Interview : Black Bear Woods
July 16th 2010 23:22
Pop music is all about being light and fluffy, happy and sweet. But what happens if you darken the tone, make it more sinister? You get the band Black Bear Woods. Having been together for a number of years, Brisbane's dark alternate popsters are about to play Sydney for the first time. I caught up with the bands drummer Noel to find out a little bit more about Black Bear Woods.
Okidoki, Bears in a nutshell:
Like most things, it all started at a dress up party...
I was talking to Jimmy Patch (main songwriter) who happened to be dressed as a glam rocker (unfortunately, not a regular occurrence). We'd known each other from school, and after realising that we both loved (and hated) the same things in bands, decided that we should have a jam. We wanted to make interesting music and put on amazing shows (one of the main things we talked about was how disappointing it was when a band had a really boring live show).
There were sparks...some call it magic...others call it electrical faults in the PA, but basically the band was born.
And so with the help of Simon Lever on bass, we began building up a small mountain of songs and developing our live show under the name 'Biff co'.
Change is unstoppable though, and our sound was slowly but surely developing into a whole new beast.
So with the addition of keys, trumpet, violin and extra guitar (courtesy of Stef Patch and Michael Hardgrave), we eventually became more of a dark alternative pop collective (with tendencies to throw in big riffs).
And that kids, is the story of Black Bear Woods.
2. How would you describe the bands sound to the guy at the bar?
Our sound is a jumble of dark psychadelic pop/rock tunes.
It's fun pop music that's usually concealing some darker undercurrents.
3. Who have been some of your direct influences?
Our biggest influences would probably have to be:
From times since past:
The beatles, The doors, Led Zeppelin,
and more current:
Modest Mouse, Ben Folds Five, Muse and Okkervil River.
I could go on, but the list could get pretty big.
4. What's the best thing about the Brisbane music scene?
I find the actual scene itself really annoying.
It's sort of like a little hipster social club. A lot of it is just playing the game.
But I guess that's the same everywhere.
Saying that though, I think Brisbane does tend to spit out loads of really good bands.
That would be the best thing - the amount of quality bands that come out of such a small place.
I also like the fact that everyone plays in everyone else's bands.
You'll see one person playing in a rock band one week, and then go out to a folk gig and see them playing their as well.
5. You're about to travel down to Sydney to play at The Melt Bar, why should we come along?
Well, it's our first time playing in Sydney so we're really excited about it!
We're going to put on a killer show filled with loads of number one pop gems, big distorted guitars, and heaps of backup 'aaaaaahs'.
Plus, your face could well explode, making you the first person ever to have an exploding face.
6. Black Bear Woods is hosting a music festival, who past or present would love to have headline?
Ooooh, tricky question.
I think it would probably be the Doors.
I just think it would be an amazing way to end a festival, to have those trippy vocal ramblings and organ wash over the crowd!
7. Finally, what's the first song you'd put onto a mixtape?
Well, I can only speak for myself, but the song I always put on first (sometimes last but usually first) is 'He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's The Pilot' by Grandaddy.
That or 'Wolf Like Me' by TV on the Radio.
Black Bear Woods will be hitting the stage at The Melt Bar in Sydney this Thursday 22nd July. Tickets a cheap $7!!!
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