Up and coming independent rock band Bear Hands returned to its alma-mater last Saturday to put on an electrifying show for a rowdy crowd at Eclectic. Bear Hands is yet another addition to the Wesleyan indie acts stationed in New York City, and it has been gradually gaining notoriety in the indie rock scene since the release of its “Golden” EP in 2007.

Bear Hands’ strengths lie in its ability to craft upbeat, fun rock tracks with reverb-drenched guitar chords and catchy hooks, and this is precisely where the band shined the most on Saturday night. Students packed into Eclectic’s main floor, amassing a large audience just as opening band Tony Castles concluded its set. A well chosen mix of songs got the crowd moving as Bear Hands prepared to take the stage, setting the atmosphere for the ensuing show. The band began its set with Wicksey Boxing, a low-tempo psychedelic track advanced by thumping percussion and a smooth guitar riff. Although the band’s slower tempo songs have an endearing genuine quality to them, the band was at its best with its more upbeat songs, such as What A Drag, Crime Pays, and Belongings. When asked to describe its sound in an interview with spinner.com, drummer TJ Orscher responded, “We rock, we dance, we drink, we love, and we do it in front of people who want to do it, too. No, not like that.” The band’s fun-loving attitude proved to be infectious as the crowd came to life by moshing, crowd surfing, and vigorously dancing to the music.

The band played songs mostly off of its debut LP “Burning Bush Supper Club,” but Bear Hands treated the audience to some of its new unreleased tracks, which showed promise for its sophomore effort. Lead singer Dylan Rau ’07 put his falsetto on display over the sharp keyboards and melodic percussion of Crime Pays, and the crowd responded by swaying to the catchy chorus of “everyone knows that crime pays / and everybody does it.” The compositional skills of the band are clear in the well constructed Belongings, which features fun nostalgic lyrics over playful guitars and pounding drum line. The band closed with What A Drag, its single off of Burning Bush, which proved to be the highlight of the performance. Rau passionately brought the chorus to life, leaving the concert-goers with his words firmly lodged in most of their heads while the thrashing guitars, well timed cymbals, and pulsating bass line animated them to break out into dance.

Bear Hands put on a memorable show that left the crowd sweaty and smiling. The band demonstrated its ability to play tightly together, still radiating enough energy to keep the audience thoroughly entertained.