Boy & Bear, Boo Seeka, Felivand @ Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide 15/7/2023
Boy & Bear finished their Australian tour in Adelaide playing to a big Saturday night crowd at Hindley Street Music Hall. Celebrating the release of their self-titled fifth album this proved to be a show not to miss and with the high calibre supports in Boo Seeka and Felivand made it an awesome night out. The city was buzzing with everything happening all on the same night from AFL to Illuminate to theatre and a heap of other gigs happening in town.
Upcoming and coming singer Felivand has a massive future in front of her and impressed with her set which included current single Miss My Baby. Her songs are powerful and emotive which highlights for me included Big Little and Butterfly Wings. Boo Seeka was incredible and well and truly warmed the stage offering a subtle contrast. It was uplifting and you couldn’t help but feel really pumped for Boy & Bear. Turn Up Your Light was brilliant. Two great acts definitely worth catching next time they are in town.
Boy & Bear are elite and I seriously think they don’t know how to write a bad song. They are an incredible band armed with so many good songs that it would be challenging to work out the set list without playing for four or five hours to fit everything in. It was great to hear new tunes but as equally great was hearing some deep cuts that are rarely played on tour these days. Opening with Strange World off their new album the next couple was a return to more familiar territory with Bridges and Old Town Blues. Front man Dave Hosking said it was great to back here in Adelaide for the last show of the tour.
Part Time Believer off Moonfire was stellar as was set staple Harlequin Dream. Drummer Tim Hart took a moment to reflect on how they started their career supporting Angus and Julia Stone in thanking and acknowledging the supports. Going way back to the first song they recorded in Mexican Mavis (off With Emperor Antarctica) made it in to the set much to the delight of the most die hard of fans. Guitarist Killian Gavin spoke about the hours spent on YouTube studying how to relearn some of these older tunes with Dave adding that they decided to turn this tour set list on its head.
There’s plenty to like about new tune Silver Moon and another forgotten gem Back Down The Black. Dave spoke of Long Long Way as being one of their favourites. The triple j Like A Version cover of Simple Minds Don’t You (Forget About Me) was gold and Tim mentioned that this might not be the cover you wanted but the cover you are going to get. Judging by the crowd response it went down a treat.
Back to back hits followed with Walk The Wire, Feeding Line and Hold Your Nerve and surprise set closer Big Man. The encore was filled with more greatness including Just Dumb, relative new single State Of Flight and the big hit Southern Sun to bring a great night to an end. Looking forward to seeing what’s next.
Live Review By Rob Lyon