Bear Cub (band)

Bear Cub photographed by Allen Clark

Bear Cub is an independent American folk band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Born in the historical and dreadful Pittsburgh winter of 2009/2010, Bear Cub is the creation and production of singer/songwriter Jesse Hall and his father, producer Buddy Hall. The father and son team recorded the self-titled debut album at Beacon Hill Recording Studio during the aforementioned winter spell. Towards the end of production, and during the first months of spring, the band was formed and started playing shows. The first album was released on June 15, 2010 to a sold-out crowd at The Thunderbird Cafe in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh , PA. The excitement of their live show and the quality of Jesse's songs on the record has sparked a curious reaction in Pittsburgh, with a solid fan-base growing considerably in a short period of time. Bear Cub has also received favorable coverage in the Pittsburgh music press.

Bear Cub was so flattered by the city's reception of their music that they held a free concert for their fans, family and friends at The Rex Theatre on July 16, 2010.[1] The show's lineup featured friends of the band as well as up and coming Pittsburgh talent.

On August 13, 2010 (Friday the 13th), only two months after the release of Bear Cub's debut, a digital release of a 7 song EP titled Always Be Down became available to fans via iTunes.[2] At this time Bear Cub also launched their website, http://www.bearcubclub.bandcamp.com. The band celebrated the momentous occasion with another sold-out show at The Thunderbird.[3] Soon after, (the next week) Bear Cub embarked on a great journey together, leaving behind the comfort and familiarity of their home and support in Pittsburgh, to pursue their passion in Music City. Nashville, Tennessee has been home to many of the artists that influence Bear Cub's sound including Townes Van Zandt Townes Van Zandt, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan . Bear Cub has announced plans to waste no time in releasing the follow-up full-length to their debut album, which is currently in production at Beacon Hill Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. Drums for the record were tracked with producer/engineer Chris Lohr in his studio in Nashville. Scott Mervis, senior pop music critic for Pittsburgh Post Gazette , had this to say about Bear Cub's debut album:
"Jesse Hall left the city he loves and a promising pop-punk band to follow a girl to Austin. All he got was a broken heart, a long trip back and the seed for one of the best albums to come out of Pittsburgh this year."[4]

After a soft release of their newest album "Good Morning, Every Morning" in 2012 Pittsburgh Post Gazette listed the album in the article " A look back at the biggest stories in 2012 in Rock, Pop, and Hip-Hop" [5]

Albums


Bear Cub (2010)
1. Hey, Let's Get Out of Here
2. I Told You So
3. Mexico
4. She Was My Rushmore
5. Tennessee's Calling
6. Railroad Song
7. Blue Melody
8. Annexation of Texas
9. Colleen
10. Your Answer
11. You Won't
12. Eastern Time
13. I'm Your Ghost

Always Be Down (2010)
1. Cheer Up Chuck
2. She Sold Me Shoes
3. Eastern Time
4. Pulling Me Apart
5. Oh, No No
6. Don't Get it Wrong
7. Always Be Down

Good Morning, Every Morning (2011)
1. I've Been Around
2. Stay Young, Stay Lost
3. The Classic
4. Cheer Up Rich
5. All My Life
6. Everything I Love (Is Killing Me)
7. The Fight
8. For Pittsburgh, With Love & Squalor (Let's Go Out)
9. Three Records Deep
10. Free At Last
11. Good Lord!
12. The Martyr & The Monster
13. Love & Death
14. Show It To Me
15. Tell Me I'm Wrong

Band Members

Jesse Hall (Vocals, Guitar, Piano)
Rich Condon (Bass)
Jeff Ford Thurston (Touring Guitarist)
Adam Box (Drums)

Former Members include:
Charles Rocha (Banjitar, Vocals, Tambourine, Melodica)
 Wes Cramer (Drums)
 Matt Gray (Drums)
 Dylan White (Piano, Vocals, Mandolin)
 Jon Bindley (Guitar, Vocals)

References

  1. ↑ B NAC (2010-07-18). "The BNAC Music Blog: Live Show Review: Bear Cub 7/16/10". Nacisfamous.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
  2. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Always Be Down by Bear Cub". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-08-13. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
  3. ↑ B NAC (2010-08-15). "The BNAC Music Blog: Live Show Review: Bear Cub 8/13/10". Nacisfamous.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
  4. ↑ "Bear Cub debut takes a heartbreaking journey south". Post-gazette.com. 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
  5. ↑ "A look back at the biggest stories of 2012 in rock, pop and hip-hop". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2013-01-07.

External links