Together, these contradictory characters have combined their strengths to deliver their sophomore album Distraction – a collection in which their love of pop hooks is filtered cohesively through an eclectic collection of genre elements ranging from psychedelic to punk. “Giants” is perhaps the track that best encapsulates everything that makes Bear Hands special, as it flows from a manic verse full of hollered stream-of-consciousness lyrics into an infectious chorus, in which the universal emotion of “I’m loving you more” is set to a cascading riff.
Rau and Feldman first met as film students at Connecticut’s Wesleyan University, an institution that has become well known for turning out a steady stream of talented musicians due to its focus on the arts. They became fast friends, bonding over a pot brownie and a shared taste in music. However, as Feldman was already in another band at the time, it would be several months before the two would begin to collaborate musically.
After going through an unpleasant breakup, Dylan discovered that his ex-girlfriend had taken up with one of Ted’s bandmates. When he found out that the band had also been offered a record deal, Dylan decided that they would not ride off into the sunset with both his ex-girlfriend and the guitarist he wanted to join forces with. “I said, ‘this isn’t how I’m going to go down.’ I confronted Ted and said, ‘Alright, that’s it – we’re starting a band!’” Once Ted had been convinced to abandon his previous band and form a new one with Dylan, it was time to complete the lineup.
Rau quickly identified the ideal rhythm section for his new band: bassist Val Loper and drummer TJ Orscher of Glastonbury, CT’s In Pieces. “TJ was definitely one of the best drummers in the area,” explains Rau. “I remember Val playing a show at my school, and him spinning around really, really fast and getting his bass stuck in the ground, and then he tripped over it and knocked over a PA speaker. It was super boss.”
Knowing that he’d need to recruit them as a team, Rau used some mini-Machiavellian tricks to convince each member that the other was already interested. Once they’d come around to the idea, the first session together displayed an almost telepathic connection. As Feldman remembers: “Everyone was pretty surprised at how easily it came together. We put four songs together in the first two rehearsals. In retrospect, it was our honeymoon period.”
After Rau’s master plan came together (“You’ve got to poach people from other bands – you scout them and pick people off like weak antelope”), Bear Hands signed to indie label Cantora Records. Bear Hands’ debut album Burning Bush Supper Club was released in 2010, but their progress faltered due to legal complications and daily distractions. This, combined with some inspiration from Jonathan Lethem’s novel Chronic City, led to the band naming their new album Distraction. “It’s about losing touch with reality,” states Rau. “Many things distract us: doing drugs; drinking; reality television; good food; the Internet.”
Frustrated by this protracted hiatus, Bear Hands decided to take the initiative and fund the making of Distraction themselves. Working on a tight budget meant that Feldman, already the director of the band’s videos, would also take the role of producer, with engineering assistance courtesy of their friends Yale Yng-Wong and Jake Aron. To record the drums and the basic tracks, they headed to Feldman’s parents’ house, which was transformed into a makeshift studio for a week. “Luckily my parents weren’t there because they probably would’ve freaked out. It looked awesome to me, but maybe not their style,” laughs Feldman. Overdubs and vocals were completed at Yng-Wong’s studio, Doctor Wu’s, in Brooklyn.
Numerous songs on the album are based on real life experiences. “Agora” addresses Rau’s experiences with agoraphobia. “Mixed with a couple of other mental health issues, it was pretty bad,” he admits. “I still have trouble and I have to force myself to leave the house. Socializing and exercise are the two things that I’m trying to work on improving. Sometimes I have little interest in either.”
Another common theme is failing romance. "Thought Wrong" is based upon a time when two of the band members were simultaneously involved in intense break-ups, while "Vile Iowa" reflects Rau’s experiences visiting his ex-girlfriend’s family – conservative, teetotaller Mormons. “I don’t think they really liked me and I don’t think they trusted me,” he sighs. “I have a history of dating girls from the Midwest whose families don’t like me. It’s a habit I need to get over.”
With character, creativity and pure songmanship in abundance, the global appeal of Distraction should ensure that Rau will have a new chance to broaden his horizons way beyond the Midwest. “We’ve always aimed to write pop songs because that’s just what we like, but we also like all sorts of different styles,” affirms Feldman. “There hasn’t been a huge paradigm shift in genres. I think it’s been an evolution of quality.”
