O'Brien looks to a "Bear" market

The song is the second single from O'Brien's upcoming album, "Cup of Sugar" and will be available on all streaming services starting on Friday.

The song about a frustrated, jazz-playing bear who just can't get respect.

The new disc includes 13 original tracks and will be out June 16 on Howdy Skies Records. O'Brien said, "In the 46 years I've been recording, this is my very first release of all original material."

"The songs for Cup of Sugar started with 'Bear.' It was December of 2021, and the news was all about Russia and would Putin invade Ukraine. I had just read a book on the history of dancing bears. White Nationalism was a prominent topic, the flip side being Black Lives Matter. Trump had lost the election, but was ramping up his spoiled brat act. I could imagine the gripes Putin, Trump and the White Nationalists had, even if I didn't agree.

"I'd also reread some of a favorite book by Rafi Zabor: 'The Bear Goes Home'. In the plot, this guy in NYC wins a dancing bear in a card game, and after he gets busted trying to busk with it, he leaves the bear in his flat during work. One day ,he comes home and the bear's talking and playing clarinet. The bear becomes a jazz sensation, but he's also the ultimate outsider.

"So I was thinking about all that. I think the bear represents anyone or any social group that feels their world has changed too much while they weren't looking. The bear comes out of his cave in spring and all the trees are cut down. He's just pissed off. 'I'm a bear,' he cries, 'but damn it, I'm more than that.'

"I can identify with the bear because I'm old. I don't relate to a lot of new stuff, and while I do fairly well in spite of all the changes, sometimes I'll swear at them."

On the new disc, O'Brien is backed by Mike Bub, Shad Cobb and wife Jan Fabricius, supplemented by Jamie Dick on drums, Mike Rojas on keyboards, Russ Pahl on steel guitar, and Cory Walker on banjo. Del McCoury lends his guitar and tenor vocal on "Let the Horses Run." Co-writers include Ronnie Bowman, Jonathon Byrd, Shawn Camp, Thomm Jutz ad Fabricius.

Upcoming tour dates are:
May 26 Cleveland, WV - Jerry Run Summer Theatre #
May 27-28- Cumberland, MD - Del Fest #
June
Oct. Oak Ridge, TN - ORNL Federal Credit Union Sessions #
June 17- Telluride, CO - Telluride Bluegrass Festival #
July 8-9- Frankfort, IL - Frankfort Bluegrass Fest #
July26- Berwyn, IL - FitzGeralds #
July 28-29- Manitowish Waters, WI - Midsummer Bluegrass Festival #
Aug. 18-19- Manchester Center, VT - Green Mountain Bluegrass ^
Aug. 20- Red Hook, NY - Hardeman Orchards ^
Sept. 13- Austin, TX - The 04 Center ^
Sept. 14- Houston, TX - Mucky Duck ^
Sept. 28- Easton, MD - Historic Avalon Theatre ^
Sept. 29- White Hall, MD - Star Bright Farm ^
Sept. 30- Mamaroneck, NY - Emelin Theatre ^
Oct. 01- Berwick, ME - Hackmatack Playhouse ^
Oct. 02- Cambridge, MA - Club Passim ^
Oct. 07- Chattanooga, TN - 3 Sisters Music Festival #
Oct. 14- Big Stone Gap, VA Blue Highway Fest #
Nov. 3-4 - Moab, UT - Moab Folk Fest ^
Nov. 15- Richmond, VA - Tin Pan ^
Nov. 17- Berryville, VA - Barns at Rose Hill
Nov. 18- Parkersburg, WV - Parkersburg Arts Center
Dec. 8 - Oak Ridge, TN - Secret City Radio Show ^

# Tim O'Brien Band
^ Tim O'Brien with Jan Fabricius