Sydney’s Cloud Control, one of Bollinger’s 10 Bands to Watch, seemed small on the intimidating Forum stage. It’s a tough gig at the best of times, being a support band. You’re not always well paired with the main act. Your gear is thrust to the unobtrusive corners of the stage. Most of the crowd aren’t there. And you certainly don’t get your band name illuminated in fascinating colour changes.

But worst of all, the sound is tailored for the next band on. When Al Wright, Cloud Control’s lead singer and guitarist, pipped his first long sustained, slightly off-tune, exceedingly loud note, this was really evident. He was projected at Gaz Coombs' Rock Star volume, when he needed to be more a part of the band’s sound collage, more intertwined with the vocals of the other members. It never happened.

Still they made their way through an impressively eclectic set. The highlights of Cloud Control’s performance being the songs from their recently released self-titled EP. While these songs benefited from being the only tracks to have decent radio coverage, they also seemed to be the material that the band was most comfortable with.

Overall the performance was passable, but a smaller stage, with their own sound – and perhaps even a little banner or something – would certainly assist the current vibe of Cloud Control.

In contrast, everything was made to measure for a Supergrass-sized rock show. Gaz Coombs’ voice was strong and defined, the guitars were mammoth, the harmonies audible. The little touches were appropriate too, the giant Supergrass sign and the raised drum platform succeeded and it was only some crazed lighting effects during certain moments that stopped the production of the gig from reaching flawless status.

The music too was excellent. While the song selection tended a little too much towards the sub-par Diamond Hoo Haa album, there was a mix from the whole of the band’s decade-plus career. Opening with ‘Diamond Hoo Haa Man’ and including ‘King Richard the III’, ‘Pumping on your Stereo’, a splendid version of ‘Moving’ and ‘She’s So Loose’ there was something for the casual fan to the Suupergrass aficionado.

The one proviso to this was that the band played it a little safe on the Rock Show front. The song skew veered towards the heavy side, neglecting the more sonically interesting aspects of earlier work. Towards the end of the gig in particular the power chord attack became a little grating, and some more of Road to Rouen would have been appreciated.

Supergrass and Cloud Control were always going to be worlds apart. But seeing the four-piece Sydney-siders next to the impressive back catalogue and experience of Supergrass made it clear just how appropriate the venue and the show was for the main act and just how misplaced it was for the support.