Boy & Bear, Ball Park Music,Paper Kites @ The Tivoli,Brisbane (11/11/11)

Mon 14th Nov, 2011 in Gig Reviews

The delicate harmonies of Paper Kites provided a warm welcome to the evening and did their job to draw in crowds into the stunning Tivoli. Though their sound is not altogether unique, the five-piece were a suitable accompaniment to the headline act as their set reached unexpected heights. Their song Featherstone was clearly the favourite amongst seasoned fans, receiving the largest reception and even an enthused sing-a-long. The final song, The Mortal Boy King left a strong resonation with the audience, as it gradually built to an incredible climax that was unexpected for those who had not been well acquainted with the folksy stylings of the Melbourne band beforehand.

Hometown favourites Ball Park Music always make their mark when on stage, and their performance at the Tivoli set a new benchmark for the youthful six-piece. Their opening number was the well-versed iFly which always incites full volume audience participation of cheerful profanities, and lead a flawless, high-energy setlist full of quirky wistfulness. Lead vocalist Sam Cromack thoughtfully introduced lesser-known tracks from their debut album such as Alligator – “this song is about being eaten by an alligator” – as well as the aptly named Happy Healthy Citizen Of The Developed World Blues to name a few. All band members appeared to be as wrapped in the crowd as the crowd was in them, and their comfort and panache on stage left no one in doubt of their ability to play to any size audience. There often seemed to be more instruments at play than members to play them, with guitars flying around the stage in perfect synchronisation so to narrowly miss the heads of fellow band members on many occasions. There were many stand-out numbers which required no introduction, including Sad Rude Future Dude and Rich People Are Stupid as well as their finale, It’s Nice To Be Alive. The crowd favourite, however, was undoubtedly their current single, All I Want Is You which once again left a strong mark on a seamless performance, as well as in the minds of all who attended.

The emergence of Boy & Bear was long awaited when the stage finally dimmed for the start of their set. By this point the anticipation had spilled over, amplifying the crowd’s cheers which could only be silenced by Lordy May, the opening track of their debut album, Moonfire. From there onwards it was an ethereal journey, as upbeat signature songs such as Milk and Sticks were interspersed with slower, more atmospheric tunes including My Only One and Beach. A common thread throughout all of their tracks is an innate rumble within the live performance. Regardless of the track, it was performed with an understated intensity that was choreographed to a tee, yet seemed to feed off the grand setting and enraptured audience. Old favourites were celebrated by way of Mexican Mavis and Rabbit Song and the audience sung along wholeheartedly.

A hope that seemed to be shared by all in attendance was realised by the first few notes on the banjo that slowly grew to their greatly celebrated cover of Crowded House’s Fall At Your Feet. A stunning composition that was given new resonance in the live setting – as the lights shone brightly over the audience, silence fell for the first time in the evening. The rendition seemed slower than their original recording, the drumming trudging through the song like a slow march, the harmonies elongated as they pulled the breath out of each band member and the hypnotised crowd. It was truly a pleasure to be a part of the sold-out audience, each person singing along as the song grew and engulfed the venue, serving as a further reminder of the immense talent that all came to see.

Throughout the performance there was a lot of self-professed uncharacteristic banter amongst band members, and each was gracious towards the audience as well as to the preceding acts. The members of Paper Kites and Sam Cromack of Ball Park Music were invited to rejoin the stage for Big Man, a big song in need of many voices, proving a particular treat for the audience. As their set reached its conclusion, frontman Dave Hosking stressed that it was in fact the end of the set and no encores were to be had or expected. Disappointing as this may have been for many, it ensured that all soaked up the remainder of the show, concluding with their first single from their album, Feeding Line.

It takes a stellar live performance for such talent as Boy & Bear to prove the immeasurable quality of true musical excellence. If their young career thus far is any indication, fans can rest assured that they will continue to set high benchmarks for years to come.