Live Review: Timberwolf, Slow Dancer, Kid Heron

We were greeted by Kid Heron's eclectic sound upon entering the glorious band room at the Landsdowne.

His distinctive vocals commanded the room's attention and were reminiscent of Kele Okereke (Bloc Party) or Tunde Adebimpe (TV On The Radio), but unlike these bands, he tended to shy away from making his voice the focal point. Rather the vocals on each track were treated as another instrument, seamlessly fading in and out of the intriguing and layered mix of synths and beats. Track Borderlines was a standout and really had us feeling those Friday night vibes.

Slow Dancer was up next. Flying solo this evening, armed with just his voice and guitar, meant his set took the mood down a notch from Kid Heron's commanding and sultry tunes. Simon Okely's sweet croon and understated tracks were easy to dip in and out of between conversations and drinks, holding our attention enough to receive polite claps at the end of each song. It's a shame he wasn't on first or had a band in tow, as his old school sound was lost on most of the crowd.

Hailing from Adelaide, it was a surprise to see a full room for Timberwolf. But from the moment singer/songwriter Christopher Panousakis and band began, it was easy to understand why. We were drawn in by Panousakis' ghostly voice and hooked on his swirling, genre-bending sound until the last note.

With a sound that flirts between psychedelic and folk, Timberwolf is not easy to pin down, which was the feel and freedom they seemed to be aiming for (and achieved) with their set this evening; which was mostly comprised of tracks off his recently released debut album. The title track sounded even more triumphant in a live setting, while Hold You Up was glittering and allowed Panousakis' unique vocals to shine.

The looks of pure joy on the band's faces coupled with the enjoyment they so plainly displayed as they played together, energised the crowd and kept us grooving along through the set.

Newbie Jacaranda Sunsets was particularly danceable and matched the atmosphere in the room (and the balmy evening) perfectly, while a cover of Childish Gambino's Redbone really got our hips grinding. The way Panousakis hit those highs put Glover's vocals to shame, and caused us to collectively swoon, while the arrangement elevated the song to another level. It was the set highlight. Washed Out, an excellent song that was performed well, paled in comparison, but was an upbeat and enjoyable end to an accomplished set.