Live Review: Timberwolf, Bears With Guns

Located in the midst of Taylor Square, The Standard Bowl is a bar, a bowling alley and a music venue all in one. With four lanes situated right next to the stage, it’s probably not the most ideal venue for live music, but this place definitely kept the patrons entertained.

Tonight began with five-piece folk-rock band Bears With Guns, and despite announcing that one of their band members was unable to play the show, nobody would have known it. The four remaining guys seamlessly filled  the gaps, making do with what they had. Displaying a wide range of sounds; the band kept the audience on their toes, showing what could be achieved with multiple instruments on hand. The keyboardist suddenly became a percussionist; the bassist became a ukulele player and the drummer was able to cover all bases. The guys gathered a healthy-sized audience and invited the main act on stage for a ripping guitar solo, offering just a taste of what was  to come.

Timberwolf is Chris Panousakis, a 22-year-old hopeful hailing from Adelaide. In Sydney tonight, the man was competing with the constant thud of bowling balls and crashing pins. In just under an hour Timberwolf delivered a nice, tight set, showcasing some new material from an upcoming EP. With a punchy electric guitar in his hands, it was a decent blend of indie-folk with some rock-funk – and as a three-piece band it worked surprisingly well. It was evident however that the power came from the songwriting and it was nice to hear some familiar numbers from the first EP Man And Moon. Timberwolf and co finally got some people dancing towards the end of the night.