“We haven’t said much tonight,” said Bear’s Den Joey Haynes, breaking the silence of what truly had been a set without much talking thus far. “We’re just really nervous. This might be the best night of our lives.” Haynes was referencing the fact that his band, a band that just two years ago was mostly playing pub shows in their native London, were now playing to a packed Bowery Ballroom, a venue Haynes went on to say the band had always dreamed of playing.
A few big things had happened in those two years – notably an invitation to open for Mumford and Sons on an international tour – but throughout the night, it was clear that Bear’s Den was still just a humble group of guys happy to be playing music for their eager audience. And eager the audience was, shouting out song requests, belting out choruses along with vocalist Andrew Davie and, when during the encore the band performed an acoustic rendition of “Bad Blood“ in the middle of the crowd, urging the house to go silent so Davie’s voice could be best heard.
Live music is a two way street, with bands who just want to put on a show and fans who just want to have a good time. That street flowed smoothly on Thursday night. After an opening set of surfy guitar-pop from Brooklyn-natives Little Racer, electric guitars were replaced with a banjo and horns on stage and Bear’s Den quietly entered. The emotive sing-a-long “Pompeii” came early in the 15-song set, as did “Elysium,” a song you might know because of it’s tremendous and heartbreaking video filmed at Seattle Pacific University. As an encore, “Bad Blood” in the crowd and a cover of Drake’s “Hold On, We’re Going Home.”
Near the end of the show, Haynes spoke once again, saying that he loved New York because of the unexpected paths it takes you on. “I feel like we always end up on a rooftop drinking rosé,” he said. With the closing notes of the Drake cover, a “one more song!” chant began but faded away as the lights came on. The crowd dispersed into the streets, maybe off to find a rooftop to drink rosé or maybe just to reminisce on the mesmerizing show they just saw.
Article by: Brian Benton
Little Racer
Little Racer
Little Racer
Little Racer
Little Racer
Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den
