Sydney based Bears with Guns started out as a part time band made up of four: Rob, Gus, Drew and Ryan. Whilst studies initially took precedent over busking which was shoe-horned into the weekend their popularity soon grew and the band found themselves performing most nights. The desire to travel light meant some wise choices needed to be made on the instrument front. Gus swapped his drum kit for Djembe or cajon whilst Ryan and Drew travel opted for lightweight Mandolin and Ukulele. Rob just needed to look after his vocal chords.
A fifth member later joined their ranks: Lachlan on keyboards and whilst his choice of instrument doesn’t fit the ‘travelling light’ category it does fit in very neatly amongst the canon of instruments that feature on their debut EP Taken for a Fool.
Taken for a Fool was released last month and I’m sure it will appeal to many of our listeners with its dynamic, upbeat and infectious melodies. They demonstrate their ability to maintain a stripped down set as well as being able to add that extra dynamic when called for. They’re a young band which goes in their favour and I think we’ll be seeing still more developments to their sound over the coming year. Watch this space.