The Dirty Nil shares a new single, “Bye Bye Big Bear,” plus a music video to accompany the release
For the strapping lads comprising Toronto rock trio The Dirty Nil, Big Bear was so much more than a convenience store parking lot they gazed upon from their second-floor bathroom window – the trash-strewn asphalt stage where seemingly every element of the human experience played out like a never-ending theatrical production. Today, they share the ode “Bye Bye Big Bear” in its memory.
The “Bye Bye Big Bear” merch collection includes standard black 7″ vinyl, limited to 500 units; randomly inserted yellow vinyl, limited to 150; t-shirts and bundles are also available. Each purchase comes with a 3″x1.5″ Dirty Nil sticker.
The house was all at once a shared residence, creative commons, and god-forsaken pirate ship, its revolving cast of crewmates armed with instruments, alcohol, and overdriven amplifiers. Indeed, they lived, laughed, and loved there even though no kitschy wall sign from a suburban mom’s Etsy shop told them to.
“We were there through our 20s and having the best time,” shares guitarist Luke Bentham, namedropping some of the transient roommates who spent a few months under the roof with them – members of fellow revered Canadian rock outfits including The Glorious Sons, Attack in Black, Career Suicide, Seaway, and Single Mothers. “It was so conducive to creativity and collaboration. When we turned 30, though, it felt like time to spring from the nest, so we all put our separate plans into motion, and then I immediately started to miss everybody.”
“For five years, we lived together at a house in downtown Hamilton. For five years, we were sustained by the Big Bear convenience store, located directly across the street. There we were nurtured with sparkling water, protein bars, and cigarettes. There we witnessed an untold number of human dramas play out in the parking lot, ranging from the hilarious to the hopelessly sad. For 5 years it was our clubhouse, our pirate ship, our prison. So we say farewell, thank you for everything: Bye Bye Big Bear.”
“Bye Bye Big Bear” is a loving musical tribute to that unforgettable time and place and The Dirty Nil’s first new offering since their impactful 2021 album Fuck Art. On its back, the boys got back on the road, electrifying increasingly packed venues and festival stages with their fiery brand of punk-tinged rock n roll.
Watch the video for “Bye Bye Big Bear” below and scroll down to check out our first-ever Weekend Beats feature!
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