After a relatively small scale launch 2007, word traveled quickly through the Australian music press that ‘the guy from Root!’, sounded just a little like ‘one of the guys from TISM’. Soon enough the band developed a small following, and soon enough, they called it a day.

Opening the night was a young band called The Loop, a four piece well schooled in 60s blues rock, who weren’t afraid to show their influences. Their buoyant energy onstage was irrepressible, the singer exchanging words with the crowd throughout the set, before switching easily back into his ‘Howlin Pelle’ howl. The use of keyboard to add extra colour to the sound worked very well, especially the dreamy sounds on "Telephone".

Up second were another four piece, The Rhetorics, who honestly were one of the best young bands I’ve seen recently. A distinctly punk backdrop was set by the combination of guitars, bass and drums, while the frantic lead singer kept the crowd entertained both aurally and visually. As he flung himself around the small stage of Yah Yah’s the room was filled with his brilliantly phrased delivery of biting, satirical and hilarious lyrics. It was not hard to see why they were supporting Root!, another exponent of strong lyrical content. Even after the gig I was left with the couplet ‘three Cruiser thunder, first to chunder’, stuck in my head.

Root’s gig was preceded by a piece of piss-take pre-recorded audio, tedious ‘classic’ songs were given the Root! makeover as Whitney Houston’s "I Will Always Love You" became "I Will Always Love Root", courtesy of a deliberately poorly dubbed sample. Soon enough though, the men of Root! were on stage and began their task of winning over every single person in the room. Unfortunately there were a few who seemed more interested in their own conversations (DC Root hailing it a ‘restaurant’ crowd), but overall the vibe in the room was befitting for the final show. Songs from both of their albums got airtime, with an early highlight being "Get Up Yourself". DC Root’s voice was in fine form, as were his 4 piece backing band, who even got a turn at backing vocals late in the set as DC auditioned onstage for a bongo position in their next project.

The highlight of the night saw DC Root taking to the crowd for the songs "Back to Mine", "Shazza and Michelle" and "I Wish I Was Tex Perkins", which had everyone shouting its hook ‘HE EATS, ROOT AND LEAVES’.

Obviously humour plays a large part in a Root! gig, so even as people filed out onto Smith St after the last ever show, there were smiles all around. But honestly, it would be hard not to smile after they finished with the Hokey Pokey.

I can’t wait to see what’s next for DC and the men of Root!