Eliza And The Bear want to connect with fans the old fashioned way – by packing up their tour van and hitting the road.
The band's new single 'It Gets Cold' is out now, with their debut album due to arrive in Spring. For now, fans can catch Eliza And The Bear live, in the flesh, on their huge upcoming tour.
With that in mind, Clash invited Eliza And The Bear to recount some tales from the road.
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Best Trip…
Has to be the trip that we took to Hong Kong. We got asked to go and play a new store opening for Burberry as they used one of our tracks for their new campaign. They put us up in the best hotel I've ever stayed in and we all had our own room. I remember running to and from each others room asking each other "can you believe this?!" The rep that Burberry sent took us for the best food and we went to Hong Kongs' Magaluf equivalent called Lan Kwai Fong for drinks. We did this red carpet thing which was super awkward and played an awesome show. Just remember coming back on the plane hangover as hell, thinking did that actually happen?
Worst Trip…
We played a festival in Leicester and it was absolutely hammering it down with rain. We played a pretty average gig and had to travel all the way from Leicester up to Belladrum festival up near Inverness overnight. The van we had was so tiny and there was like nine of us crammed into it, which literally turned into a "uncomfortable sleeping bundle." We arrived in Inverness at around 6 in the morning after minimal sleep and refuelled with a Morrisons breakfast. Needless to say the show at Belladrum was unbelievable but we literally walked off stage and all died.
Our favourite foreign venue…
We haven't played a crazy amount but we did play a great venue called Molotov (I think) over in Hamburg. It was just along the Reeperbahn and I think that was our first time actually playing abroad which set it up pretty well. We were all super nervous about playing because we weren't sure what the hell the German crowd would make of us. Turned out to be rammed, sweaty and loads of fun.
We’re surprisingly popular in…
McDonalds! Don't as me why. Every single one of my friends seems to tell me that they here us in one. We've had some great radio over the past few months but it doesn't stand up against the coverage ol' Ronald McDonalds pumping us. Who knows this time next year we could all have some form of Big Mac endorsement
Best or worst exotic foodstuff…
Has to be this place that our producer took us to in Nashville called the Peg Leg Porker while we was recording. So basically it was a Nashville inspired BBQ restaurant owned by a guy who had a peg leg. I have to say I've never, and I mean NEVER, had pulled pork with mac and cheese like it. As simple as that meal sounds there was just something so damn delicious about the way it tasted there.
Most interesting individual you've met on the road…
The first people that popped into my mind was this band we played with called Farewell JR. A couple of the lads were Irish and just the coolest guys we met. They told me that they literally lived out of a pub they owned over in Ireland. Amazingly none of them had phones or emails. I know it seems stupid but it was kinda cool to meet people that didn't sit there with their faces attached to their iPhone. And they taught us how to drink.
Worst on-tour injury, or infection, or accident…
Were all quite big football fans so while we was on tour we decided we should get a little five a side on the go. The level of football was atrocious, then out of nowhere our bass player (Chris Brand) decides to take on an acrobatic wonder volley. In doing this he landed on his right foot and essentially broke his ankle. I wouldn't mind but it literally took me about 25 mins to fetch the ball out of the hedges on the other side of the park. He managed to get it strapped up and finish the remaining couple of shows.
My essential travel item…
I hate to admit but it has to be conditioner, preferably Aussie. My hair literally turns into a wirey, hay-like mess so I have to put the time in the Travelodges getting it conditioned properly. Don't worry the boys already give me the abuse I deserve for it.
My essential travel tip…
Get a hobby. Before I ever did any proper touring I didn't realise how long you would actually be sitting around for. Whether your headlining or supporting most of your day is just spent in venues literally doing nothing or traveling. When we get time in the venue we try to get in a little badminton/table tennis/football game. When were in the van we either play a lot of UNO or a personal favourite "quiz time." For this i just basically get up google on my phone and ask the boys random general knowledge questions. That's what level of boredom we are talking about.
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Catch Eliza And The Bear at the following shows:
January
19 Colchester Arts Centre
20 Cambridge Portland Arms
21 Norwich Waterfront
22 Northampton Roadmenders
23 St Albans The Horn
25 Guilford Boileroom
26 Tunbridge Wells Forum
28 Southampton Joiners
29 Bath Moles
30 Oxford The Bullingdon
February
1 Falmouth Mono
2 Exeter Cavern
3 Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach
4 Gloucester Guildhall
5 Stoke Sugarmill
6 Chester The Live Rooms
8 Nottingham Bodega
9 Liverpool EVAC Loft
10 Aberdeen Lemon Tree
11 Edinburgh Electric Circus
12 Stockton The Georgian Theatre
13 Hull Fruit
15 York Duchess
16 Sheffield Plug
18 Leicester Scholar Bar
19 Banbury Also Known As
