Boy & Bear Return With Triumphant New Single “Hold Your Nerve”

June 6, 2019 BY Nettwerk

After the most tumultuous period of their lives both personally and professionally, Boy & Bear are back with a triumphant new single, “Hold Your Nerve,” their first new music since 2015’s Limit of Love, which debuted at #1 in their native Australia.

Along with the release of “Hold Your Nerve,” the five-time’s ARIA winners have announced their global tour, which brings them across North America from September 12th in Philadelphia, PA through October 12th in San Diego, CA.  All dates are listed below; tickets are on-sale today from www.boyandbear.com.  

“Hold Your Nerve” is an upbeat, optimistic song in which the group channels their trademark penchant for organic, 70s-inspired sounds into one of their most direct, modern and addictive songs to date.

Produced by Boy & Bear and Collin Dupuis (The Black Keys; Lana Del Rey) and mixed by Tom Elmhirst (Amy Winehouse, Beck, Adele), the single is the first taste of their fourth studio album due out later this year. On the surface “Hold Your Nerve” charts the story of front-man Dave Hosking and his current partner’s failed first attempt at their relationship, but dig deeper and it reveals the backdrop of a debilitating illness Dave’s been dealing with since 2011.

Showing early symptoms of exhaustion, Dave was initially misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, followed by depression and anxiety. The symptoms soon intensified to include cognitive issues, which robbed Hosking of the ability to piece together lyrics and write songs. Hosking’s struggled while writing and recording Limit of Love, and as his health continued to decline, he noticed a deterioration in his eyesight and a constant ringing in his ears.

After working with a myriad of specialists, hope came in late-2015 when doctors detected a gut bacterial issue that has been poisoning his nervous system. Medication and a radical alteration of his diet offered minor improvements, to the point where he could commit to touring Limit of Love. By the end of the cycle, however, Dave had deteriorated further.

For an act at the peak of their career, with a #1 album in Australia and selling out major venues such as Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion and Brisbane’s Riverstage, the band made the decision to take 2017-18 off the road to give Dave time to focus on his health. It was a decision fraught with uncertainty and anxiety, but there was no question that Dave’s  well-being was the priority. Whereby Limit of Love was written collaboratively, the band spent months of 2017-18 trying out new writing ideas as Hosking rode an emotional and physical rollercoaster.

Dave made significant progress during this period when he was introduced to a new treatment called Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT). Also known as a stool transplant, FMT is the process of transplanting fecal bacteria from a healthy person into a recipient. His donor, Harry, was brought to Nashville for the writing and recording of the new album.

Watch Boy & Bear Trailer Showing Behind The Scenes Footage From Nashville:

 

Prior to the FMT treatment, Dave had been unable to conjure lyrics or remember melodies long enough to put them to use. For the first time since recording Limit of Love, he experienced enough relief to allow him to contribute to the song writing sessions for the new album.

While Dave’s health remains a work in progress, both he and the band can finally look to the future with optimism. “Hold Your Nerve” is their first step back into the light.

Accompanying the release of “Hold your Nerve” is a digital B-side called “Work Of Art” (also mixed by Elmhirst), which offers a window into another, more introspective side to the forthcoming album.

LISTEN TO “WORK OF ART”:

Boy & Bear is Dave Hosking (lead singer/guitars), Killian Gavin (guitars/vocals), Tim Hart (drums/vocals), Jon Hart (keys/vocals) and Dave Symes (bass/vocals).

Australia

Thursday August 15 | The Tivoli, Brisbane
Friday August 16 | The Forum, Melbourne
Saturday August 17 | Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Friday August 23 | The Astor, Perth

North America

Thursday September 12 | World Cafe Live Downstairs, Philadelphia
Friday September 13 | Bowery Ballroom, New York
Saturday September 14 | Union Stage, Washington
Monday September 16 | Brighton Music Hall, Boston
Tuesday September 17 | L’Astral, Montreal           
Thursday September 19 | Opera House, Toronto
Friday September 20 | Maxwell’s Concerts & Events, Waterloo
Saturday September 21 | The Casbah, Hamilton      
Monday September 23 | Bottom Lounge, Chicago
Tuesday September 24 | Turf Club, Minneapolis
Wednesday September 25 | Garrick Centre, Winnipeg          
Friday September 27 | The Capitol Music Club, Saskatoon
Saturday September 28 | The Palace Theatre, Calgary
Sunday September 29 | Starlite, Edmonton
Tuesday October 1 | Capital Ballroom, Victoria
Wednesday October 2 | Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver
Friday October 4 | Sunset Tavern, Seattle
Saturday October 5 | Aladdin Theater, Portland       
Tuesday October 8 | The Independent, San Francisco
Wednesday October 9 | The Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles
Friday October 11 | Constellation Room, Santa Ana
Saturday October 12 | Voodoo Room @ House of Blues, San Diego

UK/EU

Wednesday 5 February 2020 | De Roma, Antwerp, Belgium
Thursday 6 February 2020 | Tivoli Vrendenburg, Utrecht, Holland
Friday 7 February 2020 | Doornroosje, Nijmegen, Holland
Saturday 8 February 2020 | Paradiso Noord, Amsterdam, Holland
Tuesday 11 February 2020 | Les Etoiles, Paris, France
Wednesday 12 February 2020 | Luxor, Cologne, Germany
Thursday 13 February 2020 | Knust, Hamburg, Germany
Saturday 15 February 2020 | Lido, Berlin, Germany
Sunday 16 February 2020 | Strom, Munich, Germany
Monday 17 February 2020 | Magnolia, Milan, Italy,
Tuesday 18 February 2020 | Papiersaal, Zurich, Switzerland
Thursday 20 February 2020 | Gorilla, Manchester, UK
Friday 21 February 2020 | Glasgow Arts School, Glasgow, UK
Saturday 22 February 2020 | Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK
Monday 24 February 2020 | Institute 3, Birmingham, UK
Tuesday 25 February 2020 | Thekla, Bristol, UK
Wednesday 26 February 2020 | Shepherds Bush Empire, London, UK