Upon arriving early at Okkervil River’s sideshow at the Corner on a gorgeous, warm Melbourne evening, one wondered whether the diehard fans arrayed along the front of the stage knew of the sweaty, immersive experience they were in for. Will Sheff, Okkervil River’s frontman looked so harmless on emerging, centre stage, bespectacled and be-suited, equal parts Napoleon Dynamite and Tom Cruise (particularly sporting what appeared to be an emo version of Mr Cruise’s hair from Mission: Impossible II). Opening proceedings with a stripped-back acoustic effort seemingly confirmed this, providing a positively gentle introduction to the night’s festivities. Then, sometime between first and second songs, the glasses came off, and Sheff metamorphosed into a roaring, spewing, fiery rock ‘n’ roll deity, spitting fire and saliva in equal measure – the front two rows bearing the brunt of those salivary glands, which appeared to have a torrid relationship with hard consonants.

Okkervil River’s great strength, amplified and isolated on the stage, is the ability to write songs that could work as a simple acoustic ballad, then rocking them to within an inch of their lives. Sheff, possessed of a booming voice which alternates between dramatic croon and demonic moan, was the unquestioned star of the show. Taking tracks lifted equally from their back catalogue (surprisingly, seeing as this is essentially a promotional tour for last year’s most excellent The Stage Names) and delivering them as the firebrand rock preacher straight from the pulpit.

The rest of the band, while somewhat more restrained than their ferocious leader, were certainly as snappily dressed, particularly the bass player in his rose-embroidered suit jacket. While avoiding the kind of histrionics exhibited by Sheff, they more than made up for their lack of showmanship with the expected outstanding musicianship – most notably the finger tapping thrash solo played on a mandolin during the close of the first of two encores.

After opening the full set on a subdued note, Okkervil wrapped things up on a thrilling high, with ‘Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe’ and ‘Unless It’s Kicks’ hammering the audience into ecstatic submission, Sheff howling his way through both tracks with a vigour that lifted what were already cracking songs to a new, thumping level.

But it was a number of tracks taken from earlier albums that were the surprise highlights. Not only because of the strength of The Stage Names, but the restrained nature of these songs. Sheff’s rock-god persona, all spit and venom, was accompanied by a roar that, while stunningly visceral, tended to slip off key at regular intervals. As such, it was when things settled down, and songs were pared back, along with Sheff’s voice, that the gentle, emotive baritone croon really left the audience in stunned silence.

With songs ranging from gentle, piano and vocal lullabies, to scorching, driving rock anthems complete with mandolin, accordion and noise-rock breakdowns, Okkervil River treated a devoted Melbourne crowd to a set of impassioned, powerful rock ‘n’ roll, and Will Sheff, assisted by his own unique Texan Jekkyl and Hyde show, anointed himself as one of the new generation of rock gods.

Two encores, nearly two hours, and killer tracks from four records, Okkervil River, who just over a year ago played the much smaller East Brunswick Club, provided plenty of reasons to explain their continued rise and growing popularity. So make sure you take the chance to see them next time at a 1,000-person venue. Just beware of Will Sheff if you see him in the street without his glasses.