Picture this scene – a setting sun painting shades of yellow, pink, and orange across the sky while your tribe, your pack are all smiling, dancing, and having a wonderful time as the day comes to an end with not a care or worry in the world.
That’s the mood that Jesus at the Gay Bar by Cub Sport puts me in.
Out tomorrow, Jesus at the Gay Bar is the 5th studio album from the Brisbane four piece band and with 4 singles, “Always Got the Love”, “Replay”, “Keep Me Safe”, and “Songs About It” already out Tim Nelson, Sam Netterfield, Zoe Davis, and Dan Puusaari are on the cusp of releasing their most heartfelt and honest album to date.
Of the album, Tim says this,
There’s a lot from my life before I came out that has always been shrouded in shame, fear and secrecy. But it doesn’t have to be a secret anymore, and I feel like I can really shine a light on the magic of it and recognise and celebrate it for what it was and is. A lot of this album is validating my younger self – like if I could have heard some of these songs back then, I might have found some peace within myself sooner, maybe even celebration.
With Jesus at the Gay Bar, Cub Sport is celebrating life and love to its fullest. And in that celebration, they have created magnificent dancey gems that will keep one floating on the dancefloor for hours.
Tim and crew have raised the bar with glittering beats, striking keys, radiant lyrics, and dazzling and superb vocals.
The title of the album was inspired by writer Jay Hulme’s poem of the same name and further writing inspiration was found during the pandemic where Tim says this,
I was so familiar with getting my joy and happiness from playing shows. I had to learn to find joy elsewhere. And that kind of led to me wanting to make music that gave me that energy, and that at its core, felt uplifting.
That energy and joy can be heard across the album but it’s the heartfelt lyrics that stick with this writer. Especially the fairy tale-sque love story of Tim and Sam. Songs like “Always Got the Love”, “Keep Me Safe”, “Replay”, and “Zoom” pay homage to their tale with celebrated pulses and beats and lyrics that could make even the coldest and hardest of hearts sigh.
Tim adds this about the lyrics,
I think that’s the beauty of writing honestly about my own life – it all fits together and reveals a little bit more of this greater story that’s still playing out, from an ever-evolving perspective but with the same heart. We have the self-appointed freedom to evolve and change and I think that’s why, five albums in, it still feels exciting.
Tim’s vocals for each song are delicate, light, and airy but also carry so much emotion and sincerity that he could give the emotional Sam Smith and Adele a good run for their money. The use of autotune on vocals is always risky as it sometimes can distract from the true power of the vocals, but the risk to use it was worth taking as it only accentuated Tim’s vocal emotion and made them stronger.
Not only is Jesus at a Gay Bar by Cub Sport a beautiful celebration of life and love, it’s a marvellous ode to the past as without it, there would be no now or no future.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS: “Hold”, “Yaya” featuring Mallrat , “Magic in U”
FAVOURITE TRACKS: “Hold”, “Yaya”
If you’re in the UK, see Cub Sport live at the dates below
29-April – Poetry Club, Glasgow
30-April – Deaf Institute, Manchester
01-May – Louisiana, Bristol
04-May – Lafayette, London
Pre-order Jesus at the Gay Bar
Listen to the first 4 singles below
Watch the videos below
