Last year was huge for Brisbane band Cub Sport, with bandmates Tim Nelson and Sam Netterfield announcing their engagement and the release of their latest album 'Bats'.
The one-time up-and-comers are quickly cementing their place in the cornucopia of Australian indie music and frontman Tim says the roaring response both 'Bats' and their proposal received was an unexpected affirmation of their love. “It's been really lovely,” Tim says.
“It's kind of been almost overwhelming the amount of love and support people have shown us. It's nerve-wracking putting out a record that is so personal and revealing, and it seems to have resonated and connected with all the right people.
“We've had a bunch of messages... since we came out, a lot of people saying that just by being open and honest about it, and being another representative of the queer community; saying that we've helped people come to terms with their own sexuality and [they] feel more confident and comfortable in themselves.
"That sort of thing, it makes all of the hard work that we've put into it all worth it.”
'Bats' was released in September last year, just a couple of months after they made news of their engagement public via their social media networks. The album was an intimate and introspective work that dealt with themes of self-doubt, growth, coming out and the power of self-acceptance.
Tim and Sam now find themselves as the figureheads for a widening social message of tolerance and diversity, though somewhat inadvertently.
“We don't feel a weight of responsibility to do anything in particular beyond being ourselves, which is being proud of who we are and proud to be part of the LGBT+ community. I guess we are, and we do that proudly and happily, but just by being ourselves if that makes sense,” Sam says.
Tim adds: “I read this quote that was like: 'Become the person you needed when you were younger' and I guess without consciously trying to do that, what we're doing would have helped our younger selves.
“It has happened in a way but it's not something we necessarily put our hand up for… and it does feel quite natural. Especially being in it together, it makes it easier; we've got each other to bounce off and support each other through it. It's cool that has started happening.”
With tickets quickly selling faster than they can print them and shows being added in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, the Cub Sport tour is already a must-see in 2018.
After the tour, the band will be plying their wares overseas in the US and the UK before starting work on their next release. “We'll be heading to the US for a month-long tour there for most of April and the start of May, then we're heading to the UK and Europe,” Tim says.
“We're just locking away those shows at the moment, so we should have an announcement pretty soon, which is exciting.
“Ideally, we'd like to do the whole thing again. We've got a bunch of songs coming together that could potentially be the next album, I guess we'll see what happens. We're just going with the flow and doing whatever feels right.”
Cub Sport Tour Dates
22-23 Feb - Jack Rabbit Slims (Perth)Sat 24 Feb - Fat Controller (Adelaide)
3-5 Mar - The Corner (Melbourne)
10-11 Mar - The Triffid Brisbane
Sat 17 Mar - The Metro Theatre (Sydney)
Sat 26 May - Big Pineapple Music Festival (Sunshine Coast)
