The Spook School @ Summerhall, Edinburgh, 10 May

The Spook School have always drawn their own line between truth and humour, balancing out real human feelings with hefty gut laughs. And tonight is perhaps the best example yet of their masterful command of both. From peppering their expertly-curated party soundtrack with shout-outs for a popular brand of vegetarian sausages to running out on stage together like some kind of homespun retro track team, it's clear to see the band are in it for the funny.

However, the instant roar of Still Alive – which deals with abusive relationships head-on and entirely unapologetically – reminds us that there are powerful, very real themes written throughout the core of this brightly coloured stick of rock. What the band excel in is allowing you to enjoy both things equally without shame or guilt; to exorcise your demons, but also laugh, dance and smile in regular, equal doses.

As they tear through a stacked setlist with the energy and natural telepathy that comes from playing together forever, the quality of the new material from January's Could It Be Different? – from the follow-you-home catchiness of Less Than Perfect and Best of Intentions to the sweeping shoegaziness of Keep In Touch – is compounded when closer-worthy songs like Burn Masculinity and Are You Who You Think You Are? are given such early airings. By the time they get to Speak When You're Spoken To and Body – the band's moving affirmation of life, identity and positive body image from a gender non-binary perspective – the Summerhall's dissection room is a heaving throng of sweaty, smiling faithfuls, and with good reason.

While this would be a pretty much perfect note to go out on, the band clearly have other ideas and return to deliver a powerful ode to the purveyor of the aforementioned veggie sausages – to the tune of Robbie Williams' Angels.

No one can contain their glee with every emphatic delivery of 'I'm lovin' Linda instead,' and even more so when guitarist/vocalist Nye Todd effortlessly nails the iconic solo. It's one of the few times that sheer ridiculous patter transcends the pitfalls of gimmickry and acts not only as a gateway into the band's personality but also serves as very loud and obvious permission to have a hell of a lot of fun. A great night from a great band that are only getting better and better.

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