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Bears | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Indie pop - indie rock |
| Years active | 2005 - 2014 |
| Labels | Misra Records, Impose Records, Fastcut Records |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | Bearspop.com |
Bears was an American indie pop band formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in the summer of 2005.[1] This band was formed at the beginning of a prevalent yet short lived resurgence of indie pop music in the local Cleveland scene, where Bears played a huge role along with the Afternoon Naps.[2]
The lead songwriter's Charlie McArthur and Craig Ramsey often combined sounds of 1960s pop, with bands such as Belle and Sebastion, The Kinks, and The Zombies. Bears were often compared to these bands by critics of the time. [3] Although there were six active members in the band, McArthur and Ramsey were the only members who wrote, recorded and produced the albums and songs they performed. The band currently consists of Nick Perry (drums) Rachel Hart (bells, percussion) Jared McGrath (keys, vocals) Shannon Sullivan (bass) Charlie McArthur (acoustic guitar, vocals) and Craig Ramsey (electric guitar, keys, vocals), respectfully.[4]
By 2011, Bears had made a feature on the quirky 2011 Fox show, New Girl, their song "How to Live" was included on the "Urban Outfitters #27 Free CD" with the likes of Radiohead's "Body Snatchers"[5], they joined the Misra Records company, and they gained ample critical acclaim from many different publishing companies and critics.[6]
history
[edit]Early years: 2006 - 2007
[edit]Bears was formed as a loosely put together collaboration between multi-instrumentalists Charlie McArthur, and Craig Ramsey in the summer of 2005, in Cleveland, Ohio. The duo quickly created an amalgamation of songs and began recording demos on a digital 16-track recorder in the basement of Ramsey's house.[7] From these recordings, on April 25, 2006, the band self-released their first full length album Bears, with the unique inclusion of jangly guitars and xylophones. This album would also feature artwork from the author of two books titled "Hiding: A Story About Finding Quiet in a Busy World", and "Mermaid Dreams", as well as illustrator and painter Kate Pugsley who would become the bands go to for their cover arts[8][9]. The release of this album would give the band recognition from the press; most notably from Impose Magazine and Alternative Press. It would also garner notable local college radio play of songs off the album, most commonly "How to Live". Only 5 months later the LP would reach #94 on the CMJ top 200.[10]
As a result of this recognition, McArthur and Ramsey planned to form a live band. The pair asked their friends Jared McGrath, Rachel Hart, Patrick Everman, and Shannon Sullivan, to perform alongside them. The band then rented a purple van and toured around America. They would also attempt to tour around Europe, but they were prevented from doing so, due to "not knowing the right people".[7]
After two tours, and personal controversies in the band, McGrath and Hart would leave the band. They would soon be replaced with Pat McNulty and Devon Coffee.
On April 16, 2007, the band released their first EP, "The Shortest Day of The Year" facing a more sinister and mature sound. Once again, this release would come with abundant critical acclaim and hit #95 on the CMJ top 200 after good radio play of the EP.[10] Later that year on July 27, they would release Summer Tour, another EP.
Middle years: 2008 - 2009
[edit]The following year in the April issue of the "100 Bands You Need To Know" on Alternative Press would feature the band alongside 2 other bands from Cleveland.[11]
2008 would bring the most releases for the band in one year. On May 20, they would release their first single titled "Who Knows" under Impose Records, dating their first record company release. On August 13 they would self-release their sophomore album "Simple Machinery", which was met with less fanfare in comparison with their previous releases, as well as an admitted lack of inspiration.[1] The following year, Simple Machinery would also be released in Japan under Fastcut Records.[12]
Around the time Simple Machinery was released in Japan, core member McArthur left Cleveland, for school in Chicago; leaving the band's future in jeopardy.[13] Due to McArthur's absence, Ramsey would start a short solo career, where he planned to perform and release songs left over from the band.[14] Ramsey self released his only full length album titled "Parting Gift For A Party Girl" later that year.[15]
After their sophomore release of Simple Machinery, the band would release their last EP titled "Snow Man" on December 25 of the same year. The song "Holidays" off the EP was used in the Claymont school club "Claymont Intermediate Art Club" in an animation called "Holiday Cheer".[16] After the release of Snowman, the band would start a hiatus from releasing records.
In a 2009 interview with Charlie McArthur on Cleveland.com, he would confirm due to the recent complications in the band, they would release and play out live less.
"I guess everybody just feels the band has run its course," he said. "Everyone is getting older. We're all in our 30s, and our bassist is in another band. So it just seems harder and harder to get together, and our shows are pretty sporadic as it is. Our last show was September of last year. And so we're going six months or more without playing or barely practicing, and it was like, should we keep going or just let it go?" - Charlie McArthur
In late December of 2009, all of the original members of Bears reunited to preform their self titled album Bears in its entirety.
Late years: 2010 - 2014
[edit]In 2012 they would release their final album titled Greater Lakes. This album was comprised of songs written and recorded over the greater portion of 3 years between Chicago and Cleveland by Ramsey and McArthur.
HBO would use 2 of their songs in their 2015 show Togetherness in episodes 2 and 3.
Discography
[edit]Long Play
[edit]- Bears (2006, self-released)
- Simple Machinery (2008, self-released - 2009, Fastcut Records in Japan)
- Greater Lakes (2012, Misra Records)
Extended Play
[edit]- Shortest Day of the Year (2007, self-released)
- Summer Tour (2007, self-released)
- Who Knows (2008, Impose Records)
- Snowman (2009, self-released)
References
[edit]- ^ a b McArthur, Charlie. "History". Bearspop. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Soeder, John. "Meet the future of Cleveland music: 25 Northeast Ohio acts you should hear . . .now". Cleveland.com.
- ^ Minadeo, Joe. "Bears". Clevescene. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ "Band". Bearspop. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ "Various – Urban Outfitters #27 Free CD". Discogs. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ "Bears Biography". All Music. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ a b McArthur, Charlie. "History". Bearspop. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Panama, Ben. "Kate Pugsley". Word Press. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Bears - Bears". Discogs. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "Bears". Sonicbids.
- ^ Tone, Joe. "Alternative Press' 100 Bands list includes Cleveland's Bears and Salt of the Wound". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Bears - Simple Machinery (import) cd" retrieved March 24, 2023
- ^ Shearer, Joe. "It's OK – these Bears still don't bite". KENTWIRED. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ Ball, Chris. "Craig Ramsey goes solo as former band Bears goes into hibernation". Cleveland. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ "Craig Ramsey – Parting Gift For A Party Girl". Discogs. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ Hartwig, Rachel. "Holiday Cheer Animation by Claymont Intermediate Art Club". Youtube.