Grizzly Bear kicked off the new year by playing shows in Australia. On Sunday night, they played a sold-out performance at the world famous Sydney Opera House, and it seems that this might be that last show for the band, at least for the near future.
Since the release of Shields in 2012, the band has made appearances at 115 shows and festivals, but the one that potentially wrapped up the string of gigs was the 21-song, two-hour long performance that was streamed live online. "Grizzly Bear: will Australia be their last stand?" was an article published by The Guardian, and it clearly alluded to the fact that the band might be calling it quits.
"This is definitely the last touring we'll do for this album before we enter into the question mark of the future," band member Ed Droste said of the Australian shows. Droste and Daniel Rossen have both spoken about how draining the recent touring has been and that they are unsure what will come next, that they never have been sure about that.
"I have no clue what the future hold," Droste said talking about the potential of new album. "I just know we all want to do it. There's a desire there, it's just a matter of figuring out the time frame and how long people need. It's impossible to say. But I know that after Australia, I'm gonna want to jump back into it, for sure."
Beyond Grizzly Bear, Rossen will be heading out on a solo tour this year, and he is also a part of the super group touring to pay tribute to 1974 album by Byrds' founding member Gene Clark, which includes members of Beach House, Fleet Foxes and The Walkmen.
You can hear the entire set from Grizzly Bear at the Sydney Opera House below.
