throwing back hope and happiness. Ever since, I guess I've always associated the band with that particular role; an incredibly powerful force, both comforting and inspiring.

Saturday's show was an absolute force of joy. Apart from the uncontrollable, unstoppable grin that plastered my face throughout the set, I caught glimpse of what had moved me so powerfully the first time around. While change is often lauded in rock and roll, The Polyphonic Spree clearly stick to what they do best. And, truly, why stop? Towards the middle of the set, beautifully kinetic frontman Tim DeLaughter echoed a crowd member's concern: "What's it all for?", he repeated over and over again. "That's what we're here to find out," he answered - summing up so succinctly the exact epicentre of The Polyphonic Spree's cause for existence. A Spree show is so much more than just a rock and roll gig; it's two and a half hours of catharsis, a celebration of how lucky we are to be alive - right now, to be standing together in this room. It's pure, present, momentary revelation.

Saturday's show at the Forum was one of those events that come together perfectly. Along with a grateful, elated band performing on stage, the sound was lucidly perfect. Not too loud (the earplugs were well and truly put away at this point), not distractingly distorted; just crystal clear. Tying it all together were the lights; behind the band, projections played throughout the set. Each song was accompanied by visuals that added to the magic. And, of course, there was the venue itself: The Forum, with its high, jeweled ceilings and Greco-Roman influenced architecture.

Generously scattered throughout the set list were a series of impeccable covers. Wings' epic James Bond theme, "Live and Let Die" and The Who's "Pinball Wizard" were instantly recognisable, whilst utterly unique. The highlight of the evening, without a doubt, was a remarkably faithful rendition of one of the best tracks from the Stones' psychedelic opus, Their Satanic Majesties' Request, "She's A Rainbow". The Polyphonic Spree is the one musical act in the world who has both the symphonic capability and Brian Jones-esque commitment to technicolour to recreate this gorgeously complex track.

The most remarkable thing about the Polyphonic Spree's show on Saturday night was how much deeper the sentiments of the band's music runs beyond the hopeful lyrics and snappy, hyper onstage activity. While some people are keen to label them as 'too happy', The Spree's energy never comes off as corny or fictitious. After Saturday night's enlightenment, I'll be certain to never let their music escape me again.