Live Review: Timberwolf

Performing as part of the Fringe festival, Adelaide-based artist Timberwolf kicked off opening night in The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, which was nothing short of delightful.

Chris Panousakis' voice is achingly good and revives a '60s jazz, soul vocal style. It's crooning and vividly retro, but, remarkably, Timberwolf made it his own. Fluid guitar riffs, pronounced bass melodies and saxophone elevated the set, with the audience responding enthusiastically to the band's understated harmonies. Interacting playfully with the crowd, Panousakis shared stories of whiskey indulgence and came across as humble and amicable throughout the performance.

The hour-long set was largely made up of tracks from Timberwolf's debut album Ikaros, which Panousakis described as a journey through vulnerability. It can't be denied that he's willing to expose his innermost thoughts through material that seems deeply personal. Why Won't You Love Me quickly pulled focus when Panousakis yelled the lyrics, "I see your face when I fucking touch myself!". It's this kind of statement that makes Timberwolf stand out as a storyteller. Even instrumentally, the music is compelling and has broad dynamic reach.

But it's probably Panousakis' voice that stands out most. He easily transitions from growls to whistles and, during Beautifully Wasted, there's an a cappella section that perfectly showcases the beauty of his voice. 

Overall, Timberwolf's early-evening performance was flawless. Great music, well played and with an engaging frontman leading a band comprised of musicians who all seemed to really enjoy themselves on stage.