Before hearing Boy & Bear play live, you could make the foolish mistake of dismissing them as pleasant indie-folk background noise - the type which wouldn't be so out of place in some sterile coffee shop. Hearing the Aussie outfit play live, however, is a totally different kettle of fish.
The Academy Green Room bore witness to a performance that was brimming with 70s-style swagger, as frontman Dave Hosking’s endearingly seedy dance moves brought their folky sound to places of rock ‘n’ roll soul.
The fivesome flitted from meaningful melodies like ‘Old Town Blues’ to songs with definite surf-pop tones like ‘Where’d You Go’. The Australian sun soaks irresistibly through to their live set with foot-tapping formulas that aren’t so different from Weezer’s beachy grit. ‘Showdown’ showcases the darker depths of their bluesy balladry, while the slow-burning ‘Bridges’ secures their right claim indie-band designation, should they choose.
It was hard not to admire Hosking’s authenticity when he explained between songs that there would be no encore; the band find them awkward and weird to perform.
So in the absence of an encore, the quintet's whistle-worthy anthem ‘Rabbit Song’ - which has racked up nearly two million views on YouTube - was the rolling crescendo of a rousing performance.