The Beards, Dub Dub Goose, JoeOppenheimer @ Transit Bar,Canberra (5/2/11)

Mon 7th Feb, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Facial hair. Not usually the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about women, superiority, or life in general. However, on Saturday night the unconventional foursome The Beards defied this idea as they performed an entire set describing the awesomeness of facial hair.

The evening at Transit Bar commenced with the musical workings of Joe Oppenheimer. The group’s combination of patterned shirts and an easy folk-rock style transported you back to the 1960s in summer. A notable highlight of the set was the fluffy red die attached to the bassist’s instrument.

As the crowd started to thicken, Dub Dub Goose took a new musical direction, gracing their fans with some deep grooves and original lyrics. Many of the tracks from their debut album The Goose is Loose got people dancing and then swaying to some of their more chilled out numbers. Lead vocalist Beth Monzo’s witty and lively vocals complemented the wailing brass section’s “bird sounds” delightfully.

The completion of an ear wrenching sound check allowed four fully bearded men to take the stage. The Beards, an Adelaide based folk-rock band reached an unlikely fame after a comical gig in 2005. Their comical lyrics and stage antics alike made them a band in high demand. Throughout their career they have established a global fan base, performed at the opening ceremony of the World Beard and Moustache Championships, recorded two studio albums and much more.

Devoted fans and innocent bystanders sang along to many of their popular songs including, No beard, No good, Beards Don’t Kill People, People With Beards Kill People, If Your Dad Doesn’t Have a Beard, You’ve Got Two Mums and Beards Across Australia Unite.

One of the most enthusiastic members of the crowd happened to be a fairly intoxicated army guy. His clean-shaven face in combination with his enthusiasm proved to be a perfect target for ridicule from the band throughout their set. All of this was done while simultaneously fondling their own and each other’s beards. Entertainment at its most basic!