Thursday, January 14, 2010

Bear Hands "What a Drag" Video and Free Mp3, 7" out 02/16 on Cantora Records

Bear Hands
'What A Drag'
February 16th

To celebrate Bear Hands will be playing Studio @ Webster Hall (US Tour dates below).



“Instant Classic” -Sunday Times

“Bear Hands make aptly grizzly indie-rock growls, resembling a hungover, vicious Cold War Kids” -The Fly

“The energetic guitars crunch with a touch of Ted Leo & the Pharmacists' edge and Rau's piercing vocals call up comparisons to another idiosyncratic ironist: Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock” -Spin

Bear Hands release their new single 'What A Drag' on Cantora Records and for one month, you can download the tunes for free!

Just when all the fuss is exploding on the Brooklyn indie art and pop rock scene, Cantora Records are ready to unleash Brooklyn’s Bear Hands US debut single, and their sexiest tune yet, What A Drag on February 16th. But this band doesn’t sound like they are remotely influenced in the least by what’s going on musically around them. They’re breaking the mold making them a truly refreshing and standout group, opening their own rift, letting everyone know there’s a new sheriff in town.

'What A Drag' will be available digitally, in addition to a 1000 limited run pressing of 7" white vinyl. Download it now for free for 1 month only and watch the brand new video for the single:

www.bearhandsband.com

It’s been nearly 2 years since singer/songwriter/guitarist Dylan Rau and guitarist Ted Feldman graduated from Wesleyan College with degrees in film and 3 years since their first uproar in a Chelsea rehearsal space with fellow band-mates drummer TJ Orscher and bassist Val Loper. This is indeed quite the natural fit with Cantora and their forward thinking, indie-pop sound aesthetic featuring giants such as MGMT, the talented Francis and the Lights and uprising starlets Savoir Adore.

It is certainly prime time to expose the fresh Bear Hands sound to the masses. “What A Drag” is their first recording using a keyboard, lending the band’s already addictive rhythm section an even more New Order-esque sound. With it’s induced tribal stomping drum beat, reverb heavy guitars, driving bass and Dylan’s soulful falsetto drop-ins, “What A Drag” contains one of the strongest hooks that you’ll be hard pressed to shake out of your head. Cale Parks takes it up a notch with his oh ‘so deep’ remix. And don’t skip the b-side “Can’t Stick Em” which contains another rigorous chunky bassline groove –booty call music for the indie-rock set!

It is with great confidence all around that “What A Drag” is that special tune that’s going to get these lads out of the van and into the tour bus, falling in love, and quitting their day jobs. However, since they all agree that “There’s a sense of urgency living in NYC and a need to create”, this foursome don’t have plans to move anytime soon. Even as they’re finishing up their debut full length album, Bear Hands will be promoting “What A Drag” along with songs from their previously self released debut, “The Golden EP” and boasting new material across the US nationwide this February leading up through SXSW.

BEAR HANDS TOUR DATES

02/16 - The Studio at Webster Hall - New York, NY
02/17 - Brillobox - Pittsburgh, PA
02/18 - Southgate House Parlor - Newport, KY
02/19 - The Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO
02/20 - Conservatory - Oklahoma City
02/23 - Rhythm Room - Phoenix, AZ
02/24 - The Loft- UCSD - La Jolla, CA
02/26 - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA
02/27 - Slim’s - San Francisco, CA
03/01 - Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, BC
03/02 - Neumo’s Crystal Ball Reading - Seattle, WA
03/03 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
03/05 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT
03/06 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO
03/07 - Jackpot Saloon - Lawrence, KS
03/08 - The Waiting Room - Omaha, NE
03/09 - Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN
03/1 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
03/12 - Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH
03/15 - The Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO

More Dates TBA

Bear Hands are by no means strangers to the road. With well over 150 live dates behind them covering the US, Canada, The UK, France and even Brazil they usher in new fans wherever they go, “Providing just the right amount of danceable anthems to transform the crowd from an intrigued gathering into an all singing, all shaking disco party.” -RockSound

They’ve toured and shared the stage with such luminaries as MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit, Hockey, Ra Ra Riot, Ambulance Ltd, Cursive, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Le Savy Fav, Obits, We Are Scientists, Airborne Toxic Event, Razorlight, Manic Street Preachers, Matt & Kim, Francis and the Lights, Manchester Orchestra, Imperial Teen, Cale Parks, The Honorary Title, Ghostland Observatory, The Antlers, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson and have played in front of thousands at festivals such as Reading, Leads, Siren and Rockness.

In support of Too Pure’s single club release of What A Drag, Bear Hands toured the UK with Passion Pit and Hockey and have since toured the UK twice. The single was pegged by the Sunday Times and numerous others as “Hottest Downloads” and “Instant Classic” receiving airplay on both BBC Radio 1 and NME Radio A Listed.

There’s truth to be said by the NME who tagged Bear Hands as “The newest hardest working band in NY, they might just be one of the best”.

While guitarist Ted Feldman just finished directing their video for 'What A Drag', which you can watch on their website, next steps for Bear Hands: they'll have a tune on NYC’s Webster Hall’s compilation and will be hitting the dirt on a nationwide tour including some slamming sxsw sets to be had. After this they’re setting their sights on being among the first to purchase that ocean front view on the moon. Over and out.

www.myspace.com/bearhandsband

“Bear Hands adds complexity and rounds out the more straightforward rock with some melancholy minor chord unease...riveting, devil-may-care rock." -Spin.com

”Bear Hands prove they have everything it takes to make it massive.” -Rock Sound

“ace cacophony of raucous guitars and spluttered vocals” -The Fly

“The newest hardest-working band (Bear Hands) in New York might just be one of the best” -NME

"For the past month, we've been telling everyone within earshot about Bear Hands, an unsigned up-and-comer out of Brooklyn that should be on the radar of every indie label." -Entertainment Weekly

"tightly orchestrated, rhythmically inventive sound" -CMJ

“A throwback to Slanted and Enchanted Pavement with the lazy half-hook grunge alternating with Weezer circa Pinkerton. This band is getting a lot of buzz with labels so expect to see them come out with a full length..." -Deli Magazine

"..While hints of lo-fi indie and post-punk v2.o float about on their debut, the songs catch fire from their own spark. No grungy depression or post-millennial anxiety, just solid tunes.." -Alternative Press
“Seeing the progress they made in such a short amount of time, I have a feeling the buzz around this band is only beginning." -Absolutepunk.net

"This is a melodic, guitar driven band that sounds perhaps like a less spastic Detachment Kit. Anyway, I'm putting these guys on my "band to watch" list. I want to hear and see more, for sure." -ohmyrockness.com "I don’t mean to get all stupid and bloggy up in this piece, placing lofty expectations on such a young band, but I can’t help getting over-the-moon excited about their infectious, complex take on what I think can best be described as post-punk." -The L magazine

"Stylish local indie-rock foursome with sinewy postpunk rhythms." -Time Out New York

“Live the young Brooklyn quartet enthusiastically trumps seasoned elders, forcing the most jaded NYC concertgoers to uncross their arms." -Flavorpill

“…the group you wish you were in.” -NME

“best new band” -Artrocker

“spectacular.” -Billboard

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