About Me
BEAR Is known for networking with a diverse group of artists / musicians to help bring authentic and originally crafted music straight from the heart steeped in the traditional roots of all styles of American music. bear writes, arranges, sings, and plays a unique and original hybrid style of acoustic lead guitar, he also plays the harmonica. Using a boss loop station and some effect pedals he creates a full, rich, versatile and always enjoyable musical experience.
Being able to perfrom to a wide spectrum of audiences ranging from intimate solo shows in a small coffee house to "Gettin' it on" at the loud rowdy rock clubs and summer music festivals attended by thousands of listeners.
Sometimes a one man band using layering and looping to create a full, dynamic and original sound - sometimes joined by other musicians on Cello, Fiddle, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Saxaphone, Mandolin and banjo - it is an eclectic mix of folk, bluegrass, jazz, blues, funk, old school R&B, reggae and rock and what is now commonly refered as "jam band" which god only knows a definitive distinction of what that genre encompasses ;-)
BEAR says "Now, here I am, a seasoned by over 400 shows over the last several years - drawing on a huge helping of life experience - heartbreaks, joys, highs and lows. I am ready to have all of that emotion and experience come out in my music. I want to bring my life to you in song and let you do with it, what you want. My music comes from my heart and soul. ".
bear was selected from a pool of hundreds of regional artists to be one of the Twenty-five songwriters who took part in the 2006 Highway 61 Singer/Songwriter Contest. Each finalist was allowed to perform up to two original songs before a live audience and a panel of judges. The judges based their scores on the following categories: Creativity, Performance, Lyrical Content, Instrumental Ability, Listenability, and Northern Minnesota/Rural Appeal. Bear's song Wheels of Summer was selected to be included on this year's limited edition CD which is available HERE!
Last summer bear returned again as the Emcee and "unoffical stage director" for the 2007 Grateful Garcia Gathering . He was stage manager and sound technician at this year's Feelgood Festival .
bear has performed both as a solo act and with such notable musicians as Emiliy Mimier - Cello, Paul Daugherty - Saxaphone, Alex White - Bass, Erika Oberpriller rythym guitar / vocals / songwriter, Sean Sheil - Guitar / Songwriter, Claire and Kevin - Fiddle and and has shared the stage with many many others. including. The JGB, Sw3nS (Mike Swenson), Members of Gypsy Foot, Bettina, The Back Woods Critters, Brendan Flynn, Grateful Beth and the Volunteers, "Jersey" Joey Flynn, Mike Brumm, The Space Quakers, The Cedar Town Boys, Ultimate Frisbee and Luke Graner to just name a few
He has performed as an opening / supporting or anchoring act with bands such as Baghdad Scuba Review, Barbershop Quartet, Boris Garcia, Cedar Town Boys, Chinese Fingertrap, Colin O'Brien, Delta Jets, Down-LO, .357 String Band, 3 Amigos, 56 Hope Rd, Analyrical, Ben Suchy, Big D, Bill Mike Band with Carnage, The Brian Bethke Band, Broken Billy, Boris Garcia, Chemistry, Clinton Miller, Covert Operations, The Crest, Defined Perception, Derek (formerly of Hooch), Desperate Otto's, Donnna Jean & The Tricksters, Downer's Grove, Down Lo, Down With Gravity, Dr. Didg, Dr. Kickbutt's Orchestra of Death, Dred I Dread, Duce Duce Entertainment, Eff'd Up, Elf Lettuce, Enchanted Ape, Enditol Rx, Fatdad, Fat Maw Rooney, Fancy Bastard, Frozen Tundra, Galynne Goodwill, God Johnson, Golden, Green Tea, Gyspyfoot, Heavy Water Radio, Hecatomb with Project 13, Heiruspecs, The Hill Climbers, The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, Hyentyte, Ian Alexy, Ill Carnage & Desdamona, in the Attic, Irie Sol, I Self Devine , Jana Holland, Javier Trejo with members of New Primitives, Jimmy2times & Plain Ole Bill, Jive Bandits, Joe Craven, John Krueger Quartet, Leanne Perius, The LeveeMarques Bovre, , Kanser, The Lights Band, Lil' Rev, Loose Strings, King Tuesday, Magumbo, Mark Grundhoefer, Magic Mama, Mary Bue, meandyoucrew, Mike McAbee, Moon Alice, Moon Boot Posse, MoonDawg, The Moss Piglets, MWC, The Northern Drift, The Northwoods Band, One-Eyed Jack, Otis & the Alligators, OWI, Patchouli, Patrick Ryan Dub Trio, Pert Near Sandstone, The Quartet, Rachel Sedaka, Reptile Palace Orchestra, The Reverend Eddie Danger, Rootstand, Run Side Down, Sean Sheil and Claire Bear, Sloppy Joe, Smokey Bogart, Smokin' Bandits, Shawn Wolfe, Snopek, SpaceQuakers, Space Rangers, Sol Spectre, Stealin' Strings, Stephen Lee Rich, Supa Ranks, Teague Alexy, Teague Alexy and The Feelin' Band, Tech N9ne with Big Krizz Kaliko & Kutt Calhoun, TheLastHope, T.U.G.G., Twisted Linguistics, Unity the Band, Vinny Weible and the Hellhounds, (The CedarTown Boys),Waterband, Waters Bros & Casey Jones, WBPN, Weavils, Wicked Darling, Wooden String
Sonic Bids EPK
