Grizzly Bear Get the Claws Out
- Posted on May 29th 2009 10:00AM by Adam Horne
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The buzz surrounding Brooklyn-based indie rock quartet Grizzly Bear has reached fever pitch. Not even a week has gone by since the release of 'Veckatimest,' the band's third full-length effort, and whispers of Best Album of the Year have already begun. Their success however, did not come overnight. Last summer, the band's carefully-crafted orchestral pop caught the attention of Radiohead, who hand-picked them for the opening spot on their North American tour. In addition to stints with indie powerhouses TV on the Radio and Feist, Grizzly Bear has even shared the stage with Paul Simon. "We were so out of our element. It was a totally different concert experience," vocalist Ed Droste told Spinner during the group's Interface taping. "A beautiful opera house ... and of course, getting to meet Paul Simon was amazing."
However, early in March, with anticipation over the new record still building, the group experienced a bump in the road when 'Veckatimest' was leaked online to anxious fans. "Obviously for the label and for us, we put a lot of work into it and we want people to buy it -- get the whole package and listen to it in good quality," Droste said. Luckily, the guys were able to remain positive about the ordeal. "That said, we are really excited that people are excited about it."
As the band gains visibility through glowing profiles and reviews in the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and Rolling Stone (to name a few), their career path continues upward. For now, the critically-lauded band is focused on bringing their new songs to fans on tour. "Being on the road is very simple. It's like, all you have to do is play that show and it's really fun," Droste said. "You know? Hopefully, eat some fun food."
- Filed under: Exclusive
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