Jagwar Ma @ The Deaf Institute, Manchester, 20 Jun

Promoting their debut album Howlin, Jagwar Ma – Gabriel Winterfield, Jack Freeman and Jono Ma – assume their appropriate positions in front of a sold-out crowd in one of Manchester’s most beloved spots. Despite their Australian roots, the band's sound feels reminiscent of Manchester circa the late 80s – this, then, could be the most fitting venue they’ve yet played. Their opening track, What Love?, carries ingredients of Madchester’s carefree, fluid jangles, with modern synth frequencies and a pinch of psychedelic groove thrown in for good measure.

With the audience’s full attention, the familiar Come Save Me courses through the speakers, its delivery sending a wave of electricity buzzing through the crowd. Winterfield, Freeman and Ma seemingly have infinite reserves of energy, and the crowd are their mirror for the evening, projecting as much enthusiasm as they're given back towards the stage.

Closing track The Throw sets free an array of happy pop patterns, and hypes the audience to the hilt: their bodies bounce as if rigged with internal springs. It doesn’t matter that outside is a fog of drizzle, because belters like this provide generous bursts of sunshine.

By this point, Jagwar Ma have certainly fulfilled their role for the evening: to entertain. The static atmosphere they've created remains long after they exit the stage – and tonight’s liberation of pop vibes atop thick electronic beats brings a reassuring suggestion of a Madchester comeback, albeit tweaked by the passing decades.