Melbourne's hip set jammed into the HiFi bar last night for the much anticipated Clap Your Hands Say Yeah gig. The Brooklyn based five piece have been selling their brand of New York rock all over the world since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2005.

The self produced debut sold 300,000 copies worldwide. Then big things happened quickly for the boys. They played to 5000 people in New York's Central Park; they shared a bill with Sonic Youth; and their instrumental, Sunshine and Clouds (And Everything Proud), was used for a fast food ad. They haven’t looked back since, and last night they proved why.

Apart from being a rollicking fun upbeat rock group spawning catchy melodies, CYHSY are actually talented musicians too. I realise this is no huge revelation to most their fans, but it was news to me. In my defense, the chaotic, yelping vocals of front man, Alec Ounsworth, do at times overshadow a fundamental element of the band’s music, that being, the quality.

"Is This Love?" and "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth" ably translated their eccentric guitar-heavy rock to the stage. But the highlight was the mid-set jam session that solidified the groups standing as genuine musos. Ounsworths use of a megaphone  – who would have thought his voice could get any more anarchical – was the icing on the cake.