AS Mark Eitzel would say, to disappear in the spotlight is not easy.

The cult American songwriter gave an idiosyncratic performance full of squalour, self loathing, love and possible redemption.

Many would probably prefer opener Amy Smith's coffee table songs - with electrifying flashes worthy of Bobbie Gentry and Janis Joplin - which mark her out as a name to watch.

Where Smith is light, Eitzel's strong, bitter taste is uncompromising and difficult at times to stomach.

Like Elvis Costello, the material isn't instantly accessible, requiring some effort and engagement on the listener's part.

Jerking awkwardly to the erratic rhythms of his sole acoustic guitar, his voice was powerful and wayward. Eitzel's material is right up there with Tom W aits for its ability to capture the other side of life, one that even his most diehard fans would probably shy from.

Patriot Heart for example was a clever rumination on the US psyche, starring a male stripper called Spanky. No one seemed to mind the fact that it had no discernable tune. Why Won't You Stay captured the quiet torture behind much of the songs, and the frank, self-deprecating between song chat.

Some American Music Club tunes were dusted off for the doting crowd, including Western Sky, Firefly and Blue & Grey Shirt. Eitzel finished with a set of love songs that even showed the odd conventional touch, but you sense he is too much his own man to ever appeal to mainstream tastes.

Updated: 11:26 Friday, June 03, 2005