Grizzly Bear performs “Yet Again” for Later…with Jools Holland.
Look for an extended version of this track and “A Simple Answer” on Friday’s performance.
Incase you missed it last night: listen to BBC Radio 1 Annie Mac’s interview with Ed and Chris Taylor
Tracks include a stripped down version of “Yet Again”, “Sleeping Ute” and “Half Gate” along with an interview.
Download the session (here).
A reupped version of Grizzly Bear’s Radio City performance for Fuse.
Grizzly Bear performed “Speak in Rounds” for Jay Leno.
Grizzly Bear featured in the October issue of AUX Magazine—features in-depth video interviews with the band. The AUX App is available for free on iTunes (iPhone/iTouch/iPad only).
10 Oct 2012 @ 07:52PM /
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Setlist:
- Sleeping Ute
- Half Gate
- Gun Shy
- Interview
- A Simple Answer
- Yet Again
09 Oct 2012 @ 04:35PM /
30 notes TAGGED AS: kcrw morning becomes eclectic interview grizzly bear stream
Grizzly Bear at Pygmalion Music Festival by Justine Bursoni
06 Oct 2012 @ 09:50AM /
107 notes TAGGED AS: grizzly bear chris taylor chris bear daniel rossen ed droste
Meet Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear’s Therapeutic Chihuahua, Beast
“Our dog is like the peacemaker in the band. Whenever we’re stressed, everyone just takes him and uses him as a therapy pillow and just hugs him and pets him. He was there for almost every recording, rehearsal, and songwriting session ever. He’s sort of this weird, soothing object. He’s basically required. If we could bring him on the road, we would. But I think a dog on a bus with wall-to-wall carpeting is not a good idea with this Beast. Beast is like my ultimate soother. He just soothes my sensibilities in every way possible. Unconditional love.” -Ed Droste
Ed Droste on Grizzly Bear’s songwriting process
Ed Droste was cool enough to reach out to me on Twitter in response to my recent post, “A rant about Grizzly Bear and writing with an audience in mind.” (I’ve strung the tweets together — you can see our whole conversation here.)
I think you missed my point. I just don’t like to be clouded with grandiose notions when writing. I want it to come from… somewhere natural and organic and not with some “we gotta get a song on the radio” mentality bc I think that taints the song… we don’t deliberately sit around and try to be obtuse, but we do want to be honest with ourselves. If we don’t love it how are we supposed to stand behind it and tour it?
I pushed back and noted that “I was trying to point out was that what’s true for y’all isn’t a universal truth — aiming for a hit doesn’t “taint” a song… plenty of incredible, artful, and passionate songs have been written within the pop song format,” and that I read his comments as a judgment on those songwriters. Ed replied:
I’m not saying others can’t , I’m just noting how we work! Different people have different methods, you know? …I’m just saying for us it tends to ring false and ultimately we gotta make something we can stand behind you know? I didn’t mean for it to sound like a universal! I love pop music. I love many songs that were written as hits. You should see my iTunes!
For fun, I asked Ed, “Now — would you guys consider writing your version of a hit as a goof?”
we could try! Haha it’d be an interesting experiment. 2 be honest I’m definitely the most pop minded in the band and push4hooks… writing a great pop song is super hard! Whether you are a slick team or pop genius, I have total respect
Then it finally made sense to me — since nobody buys records anymore, part of what the guys in Grizzly Bear struggle with is the fact that they have to tour so much in order to make ends meet, and when they make a record, they keep in mind the fact that they’ll have to be playing these songs night after night on stage. This is kind of a switch from our usual notion of record-making, which is: you make a record and then you figure out how to perform it live. (Remember Radiohead after Kid A, who felt like they had to relearn their songs after the recording was over to play them onstage, becoming their own cover band.)
In order for us to be able to perform a song over and over and stand behind it, it’s gotta come from a place that feels natural and honest to us and that excites us! (…) We aren’t willfully ignoring our audience but rather acknowledging we have to love the music in order to tour and release it.
The democratic nature of their songwriting is a kind of survival mechanism for the band — their touring is so relentless, they feel that they have to make music mainly for themselves in order to sustain their interest in performance. (And they do — several of my friends have told me what a great live band they are.)
Thanks again to Ed for taking the time to tweet with me. Lord knows it isn’t easy being a musician, and I wish him and Grizzly Bear the best on the tour behind their new album, Shields.
—
Daniel Rossen
Read the full Pitchfork interview with Ed, Chris Taylor and Daniel by clicking (here).
Grizzly Bear has truly changed my life.
I struggled with the idea of them flying me to NYC because Grizzly Bear Galore is more of a fun side project among friends than a serious undertaking. At times I didn’t even really think I deserved it. But, I think it really hit me how much it means to fans and family and friends when we were at the after party.
I know a lot of people follow that blog and I know a lot of people have said really nice things, but I never knew how much people equate that blog with their love of the band. It was one of the most surreal experiences in my entire life to have their loved ones tell Kerry and myself how much they love our blog and how they use it as a tool to keep tabs. We’ve received kind e-mails before, but to put actual faces to their words and know that they truly meant it was crazy.
There will never be enough blingees, or hearts or thank yous that can properly express how much this trip meant to me. When I first saw Grizzly Bear in 2007 at The Warhol I never imagined that one day I’d be meeting them in person, and hearing them tell me thank you. I love this band more than words can ever express and I’ll never forget what they’ve done for me. I’ll never forget this trip and I’m forever grateful that they allowed me into their lives.
xoxo - Lauren
