Breaking the US.
Westmeath indie rockers The Academic have announced the release of Bear Claws, a vibrant, anthemic piece of alt-rock mastery just as they are about to embark on their US tour.
The track, which casts a nostalgic glance over its now more adult shoulder, was inspired by those early youthful days when the band, still teenagers themselves, were trying to navigate their way through the minefield that is ‘youth socialising’.
Following their independently released Loose Friends EP in 2015 and last year’s equally successful single Mixtape 2003, the band scored opening spots with Noel Gallagher, Kodaline and Twenty One Pilots, in addition to supporting The Strokes at Hyde Park and recently completed a number of sold-out UK, European and Irish headline shows.
Having already earned considerable critical praise from the online community as well as both The New York Times and The Irish Times.
The band have also enjoyed considerable support at radio in Ireland and across the UK and Europe.
BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac picked the band as one of her ‘New Names’ for 2017 while Phil Taggart has earmarked the quartet as one of Ireland’s biggest emerging acts, drawing welcome comparisons to Two Door Cinema Club amongst others.
Clip via The Academic
Discussing their nostalgic new single, the band stated:
“Bear Claws is a song about when you are coming of age, that period of your life when you’re just starting to socialise, getting out there and doing it.
“We all do stupid things at that time of our lives, not thinking about the longer term implications. It’s also about asking people to be honest and open, rather than holding back which in adolescence, is easier said than done.”
The Academic is Craig Fitzgerald (vox/guitar), Dean Gavin (drums) and brothers Matt (lead guitar) and Stephen Murtagh (bass)
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