Boy & Bear 'Harlequin Dream' Australian Regional Tour 2014
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As if it wasn't hot enough with the heat wave that spread through Australia last week, Boy & Bear's mammoth 32 date tour of Europe and America (due to kick off in February) sold out in London that week. It seems our UK counterparts are hot under the collar about one of Australia's finest heating up their winter. Regional Australia fans are in for a treat too. With a 30 date tour spanning QLD, NT, WA, VIC, ACT and NSW kicking off in mid-April and running through till May, punters are encouraged to book tickets to see one of their exclusive shows. Dave Symes (bass player) speaks for the band when he talks about their excitement for their Harlequin Dream tour.
"There are some regional places the band aren't able to get to, but if there are places people want us to come to, we can try and get there. We are just so excited to take our music to the other side of the world and the other side of Australia. Up to Darwin, Northern QLD, VIC and everywhere. Hopefully people will come along to see us and we can play our music to a wide variety of people."
Harlequin Dream is the band's second album and the follow on to their platinum selling debut album Moonfire - which topped the ARIA album charts at number #1.
Boy & Bear are renowned for their characteristic narratives, stunning imagery and high quality in their film clips. "I guess in a way Harlequin Dream has that. The different colour palettes involved, the mood and the different instrumentation. I guess the whole concept of the artwork is that real circus, wild animals, hunters and worlds colliding kind-of-thing. It is a running kind of thing in our clips."
"It was shoot a couple of weeks before the disaster in the Philippines. Everyone involved is all okay, so that is really lucky as well. You never know when those sorts of things are going to happen. Hopefully we have directed a few people to helping out, Australians are always really good with helping out our neighbours."
All band members hail from Sydney, with Symes based in Newtown, "I'm over at Bronte today, which is on the beach - so I am going to have a little swim today. It's a nice afternoon over here." Symes explains the band are also avid fans and players of sport.
"We love kicking a footy, we love playing frisbee. I think that's what keeps us as fit and healthy as we can. As much as the rock n' roll dream is out there, partying and everything, it's kind of not really possible. You gotta be realistic. It can be hard on the road, as you spend all day in the car and all night at the gig - we get out as much as we can - we all go for runs and swimming, we play a lot of squash actually."
Fans of the band will know their Instagram page houses all the boys antics @boyandbear. From backyard cricket, to squash, to changing tyres on the road - there is visual montage of the bands everyday lives and life on the road. Symes admits though, they have been prone to a few sporting injuries as of late.
"Good ol' Killian had an accident in soccer the night before the our first show (October 2013), he went and played soccer and stuffed his foot actually.
"I just went and played basketball last night and I stuffed one of my fingers, obviously a sign we should stick to music and leave sport alone. We love our sport for better or worse."
Life on the road will be a big feature for the band on the regional Australia and International tour. Symes explains the band will be driving around Europe, America and home soil. It's part of what the band needs to do to keep touring costs down.
"We're lucky to have a couple of guys come with us that do our sound as well. And they help with all the driving and everything." Symes starts pondering the thought of keeping fit on the road, "we like our squash, we may even take our racquets on the road this time. Find some old 70's squash courts, put our shorts on and have a hit."
With the band heading off on the 16th of February, Symes confirms the band is feeling pretty happy about being on the road for three months. "We are pretty excited, it is a bit of a dream to get over there on this record. We're starting to prepare and ready to get into it."
With popularity increasing worldwide, he notes some countries with Australian fans always have good attendance. "I think our music speaks to a lot of locals as well. Which is what is happening in Germany and places like that. There'll definitely be a few old mates over there in London," he notes laughing.
With Australia Day and the triple j Hottest 100 looming, Symes laughter continues when thinking about them making this year's poll. "We try not to think too much about those sorts of things. We really love triple j and love that we are being supported by them. We always go on air, we love when they want to record our shows - we have a nice relationship with them. If we get a song in there, that will be pretty nice. We got a bit of a rating on the listeners Top 10 albums - we came in at number seven which is pretty exciting (just before Christmas). We were the only Australian band, we are pretty chuffed about that!"
Symes notes these sorts of moments indicate it's a great time for Australian music. "I think it will be a great year for the Hottest 100 this year, if we get a look in that would be nice, but if we don't, we'll enjoy listening to all the other ones."
Will Boy & Bear be listening to the Hottest 100 while packing for their three months on the road? "It's kind of annoying because of the seasons, the different weather, it is going to be pretty cold over there [America, Canada, Europe and UK] . I'm sure we'll have our black jeans, our RM Williams and a big jacket. I'm sure they'll be in there." Symes laughs as he confirms the staple clothing items, "Yep, it's the classic Australian winter wardrobe."
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Regional tour tickets on sale: www.boyandbear.com
