Bear Hands spent the last year opening for twenty one pilots, Foals, and X Ambassadors, and on March 6 will headline The Club at Stage AE.
Bear Hands recently released their fourth studio album Fake Tunes, which the New York Times describe as “metronomic electro-pop.” Written and recorded in the plastic warmth of Los Angeles, Fake Tunes marks an evolution for the band, whilst drawing upon newly formed collaborative relationships with producer Christopher Chu of POP ETC and outsider artist Ursula Rose.
Bear Hands, comprised of vocalist Dylan Rau, bassist Val Loper, and drummer TJ Orscher, recently released their fourth studio album Fake Tunes, a deep dive into a twisted modern era, paranoid yet hopeful, celebrity obsessed and introspective, and an unmistakable sign of troubled times. Written and recorded in the plastic warmth of Los Angeles, Fake Tunes marks an evolution for the band, whilst drawing upon newly formed collaborative relationships with producer Christopher Chu of POP ETC and outsider artist Ursula Rose. Their most auspicious release to date, Fake Tunes is available for purchase on all formats here.
From the “metronomic electro-pop” (New York Times) of album opener “Blue Lips (feat. Ursula Rose),” a song about listening to someone’s problems over and over until it drains you completely, to the dreamy lilt of “Clean Up California,” a song about finding salvation (or not) across state lines, Fake Tunes traces the anxiety of life and love in America today. The album’s 11 tracks veer from the meaty, rhythmic indie anthems the band cut its teeth on to digitally-infused numbers that swerve across stylistic lanes. The result is a fitting statement of what a band can be—and the expectations it can defy. “It feels like this record is grateful,” Loper says. “We feel lucky to be here, to have the chance to keep making music together. It feels lighter. The songs are shorter, they’re pretty poppy, and they’re to the point. And that’s where our music is most impactful.”
Bear Hands was formed in Connecticut and soon after moved to NYC to test their chemistry on stage. The band would go on to release its acclaimed debut LP, Burning Bush Supper Club, in 2010, riding steady hype to 2014’s showstopper Distraction. Radio soon caught on, earning the band major chart success with singles “Giants” and “Agora,” alongside a late night TV debut on Conan. The group quickly earned a reputation as a visceral live act, touring with the likes of Passion Pit, Killer Mike, and Cage the Elephant, and landing on festival bills from Coachella to Reading & Leeds. This year, the band has toured alongside Foals, Walk the Moon, and twenty one pilots.
Bear Hands
Friday, March 6
The Club at Stage AE
400 N Shore Dr,
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
$18
Tickets