SaskwatchInside Corner Hotel tonight we're greeted by a scene straight out of a US college prom night. Babyfaced Tim Nelson, lead vocalist of four-piece Brisbane outfit Cub Sport, serenades the audience with effervescent, synth-laden tracks that are highly reminiscent of '80s pop. Sweet but not overly saccharine tracks like I Can't Save You have the audience bopping along genially. Their frontman's schoolboy innocence is sealed when Nelson explains that their last song Evie was written for one of his dogs (which he particularly misses while on tour - bless). Don't let their youthfulness fool you, however, Cub Sport are definitely capable of delivering genuine substance with very assured control. Their sound is smooth, restrained and moreish.
After a short interval, the venue's red curtains are pulled back to reveal a dark, deserted podium on stage. An audio recording recounts the tale of a racist dragon in mock Play School fashion. The story's moral is probably lost within the chanting din, but it makes for a novel entrance for Saskwatch. The recently scaled-down band, coupled with the introduction of new drummer Sam "Storm" Raines, means multitasking is mandatory. In particular, lead songwriter Liam McGorry juggles keyboards, guitar and trumpet in a dizzying fashion. Covering for the three-part horn section that once graced the stage, providing a real oomph to Saskwatch's sound, is a huge ask for McGorry. Although he admirably carries off his duties, there is no denying that more horns would make Saskwatch a perfect ten. The upside is that horns don't feature so much on their new album Sorry I Let It Come Between Us — which the band are currently touring — so we don't have much opportunity to lament about the good ol' days when Saskwatch rivaled The Bamboos with regards to stage coverage and blow-your-tops-off brass. And lead vocalist Nkechi Anele is still very much in front of us, commandeering all attention in the room with her hypnotic charisma - all fluid arms, sashaying hips and that wailing, boundless powerhouse voice; Shirley Bassey and Aretha Franklin comparisons abound.
Saskwatch have definitely crossed a threshold in the development of their sound. Steering away from soul and R&B to work with producers Scott McMicken and Nathan Sabatino (of Dr Dog fame), the new album's tracks reflect a grittier direction with a range of influences from garage, '60s ballads, pop and a touch of psychedelic rock. Their newfound maturity is reflected in the subject matter of tracks such as In Your Arms, Everyone’s Giving Up, Time To Let You Go and Blind. They unleash their inner rock gods during the instrumental bridge of Spitting Image and tear the roof off with A Love Divine.
Proving that they've not strayed too far from their roots, Anele and guitarist Rob Muinos return for an encore and deliver a tender, unplugged rendition of one their earlier hits.
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
