Cub Sport
about the artist
There are few trajectories in Australian music more remarkable than that of Cub Sport. Since they emerged as a promising young indie band in 2016, the Meanjin (Brisbane) four-piece, comprised of Tim Nelson, Sam Netterfield, Zoe Davis and Dan Puusaari, have become known for their powerful, must-see live show and their ardent fanbase, as well as ARIA Platinum- and Gold-certified singles like 'Come On Mess Me Up,' 'Chasin' and 'Sometimes.' Prolific and profoundly influential, Cub Sport are one of Australia's most successful independent (self-managed and self-released) bands in the country.
On their resplendent, 2023-released fifth album, Jesus At The Gay…
MoreThere are few trajectories in Australian music more remarkable than that of Cub Sport. Since they emerged as a promising young indie band in 2016, the Meanjin (Brisbane) four-piece, comprised of Tim Nelson, Sam Netterfield, Zoe Davis and Dan Puusaari, have become known for their powerful, must-see live show and their ardent fanbase, as well as ARIA Platinum- and Gold-certified singles like 'Come On Mess Me Up,' 'Chasin' and 'Sometimes.' Prolific and profoundly influential, Cub Sport are one of Australia's most successful independent (self-managed and self-released) bands in the country.
On their resplendent, 2023-released fifth album, Jesus At The Gay Bar, Cub Sport have earned their first ARIA #1 album chart position, following the #2 debut of their 2020 full-length offering, LIKE NIRVANA. Jesus At The Gay Bar is an ode to celebrating one's past, not just outrunning it, and looking boldly into the future without the fear of past demons resurfacing. "A lot of this album is validating my younger self," says Nelson. "Like if I could have heard some of these songs back then, I might have found some peace within myself sooner, maybe even celebration."
This album is Cub Sport in all-bangers, few-ballads mode: the production here nods to house, 2-step and UK garage, while retaining the lush fragility of Cub Sport music past. These are dance songs whose beats capture the feeling of butterflies in your stomach and stars in your eyes, which reify and exalt stories from Nelson and Netterfield's past — namely, their love story. Across this record, the early days of the now-married band mate's relationship – at the time shrouded in secrecy and fear – are memorialised for what they are: moments of beauty and youthful ecstasy. Set to booming dance-pop, they play like fairytales, stories to be heard over and over.
Boasting over 300 million streams and an ARIA #1 album to their name, Cub Sport have achieved some of the highest possible honours in Australian music, performing at the 2020 AFL Grand Final and placing in triple j's Hottest 100 six times. Their music blends pop classicism with experimental and electronic elements, and has been praised by the likes of The Guardian, BBC Radio 1, Rolling Stone, Billboard, i-D, Vice, NME, NPR, Alt Press, The FADER and countless others.