Tim Hart - Boy and Bear (06/08/2014)
Speaking to Tim Hart, drummer of ARIA award-winning Sydney band Boy and Bear, from the icy freeze of my living room, I learned a few things I didn't already know about the indie darlings and their story so far.
Firstly, I was reminded of all the reasons a seachange to NSW is appealing. Tim was enjoying a lazy lunch with friends in Balmain in glorious sunshine (with a view of the ocean, to boot), as I was (BRRR!) chattering my teeth through the interview over the phone from Melbourne. That's one reason to relocate, and that's enough.
Furthermore, I learned that part of what makes Boy And Bear's success so pleasing and so obvious all at once, is the broad perspective the group have of the music world and their space within it. Making music that fulfills them, in order to share it with as many of us as possible – this is their game and they own it.
I spoke to Tim the day before the band boarded a plane bound for Europe, to tour their second full-length album Harlequin Dream around the continent before returning for a stint on home soil. The Get Up & Dance theatre tour is happening across Australia in September, with Triple J faves Holy Holy supporting.
I asked Tim which overseas destination they're most excited to play, and the answer was easy – Italy, as they've never played there before. One of their stops in the pasta-loving nation will be a bar just north of Cinque Terre, about which they're “pretty stoked”. And undoubtedly so, as who could possibly mind work when work is on the Mediterranean in the height of Summer...?
Tim acknowledged the downsides to freqent travel, such as occasional homesickness and being miles from loved ones, but assures me that Boy And Bear love to travel. They decided a long time ago they weren't going to be a band that only toured Australia. The band's vision has paid off. Not only has it taken them to amazing places in all corners of the globe, it has earned the respect of the Australian music industry. Their 2011 debut Moonfire won them 5 ARIAs, including Best Group and Album of the Year.
This is what Tim had to say on the very pointy, shiny, silver awards...
“It's amazing – I grew up watching the ARIAs and never thought I'd be there. We're humbled [by the recognition] but appreciate that [ARIAs] don't make careers – there is a lot of other work involved.”
When I mention that Boy And Bear wouldn't have won the ARIAs without the hard work that has characterised their journey thus far, Tim doesn't hesitate to own the pride inherent in that truth – nor his mother's (who is also band member Jon's mother, incidentally).
It is this modesty and down-to-earth affability that has stood Boy And Bear in stable stead for the success that has become them.
The upcoming theatre tour includes some pretty spectacular venues – arguably none more striking than the Sydney Opera House. Nonetheless, Tim insists that the band are just as pumped to play Melbourne's Palais and Fremantle's Art Centre as the world-famous venue on the harbour of their hometown.
“A lot of these venues are a dream come true... [The Palais] is a really amazing theatre that I have driven past many a time. The Fremantle Arts Centre, which we have played, we love. It's a great venue. It will be really good to play in front of home-grown crowds again.” The name of the upcoming tour suggests that audience participation is an important part of a Boy And Bear gig. I asked Tim how important it is that the crowd gets involved in the live performance.
“It's very important to us. You play a show day in, day out, and you are playing the same songs. It's so important to have people there and wanting to be part of it, otherwise [it can become] sterile. There is always variation [between crowds] with regard to favourite songs and expectations, and we love that.”
Clearly, involving their adoring pundits is another part of the game plan, and it works a treat. From experience I can attest, a Boy And Bear show is anything but sterile. It's warm, inclusive, sing-along and feel-good vibes every step of the way.
Get to one of the theatres around this vast country in September and I defy you not to sway, or indeed outright dance, or sing, or make any kind of noise in fact, or feel the shivers down your spine when they play Big Man, or stomp your feet when they play Southern Sun.
Rebecca McCann
WED 03 SEP | THE PALAIS, MELBOURNE VIC ALL AGES
**SECOND SHOW ANNOUNCED**
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
FRI 05 SEP | THE PALAIS, MELBOURNE VIC
**SOLD OUT**
SAT 06 SEP | HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE, ADELAIDE SA ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.bass.net.au | 131 246 | All BASS Outlets
FRI 12 SEP | THE ARTS CENTRE, GOLD COAST QLD ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.theartscentregc.com.au | 07 5588 4000 | From the Box Office Direct
SAT 13 SEP | THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE QLD ALL AGES MATINEE & 18+ EVENING SHOW
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
SUN 21 SEP | SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, SYDNEY NSW ALL AGES
**SECOND SHOW ANNOUNCED**
Tickets available from www.sydneyoperahouse.com | 02 9250 7777 | From the Box Office Direct
MON 22 SEP | SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, SYDNEY NSW
**SOLD OUT**
THU 25 SEP | ALBANY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, ALBANY WA ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets & Albany Ent Centre Box Office Direct
FRI 26 SEP | BUNBURY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, BUNBURY WA ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.bunburyentertainment.com | 1300 661 272 | From the Box Office Direct
SUN 28 SEP | FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE, FREMANTLE WA 18+*
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets *U18 can attend with a parent / guardian
Firstly, I was reminded of all the reasons a seachange to NSW is appealing. Tim was enjoying a lazy lunch with friends in Balmain in glorious sunshine (with a view of the ocean, to boot), as I was (BRRR!) chattering my teeth through the interview over the phone from Melbourne. That's one reason to relocate, and that's enough.
