AFTER travelling more than 10,000 miles it was quite a welcome for DMA’S return to Southampton.

The Australian indie stars sold out the first date of their summer UK tour in front of 750 bouncing fans.

Frontman Tommy O’Dell and guitarists Matt Mason and Johnny Took rocked The 1865 while their south coast followers were at one with them on songs from their debut album Hills End.

The trio from Newtown, Sydney may have built their sound on foundations laid by Oasis and The Stone Roses, but there’s a lot more to this band than revivalist tendencies. There must be to gain such a devoted following in only a short time.

Twenty months ago fewer than a hundred fans saw them at The Joiners. This time a crowd eight times bigger went mad for tunes like Timeless, In the Moment and Too Soon.

The optimistic beats of Melbourne and Straight Dimensions plus the hopeful despair of Delete were more highlights.

It’s not often a Southampton date sells out before one in Sheffield, the following night’s destination for the band, but that’s what happened here. This was an impressive effort by those watching too.

Earlier in the evening local lads Cassava drew a large lively crowd. It may not be long before they’re headlining a venue this size too.

DMA’S return to the south coast on Friday December 1 supporting The Kooks at the BIC, Bournemouth. Next for indie fans at The 1865 are The Sherlocks and Sundara Karma in September.

By Richard Derbyshire