Usually, I try to at least give some detail into the songs I choose to put on here, but Boy & Bear’s “Big Man” is a song whose lyrics speak for itself.  For those of you who have been craving more Mumford & Sons, and still are in love with Bruce Springsteen, this piece is right up your alley.  Hailing from Sydney, Australia, their choral vocals on par with the best that Fleet Foxes can muster.  Surely, Boy & Bear will be big in only a matter of time.  Check out the full lyrics below, enjoy the song, download it below, and buy Boy & Bear’s debut album Moonfire.  You won’t regret it.

Well I bit on my lip, and I kicked at my toes
No, I don’t need your lecture cause your lecture won’t show
That you told me so I told you so
But I would have managed, I would have been fine
I’d do it myself and I’d do it just my way,
I’m a big man for thinking just so.

But somebody told me that your mother was born
Wa-wa-wandering woman with a spirit so sworn of the riverside
And it never surprised me but it meant that my love was immobilized
Well, it meant that my love was immobilized
Cause when it comes, it comes when it does.

But you came in the middle and you fell in my hands
Oh a, wonderful woman and an average man.
See that makes me the lucky man
I won’t be deserving, but I won’t be denied
See, I fell in this position, I will still teach my kids pride
Because failure’s a part of it all
And if failure don’t hurt then failure don’t work at all

But somebody told me that your nephew was born
Oh, a beautiful baby, so smart and so sure of his little self
And in a wonderful way he was making me feel so small
Was making me feel so small, was making me feel so small.
And I don’t think I’ve felt this before.

In all the reasons to come, well they override my body and,
I point to the sun, cause where it’s warm is where the wilderness grows
And it grows, and it grows ‘til it all becomes nothing
And nothing is left as you know.

(We walked it for a thousand years, with broken eyes and salted ears
Complaining ’bout the weather like we ever had a choice.
Through all the noise and self abuse, you waited for your fill of truth
Oh I’m terrified I’ll achieve nothing at all.)

Big Man- Boy & Bear

The opening act for Blitzen Trapper and Dawes on Friday at Royale was The Belle Brigade, who wowed me with their live act.  A five piece band led by sister and brother Barbara and Ethan Gruska.  When I did a little digging it was of little surprise that their grandfather is none other than musical composer John Williams and from their live performance down to their great harmonies rest assured The Belle Brigade too, has a bright future.

After their performance I had the pleasure of meeting the band as well and they are one of the kindest, most down to earth bands you will ever meet, and I have the signed vinyl (including a heart from Barbara) to prove it. Do yourself a favor and listen to this band.
 Check out the free download of the studio version of “Losers” below, as well as a video of their performance in Philadelphia.

Losers- The Belle Brigade

Dawes co-headlined the bill with Blitzen Trapper on Friday night at the Royale and were every bit as equal as their counterparts, even running through a great cover of Paul Simon’s  "Kodachrome".  As great as Dawes is as a band in their own right, they prove to be equally up to the task in their covers, as evidenced in this tackling of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy”.  For the free download check out the link below, and catch a video of their performance of  "Kodachrome" from Philadelphia and “Time Spent In Los Angeles” from the Boston show.

Jealous Guy (John Lennon Cover)- Dawes