Bear Hands is a post-punk/experimental/indie rock act hailing from Brooklyn, New York. Forming in 2006, the band consists of Dylan Rau, Ted Feldman, Val Loper and TJ Orscher.
www.bearhandsband.com
What A Drag
Bear Hands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am sending my love, but they won't let it in.
You are dragging me down, I am punching a tree.
When I fall back now, deeper and deeper.
You've got them long nails, I'm dreaming of your god damn long nails.
You've got them long nails, I'm dreaming of your god damn long nails.
You have your finger so deep.
Listening is really just a valueless deed.
When you live underground, it's the way that you sleep.
It's the light in your hair, it's the weight of the breeze
and when I fall back now, deeper and deeper.
deeper and deeper, deeper and deeper.
deeper and deeper, deeper and deeper.
You've got them long nails, I'm dreaming of your god damn long nails.
You've got them long nails, I'm dreaming of your god damn long nails.
You have your finger so deep.
The lyrics of Bear Hands’s song “What A Drag” seem to describe a sense of being trapped and dragged down by someone else. The opening lines suggest being stuck in a bottomless pit, unable to escape: “I’m smearing a look, in a bottomless pit.” Despite sending love, the other person won’t let it in, indicating a lack of reciprocation. This causes the singer feels dragged down and resorting to violence, “You are dragging me down, I am punching a tree.” However, this violence, or any action for that matter, just makes things worse as they feel themselves falling back deeper and deeper into the pit.
The use of “long nails” in the song could be interpreted in different ways, but it seems to refer to the other person’s power over them. The longing for the “god damn long nails” suggests a desire to experience that power instead, however painful it may be. The line “You have your finger so deep” adds to the sense of being overpowered and controlled. The final lines of the song are simply a repetition of “deeper and deeper,” emphasizing the feeling of sinking without a way to stop it.
Overall, “What A Drag” portrays a feeling of powerlessness in a relationship and the desperation to regain some sense of control, even if it means turning to violence. It suggests that sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can’t escape being “dragged down” by someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm smearing a look, in a bottomless pit.
I feel lost and hopeless, like I'm stuck in a never-ending hole.
I am sending my love, but they won't let it in.
I'm trying to express my love, but it's not being received or reciprocated.
You are dragging me down, I am punching a tree.
You're causing me to feel weighed down and frustrated, like I want to hit something.
When I fall back now, deeper and deeper.
As I struggle, I feel like I'm sinking deeper into my problems and emotions.
You've got them long nails, I'm dreaming of your god damn long nails.
I'm fixating on something about you that I find alluring, like your nails.
You have your finger so deep.
You have such control over me, it's like your finger is deep inside of me.
Listening is really just a valueless deed.
Pretending to listen isn't actually helpful or meaningful.
When you live underground, it's the way that you sleep.
When you're struggling and feeling low, it can be hard to even find a comfortable way to rest.
It's the light in your hair, it's the weight of the breeze
There are small, beautiful things about you that I appreciate and find comforting.
deeper and deeper, deeper and deeper.
The feeling of sinking further into my issues and emotions only intensifies.
Contributed by Alexander O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Manoela Hieatt
Am I the only one who thinks that they should be famous as shit? They're awesome, I cannot believe they're not in the Top 100
Jessica Ruppert
they should be in the top ten.
Zim Zum
The new album is incredible. Check out "The Bug" and "Bone Digger".
ashleysharpxo
seen bear hands in concert many times and they're great! they're really talented, they should be bigger
eleanorerigby
Can't get this song out of my head! At least I love it.
Autumn Verschoor
Still love this song 💖
Josh
Does anyone remember an older video from Bear Hands of them performing this live at a concert or festival? Idk, it's the first recording I heard of this song and I loved it
Olivia Fitz
This song, is offically amazing ^^ my friend showed it to me and Ifeel in love <3 ;3
RC
still obsessed with this masterpiece.
Brianna
Awesome video, love the music, very catchy.