Grizzly Bear Marks Six-Year Hiatus with Triumphant Brooklyn Return
Indie rock stalwarts Grizzly Bear captivated fans on Thursday,October 13th,with their first live performance in six years,kicking off a US tour at Brooklyn Steel.
after a hiatus that began in 2019, following the release of their critically acclaimed album ‘Painted Ruins’, the Brooklyn-based quartet delivered a setlist spanning their entire discography, signaling a vibrant new chapter for the band.The return follows hints of a potential reunion, beginning in November 2023 when founder and co-lead vocalist Ed Droste announced he had opened a therapy practice and suggesting a return to music was possible. A formal announcement of the autumn US tour arrived in May of this year.
The concert at brooklyn Steel wasn’t simply a rehash of past glories; it was a party of the band’s evolution. The set included the live debut of their 2013 single ‘Will Calls’, and a rare performance of ‘Alligator’ from their 2004 debut album, ‘Horn Of Plenty’ – a track not played live since 2008. Further digging into the archives yielded another treat for dedicated fans: 2006’s ‘Little Brother’, performed for the first time since 2014, and a first-ever documented performance of ‘Deep Sea Diver’, likely untouched since 2005, according to Setlist.fm.
Alongside these deep cuts, the band also played fan favorites such as ‘Two Weeks’, ‘Yet Again’, and ‘Mourning Sound’, ensuring a satisfying experience for all attendees. The full setlist was as follows: ‘Southern Point’, ‘Alligator’, ‘Sleeping Ute’, ‘Mourning Sound’, ‘Yet Again’, ‘Cut-Out’, ‘Little Brother’, ‘Ready, Able’, ‘Fine For Now’, ‘Foreground Play’, ‘While You Wait For The Others’, ‘Will Calls’, ‘Two Weeks’, ‘On A Neck, On A Spit’, ‘Three Rings’, ‘Sun In your Eyes’, with an encore featuring ‘Deep Sea Diver’ and ‘Sky Took Hold’.
The band intends to keep each performance unique.According to a statement given to Pitchfork last week, co-lead vocalist Daniel Rossen explained, “We’re trying to balance the songs that we assume are the popular ones or algorithmically favorite songs, coupled with more obscure songs that we maybe wouldn’t have touched at the time.”
Grizzly Bear will continue their homecoming run at Brooklyn Steel with shows on October 16th, 17th, and 18th, before heading to Chicago for two performances, and then onward to Los Angeles, san Francisco, and Oakland. Tickets for remaining shows are available here.
Adding to the excitement, vocalist Victoria Legrand of beach House will join Grizzly Bear onstage for select songs beginning October 16th. The band expressed their enthusiasm, stating, “Truly honored to have such a queen with us.”
The hiatus saw individual members pursue other projects. Droste confirmed in 2020 that he had left the band to pursue studies in therapy. Meanwhile, Rossen and drummer Chris bear collaborated on the soundtrack for the 2023 film Past Lives. Rossen also released his debut solo album, ‘You Belong There’, in 2022, and embarked on a North American and European tour in support of it.
The band’s return signals not just a reunion, but a renewed creative energy, promising a compellin
