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
Wicksey Boxing
Bear Hands Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reads his own work
Oh the police they bother him
About some missing girl
The sign is undeniable
If you believe in a miracle escape
I believe we will never pass away
In spite of what we offered him
Hours of basement tapes and yards of bloody rope
The sign is undeniable
If you believe in the miracle escape
I believe we will never pass away
The lyrics of Bear Hands's song "Wicksey Boxing" are layered and cryptic, requiring a keen ear and a knack for interpretation to unravel. The song follows the story of an aspiring grizzly novelist who reads his own work, but is hounded by the police about a missing girl. Despite being offered money and resources, the novelist fails to produce anything noteworthy and instead hoards tapes and rope. The "sign" mentioned in the lyrics remains "undeniable" and points to some sort of "miracle escape."
One possible interpretation of the lyrics is that the grizzly novelist represents a sort of tortured artist archetype, whose creative impulses are stifled by outside forces (in this case, the police). The tapes and rope that the novelist hoards could be seen as evidence of his struggles and desperate attempts to create something of significance. The "sign" could be interpreted as a symbol of hope or inspiration, which the singer of the song (presumably the bear hands in question) holds onto despite the novelist's failure to produce anything remarkable.
Overall, the lyrics of "Wicksey Boxing" are open to interpretation and can be read as a commentary on the creative process, the struggle for self-expression, and the limitations imposed by society.
Line by Line Meaning
Aspiring grizzly novelist
A writer who aspires to write like a bear, or someone who writes about bears and their behaviors, possibly in a fierce or bold manner.
Reads his own work
The writer reads his own written material.
Oh the police they bother him
The police pay close attention to this writer because of his unusual style or content.
About some missing girl
The police suspect the writer might have something to do with the disappearance of a young woman or girl.
The sign is undeniable
There is undeniable evidence or proof pointing to something suspicious or wrong.
If you believe in a miracle escape
If you believe in the impossible or something extraordinary happening, in order to escape danger or trouble.
I believe we will never pass away
The writer believes that he and his work will never be forgotten or lost in time, as it will have a lasting impact on the world.
In spite of what we offered him
Despite the opportunities or help given to the writer, he never wrote anything worth publishing or sharing with the world.
Hours of basement tapes and yards of bloody rope
The writer has spent countless hours writing material or ideas that have remained hidden and unused, while also portraying violent and gruesome imagery.
Contributed by Julia L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.