The Sleepy Jackson awakens bar crowd

Perth pop-rock success stories The Sleepy Jackson played the UCU bar last week. Jacquelyn Curtis was there.

Frontman Luke Steele's sound showed why he's been compared to Beach Boy Brian Wilson Photo: Jacquelyn Curtis

19 September 2006: On the same evening Eskimo Joe revelled in the news of receiving five ARIA nominations for their latest album, their Perth contemporaries and former ARIA darlings The Sleepy Jackson mesmerised the UCU bar crowd.

The Sleepy Jackson wowed the music industry when their debut album Lovers garnered four ARIA nominations - including album of the year, best new artist and best group - in 2003.

Despite missing out on a gong for this year's accolades, the band demonstrated their unique pop-rock blend that has won over music fans world-wide, including material from their critically acclaimed album, Personality (One was a spider one was a bird).

While an ARIA has eluded them this year, the band has not been entirely overlooked - recently receiving a nomination for the 2006 J Award. The nomination places them in contention with The Living End and hip-hop act Hilltop Hoods for the Triple J honour that rewards one Australian album for its creativity, innovation, musicianship and contribution to Australian music.

If the UCU performance is any indication, The Sleepy Jackson are rightful nominees. Their multi-layered harmonious sound embodied a mythical element as they performed a variety of guitar-laden tracks and harmonious ballads.

Front-man and mastermind behind the Sleepy Jackson sound, Luke Steele, has been lauded as Australia's answer to Brian Wilson, the basis for this claim evident within the crowd's gleeful response to 'Vampire Racecourse' , the single which earned an ARIA nomination for best single.

Other highlights during the set included latest single 'God Lead Your Soul' , the blissful 'Good Dancers', in which Steele demonstrated the harmonies that spawned comparisons to the Beach Boys. The UCU bar crowd also had the privilege of hearing a live version of 'Devil Was in My Yard' , which will be released as their second single later this week.