Furthermore, I learned that part of what makes Boy And Bear's success so pleasing and so obvious all at once, is the broad perspective the group have of the music world and their space within it. Making music that fulfills them, in order to share it with as many of us as possible – this is their game and they own it.
I spoke to Tim the day before the band boarded a plane bound for Europe, to tour their second full-length album Harlequin Dream around the continent before returning for a stint on home soil. The Get Up & Dance theatre tour is happening across Australia in September, with Triple J faves Holy Holy supporting.
I asked Tim which overseas destination they're most excited to play, and the answer was easy – Italy, as they've never played there before. One of their stops in the pasta-loving nation will be a bar just north of Cinque Terre, about which they're “pretty stoked”. And undoubtedly so, as who could possibly mind work when work is on the Mediterranean in the height of Summer...?
Tim acknowledged the downsides to freqent travel, such as occasional homesickness and being miles from loved ones, but assures me that Boy And Bear love to travel. They decided a long time ago they weren't going to be a band that only toured Australia. The band's vision has paid off. Not only has it taken them to amazing places in all corners of the globe, it has earned the respect of the Australian music industry. Their 2011 debut Moonfire won them 5 ARIAs, including Best Group and Album of the Year.
This is what Tim had to say on the very pointy, shiny, silver awards...
“It's amazing – I grew up watching the ARIAs and never thought I'd be there. We're humbled [by the recognition] but appreciate that [ARIAs] don't make careers – there is a lot of other work involved.”
When I mention that Boy And Bear wouldn't have won the ARIAs without the hard work that has characterised their journey thus far, Tim doesn't hesitate to own the pride inherent in that truth – nor his mother's (who is also band member Jon's mother, incidentally).
It is this modesty and down-to-earth affability that has stood Boy And Bear in stable stead for the success that has become them.
The upcoming theatre tour includes some pretty spectacular venues – arguably none more striking than the Sydney Opera House. Nonetheless, Tim insists that the band are just as pumped to play Melbourne's Palais and Fremantle's Art Centre as the world-famous venue on the harbour of their hometown.
“A lot of these venues are a dream come true... [The Palais] is a really amazing theatre that I have driven past many a time. The Fremantle Arts Centre, which we have played, we love. It's a great venue. It will be really good to play in front of home-grown crowds again.” The name of the upcoming tour suggests that audience participation is an important part of a Boy And Bear gig. I asked Tim how important it is that the crowd gets involved in the live performance.
“It's very important to us. You play a show day in, day out, and you are playing the same songs. It's so important to have people there and wanting to be part of it, otherwise [it can become] sterile. There is always variation [between crowds] with regard to favourite songs and expectations, and we love that.”
Clearly, involving their adoring pundits is another part of the game plan, and it works a treat. From experience I can attest, a Boy And Bear show is anything but sterile. It's warm, inclusive, sing-along and feel-good vibes every step of the way.
Get to one of the theatres around this vast country in September and I defy you not to sway, or indeed outright dance, or sing, or make any kind of noise in fact, or feel the shivers down your spine when they play Big Man, or stomp your feet when they play Southern Sun.
Rebecca McCann
WED 03 SEP | THE PALAIS, MELBOURNE VIC ALL AGES
**SECOND SHOW ANNOUNCED**
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
FRI 05 SEP | THE PALAIS, MELBOURNE VIC
**SOLD OUT**
SAT 06 SEP | HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE, ADELAIDE SA ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.bass.net.au | 131 246 | All BASS Outlets
FRI 12 SEP | THE ARTS CENTRE, GOLD COAST QLD ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.theartscentregc.com.au | 07 5588 4000 | From the Box Office Direct
SAT 13 SEP | THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE QLD ALL AGES MATINEE & 18+ EVENING SHOW
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100 | All Ticketmaster Outlets
SUN 21 SEP | SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, SYDNEY NSW ALL AGES
**SECOND SHOW ANNOUNCED**
Tickets available from www.sydneyoperahouse.com | 02 9250 7777 | From the Box Office Direct
MON 22 SEP | SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, SYDNEY NSW
**SOLD OUT**
THU 25 SEP | ALBANY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, ALBANY WA ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849 | All Ticketek Outlets & Albany Ent Centre Box Office Direct
FRI 26 SEP | BUNBURY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, BUNBURY WA ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.bunburyentertainment.com | 1300 661 272 | From the Box Office Direct
SUN 28 SEP | FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE, FREMANTLE WA 18+*
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix Outlets *U18 can attend with a parent / guardian