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Live Review: Saskwatch, Grizzly Jim Lawrie - Corner Hotel

Guido Farnell

Saskwatch turn up the energy levels at Corner Hotelk with their ass-grabbing funk.

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Time has the tendency to slip away very quickly. As Grizzly Jim Lawrie proudly announces he is about to release his second long-player, it's hard to believe that his debut Paying My Debts From The Grave is already two years old.

Tonight Lawrie arrives with a band who arrange themselves around his vocals and guitar. They provide a fuller, richer sound that adds to the warmth and depth of Lawrie's songs despite the fact that the mix is sometimes rough. Surprisingly, Saskwatch's fresh faced Rob Munios, wearing a cheeky grin throughout the set, generously plays guitar for Lawrie. The group walk the line between country and folk but come with flourishes of pop hooks. Lawrie's distinctive voice carries the emotion of his lyrics, which tend to be preoccupied with storytelling. Shifting from bitter sweet introspection to the kind of blessed-out moments that Midnight Run provides, Lawrie is slowly establishing himself as one of the more talented troubadours to emerge from this city in recent years.

"The focus of the evening shifts from mellow, country-rock to ass-grabbing funk."

Melbourne loves a big old funk band with a horn section and Saskwatch tick all boxes. Tonight's gig has been sold out for weeks and as the focus of the evening shifts from mellow, country-rock to ass-grabbing funk Saskwatch raise the roof and get a proper party started. They have been touring the country and seem especially happy to be hitting a hometown audience with this showcase of their second album Nose Dive. Don't let the title fool you, this lot are not about to crash and burn.

Tonight Saskwatch burn brightly and they play like they have something prove. As they open their set with Give Me A Reason, punters thrill to Saskwatch's fine blend of old-school funk, soul and R&B. Frontwoman Nkechi Anele pulls all the right moves at the mic and her spectacular vocals soar above the band with fantastic power. Saskwatch have become much tighter and funkier in the short time we have come to know them. Tunes from their debut album Leave It All Behind keep fans happy, but sizzling versions of Now That We Are Alone and A Love Divine (from the new album) prove to be unforgettable nuggets of soul. The set comes down with a mesmerising version of Born To Break Your Heart and an encore of Hands.

Fans demand more, but most look pretty exhausted by Saskwatch's high-energy antics.