It was warm but wet the night Black Bear Woods (formerly Biff Co) took the Zoo, but their performance was a welcome escape from the dreary outside.

Bundaberg younglings Ken Righteous, a band so new that this was apparently their first actual gig, were an awkward pleasure to watch. It was clear that the four-piece was green, with sound difficulties and a rough, raw quality to their performance, but this was reasonably balanced with the evident potential behind these kids from up north. It was a bit of a treat watching a band who needs a bit of work (especially on stage presence, though the frontman gave it a good shot) but whose raw quality has promise of great things to come.

Depths of Balsa strode up next, and it became evident that this was not a duo who catered to the indie kid crowd. With a mullet and moustache combo you’d expect his mates to have shaved after a big night, frontman Mark Conrad was like a kick in the face after the softer pop of Ken Righteous. With music that sounded like a breeze from a decade ago, you couldn’t make out a word he was singing through the heavy guitar and long instrumental solos, but it’s hard not to respect a band with an attitude that speaks even with inaudible lyrics. Unfortunately with minimal pauses and no audience interaction the tracks seem to blend and become samey by the end.

It was clear by now the theme Black Bear Woods were going for with this line-up: unashamably Australian sounds and vocals with a bit of punch. Taking the stage with a strong start, the band strutted their deviantly stylish stuff and impressed with tracks like Ray, Sea Fever and Night Walking. With a new guitarist in tow their sound was well rounded, and their set choice displayed their versatility rather well. From a sea shanty to rock to an almost blues feel, you can really sense the bromance between the band members and it filters to the crowd. Each song sounds interestingly different, and the free cds at the back are snatched up vigorously. Black Bear Woods are not an airy fairy rock setup, and the personality they brought tonight was impressive.

All in all it was a rather enjoyable night – a fresh bit of attitude and a healthy dose of accordion will take Black Bear Woods a long way.