Moonfired up: Boy and Bear play in Geelong next week.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
ARIA-nominated Boy and Bear is heading back to Geelong – and looking forward to the visit.
Vocalist Jon Hart said the band had “awesome” memories of its last local gig.
“Last time we played in Geelong it was really loose and rowdy, a really full room,” Hart said.
“Our tickets tend to move quite well in Geelong. It’s nice to be just an hour out of Melbourne and have lots of people come along.
“We try not to play the same live show we did last time people came to see us.
“Since we last played in Geelong we’ve released an album. Personally, as a music fan, whenever I go along I enjoy the show more when I’ve been able to listen to the album before.”
The debut album, Moonfire, encapsulates all the elements that have made Boy and Bear Australian favourites: aching harmonies, booming drums, delicate acoustic textures and, of course, roaring singalongs.
“Lately we’ve been doing two types of shows: sit-down theatre-type shows in the bigger cities and some big club-pub shows,” Hart said.
“It’s nice to keep the kind of shows we do mixed up when we’re on tour because it keeps the night fresh.”
With a swag of ARIA nominations and industry accolades, Boy and Bear appears to have burst into the scene.
“People often say ‘Things just happened so quickly for you guys’ but we’ve been playing in bands for years so our routine doesn’t feel massively different for us. It’s a privilege to do this full-time,” Hart reflected.
“The show will be the tracks on the album coming to life in a way that’s slightly different but true to the fundamentals of the songs.
“Our live shows are about putting harmonies together live with our string arrangements.
“We don’t use electronics or loops; what you hear is just us, so it’s pretty honest.
“We did the album six months ago so the songs have grown as we’ve played them live.
“We’re always making sure with our new material we go harder with the songs while stripping the intimate stuff back as well for impact.”
Boy and Bear play at Bended Elbow next Wednesday.
