The Polyphonic Spree, The Academy, Dublin

After a warm up at the Greenbelt Festival, the Polyphonic Spree kick off their European tour in the Academy tonight. The band come on one at a time in their traditional long white robes. It takes a minute or two for them to fill the stage. It’s a stripped back show for the Polyphonic Spree, there are ‘only’ 14 of them on this tour; double the members of Arcade Fire but still less than the current incarnation of Guns 'N' Roses.

Each band member takes the stage and adds their instrument to the building crescendo. The noise from the audience builds alongside it and the biggest cheers are saved for Tim de Laughter who conducts his bakers’ dozen as they dance and sway in time.

Polyphonic Spree were everyone's highlight of the now defunct Witness Festival in 2002 but they haven’t been back this way in some time. De Laughter asks the audience how long it has been and there’s a vigorous debate between him and the crowd. Some punters argue that it’s been 15 years, while he thinks it’s 11. Google says it’s been eight but it’s too good a night to split hairs. Either way these fans have lain dormant for an extended period.

And they are a receptive crowd, singing along and clapping in time. The Academy is usually a sweatbox but it feels bright and airy tonight, thanks to the uplifting tunes. Last Saturday afternoon, fans of The Janoskians were lined up outside the venue. This crowd tonight could be their parents. It’s a noticeably 30-something crowd. De Laughter announces from the stage that he will be signing merchandise outside and he invites the whole crowd to party with the band after the show, and to follow them to Belfast the following night. A day trip with the Polyphonic Spree is a tempting offer but half the crowd have babysitters waiting at home so there are few takers.

They are playing debut album, The Beginning Stages of ... The Polyphonic Spree, in full. It’s only their second time playing the album in full live. That album really made their name at home and abroad and, even with reduced numbers, it is easy to see why. The infectious affirmations and the enthusiasm of their delivery don’t take long to affect the crowd.

The big hits from that album, ‘Soldier Boy’ and ‘Light And Day’, go down a storm and whip the audience into a maelstrom of raised arms and voices. The hits are played early on and when the album ends the band all leave the stage and disappear for a full 5 minutes while a backing track plays. They reappear in new robes; the men in short red and white tops with big sleeves and the women in colourful dresses with matching ponchos, and play the second half of the show as a greatest hits set.

Set closer ‘We Sound Amazed’ brings the audience’s excitement to new levels and De Laughter gets down on to the barrier leading the crowd in a messianic thrall. As the song comes to an end the instruments are raised high in salute, even the cello. We know that there will be an encore and it is loudly demanded. The group don't bother leaving the stage; the logistics of getting everyone off and on again would probably push the show past curfew, and play ‘The Championship’ before taking some time to just soak up the applause and cheers. De Laughter thanks the opening act and heads straight to the merch table to mingle with attendees, whose faces look happy, spent, and appreciative. The Texan's vision of what his band could be has been realised. Hopefully it won’t be another 11 or 15 years before they’re back.

Further photographs from the gig can be found here.