We’re spoiled. We have at least 30 traditional music venues in the core of the Bay without getting into semi public DIY spots, bars that sometimes throw an awkward event, and the festival scene. That said, I declare you still aren’t going to enough live music. To further convince you, here’s one that should have been on your calendar last week.
Bear Hands have been on the move once again. The trio just wrapped their latest cross country tour in support of both The Key To What, that was unleashed back in October, and in celebration of 2014’s Distraction. This most recent album marks release number five and continues the streak of aural pop-rocks to perk up your ears. The album’s welcome of “Floor It” would make a prime score to challenge your friends to a round of bike jousting. On the tail end of this recent run a stop led to Berkeley’s Cornerstone. Dylan Rau (vocals & guitar) brought us up to speed on where we’re at now that they’ve safely landed back on the East Coast.
Pretty much waiting for someone to say something funny or stupid. Funny; you get to laugh, stupid; you get to make fun of them for a while. Sometimes longer than a while if someone really steps in it.
It’s been more than a minute since you’ve made a stop in the Bay, is anything firmly on your must eat-drink-wander around list while in town?
Just walking around Berkeley was kind of a trip. I hadn’t been there since I went on a college tour there with my dad on my first ever trip to California. I don’t think I would have gotten in though.
What is the band recommended listening environment for The Key To What?
I always like listening to music in the car best. Plus there’s a couple of car themed tracks on this record so it’s a pretty tight fit!
And how about Distraction, would your answer have changed since 2014?
Jeez, I dunno about Distraction probably anywhere you could listen to it really loud. Turn my headphones up!
While you sit patiently for the band to return to tour life I recommend diving back into this year’s release. Or, if need a backup plan, you could always lock yourself indoors and revisit the video for Distraction‘s “Agora“.
Words by Mike Chouinard (DangerVenture)
