The Lemon Twigs @ Gorilla, Manchester, 28 Mar

It’s a bold move starting your show with your most recent single when you only have one album to showcase. And herein lies the confidence of New York’s latest musical export, The Lemon Twigs, fronted by young siblings Brian and Michael D’Addario, who hit the ground running with the jubilant melodies of I Wanna Prove to You.

Last year’s ambitious debut album, Do Hollywood, was an overstated homage to the cooler musical offerings of the late 60s and early-mid 70s. It provided a breath of fresh air; a staggering piece of work from a duo barely out of high school.

As a live act, The Lemon Twigs are a slightly muddled affair. There are flourishes of brilliance – such as Baby Baby, with its frivolous, carnival-like sound – interspersed with unpolished vocals and general pontification between songs. These amateurish moments are certainly forgivable given their age, and are endearing to an extent, but they nevertheless tarnish the expectations raised by their record.

Songs from a forthcoming EP are road-tested tonight, along with a handful of cover versions – including Love Stepped Out, by their father, Ronnie D’Addario – which showcase their unquestionable talent but sadly spoil the flow of their set list. This, along with the brothers regularly switching back and forth between vocal and drum duties, makes for a staggered performance which could easily be avoided.

However, the show’s high points (of which there are many) go a long way to removing any prior misgivings caused. These Words – the band’s first single; a double-A side with As Long As We’re Together – is a triumphant lament which the band perform as perfectly as fans would hope for.

The showmanship of The Lemon Twigs provides high value entertainment for the most part. There are likely to be great things ahead of them, but some structure ahead of their recently announced larger shows later this year wouldn’t go amiss.

For now, the D’Addario brothers are simply having fun, and in the confines of a small venue, the early stages of their journey are enjoyable, even if the path is currently uneven.