Live Review: Boy & Bear

Fresh from their single Walk The Wire clocking in at number 63 on triple j's Hottest 100 countdown for 2015, the doyens of the Australian folk pop scene, Boy & Bear, are busy bringing their trademark sound to the country, supporting their latest album Limit Of Love. 

Their first headline show at the Thebarton Theatre (with support from Art Of Sleeping and Montaigne), the boys opened with their South American infused title single, Limit Of Love, which had the crowd, dominated by middle aged boppers, grooving in their places.

The combination of the Art Deco hall of the Thebby, with its raked seating and balcony, as well as the demographic of the crowd, was somewhat reminiscent of a school speech night, complete with some naughty kids being told off for riding each others' shoulders and vomiting in the foyer.

However, any speech night that offered David Hosking and his tiny moustache is one worth going to. Hosking produced the goods with his instantly recognisable vocals, backed up by the mellifluous tones of all four band mates. This ability to harmonise perfectly is the obvious perk of creating a supergroup from four previous frontmen, and is the key to their widespread success that works so well live. The show highlighted each man's talents, with the backline set-up allowing all five members equal exposure on the stage, which was certainly appreciated by the crowd at the back.

Truly skilled musicians, every man was in complete control of his instrument. Particular highlights included guitarist Killian Gavin offered a ripping solo in Part Time Believer. Trumping this however, a sessional saxophonist, who was probably more beard than man, played the solo in Harlequin Dream and brought the house down, in true epic sax guy style.

Given their genre, inevitably there were some slow moments in the set, which could have been paced better to avoid all but the die hard fans taking the opportunity for a beer break, but the boys managed an entertaining show from start to finish.