Guineafowl, Elisha Bones,Glass Towers, Pete Akhurst @ANU Bar, Canberra (12/11/11)

Mon 14th Nov, 2011 in Gig Reviews

It mustn’t have been the easiest gig for Pete Akhurst last Saturday night, with only a handful of people turning up early enough to catch his 7pm set at the ANU Bar. Mr Akhurst made the best of it though, cracking jokes and singing his heart out as he warmed things up for fellow support acts Elisha Bones, Glass Towers and the night’s headliners, Guineafowl.

The harmonica and guitar-driven folk/pop sounds Akhurst specialises in were the perfect accompaniment to a warm, lazy Saturday night, and it’s a testament to his performance skills that he was able to transform the sometimes cavernous bar into a friendly, intimate space for his show, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for his next gig.

Up next we were treated to the musical stylings of Glass Towers. Despite an average age of only 19, their sound is self-assured, loud, and fun with a slightly retro twist. The clever lyrics and strong vocals of frontman Ben Hannam were, unfortunately, sometimes lost in a set that struggled with sound and microphone issues. Despite this, the boys put on a great show and even managed to get a few of the cool kids dancing up the front.

Up next, after a short break and the deft removal of cardigans, Elisha Bones were up and ready to go. Michael Bones and friends are veterans of the Canberra music scene with a large local following, and they performed a polished set that pulled the crowd in and kept them buzzing for the main act.

After just enough time for another beer, cheers were cheered and the Sydney five-piece we were all there to see hit the stage.

In Canberra as part of their current The Lie Is tour, Guineafowl poured everything in to their set, despite probably being exhausted after making the trek from WA. Sam Yeldham’s vocals brought life to the heartfelt stories in his self-penned lyrics, while his band mates took the performance to another level with their playing. Botanist drew even the most reticent stragglers away from the bar’s pool tables in the back, and, whilst it may have started with a whisper, Guineafowl made sure the night ended with a bang.