All but one of the band had been playing consistently,here and overseas,in the decade-plus since the band went on a political career-enforced hiatus. And the one who had had a non-musical job,former federal minister Garrett,P.,had returned to the studio and stage last year to impressive reviews as a solo act.

What was in some question though was whether a bunch of men in their 60s,playing to a bunch of people predominantly in their 40s and 50s could generate anything close to an atmosphere as viscerally and emotionally charged as had been the norm way,way back in the day.

The verdict? To borrow fromBack On The Borderline – one of eight songs they played from the seminal second album,Head Injuries - some time when that mirror shows the smile of disbelief you know something special just happened.

A long show of 29 songs,which began with the moody synths ofOutside World and ended with the never more topicalUS Forces,had agitation and even meditation,a drum solo and a trumpet,guitars in dialogue and Garrett in monologue ("raging against that dying light … that's why we are here,"he said before they roared throughStand In Line).