All self-respecting miseryguts knows how to mock and the Willard Grant Conspiracy is no exception.

Murder, suicide, overflowing ashtrays and lovers destroyed are its sorrowful subjects but frontman Robert Fisher wasn't going to allow anyone to get over-earnest.

"This isn't f***ing church," he yelled when his weirdly devout audience shushed those who slurped their beer or ran amok.

He was also first to poke fun at his vast, Buddha-like figure - dubbing himself the fat man on tour.

Mr Fisher is a man of great humility and charm - always polite, thankful and honest in both songwriting and banter.

Accompanied by waifs on guitars, a fiddle, cello, keyboards and mandolin he was an arresting spectacle and great storyteller.

The band's anarchic folk sound brings sweetness back from the dark side of life - without being dreary or po-faced.