Bear Medicine 2015-37
Lexington band’s debut album is a reflection of their diverse backgrounds and influences, from Eastern music to chamber pop to psychedelic “dream folk”
From the first flute notes and warm acoustic plucks of cello and guitar on Bear Medicine’s new album, “The Moon Has Been All My Life,” a subtle, astral plethora of transcendental chamber folk music builds – each track intimate, individually narrative and organic. Given the maturity and originality of the album’s rich sound, one would be hard-pressed to guess that the band has only been playing together for less than two years or that this is their first full-length release.
Bear Medicine’s origins trace back to a duo featuring high school friends Joshua Wright on acoustic guitar and sometimes-falsetto lead vocals and Severn Edmondson on drums and vocals. Calling themselves The Blue Suckers, the band played for about a year starting around 2008, with early sounds leaning toward bluegrass and folk. Eventually, their sound transformed into a loud, more aggressive rock style reminiscent of Dylan-goes-electric.
The transformation was perhaps indicative of Wright’s personal musical genesis, which he describes as having been marked by three important musical discoveries: Green Day, “The Last Waltz,” and John Fahey.
Around that same time, Paducah native Seth Murphy moved to Lexington in 2008 to pursue a degree in cello performance with the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. He admits that the more involved he was with the orchestra, the more disinterested he became.
“With it being strict and regulated and uniform, I kind of wanted to do my own thing,” Murphy said.
Murphy became increasingly interested in the local live music that was taking place in local houses or bars, and through that scene he met Edmondson, who introduced him to Wright. Eventually, Murphy and Wright became roommates and started playing music together. As they played through Wright’s songs, they agreed the songs could use some percussion, so Wright recruited the only person who could fulfill that role: his former bandmate, Edmondson. The trio called themselves Bear Medicine – a nod to a comment made by a friend of Wright’s, who told him that he “possessed bear medicine” and that music was the vehicle for that medicine.
They recorded a self-titled EP before a fortuitous neighborhood jam session introduced a new potential layer to the band with the classically trained pianist and flutist Kim Smith, a neighbor and friend of Wright and Murphy’s.
“Josh played one of his songs at the jam, and Kim joined in on flute,” Murphy said. “After [we] heard the sound of the flute with the music, it was an obvious fit.”
“Kim’s multi-instrumental ability is perfect for us – the piano adds support and texture, and the flute adds melody and contrast,” said Murphy, adding that Eastern music, which often features call-and-response between woodwinds and fretless instruments, has been a source of inspiration for him.
For their debut album with their current lineup, Bear Medicine enlisted local recording impresario Otto Helmuth at Nitro Sonic Studio, to help capture 10 unique combinations of acoustic guitar, cello, bass, harmonica, mandolin, keyboard and flute, backed by tightly harmonized vocals and gentle, climactic drums. The CD was released in October, and while a vinyl version of the record was always in the plans, it encountered some significant challenges before coming together sonically, with the dynamic contrasts and difficulty of balancing acoustic instruments and full tones making it hard to re-create a clean, full sound on vinyl. After getting back a bad initial test copy, the band’s initial mastering engineer, T.J. Lipple (Inner Ear Studios, Washington, D.C.), finally introduced the group to Chicago recording master Bob Weston, who is known for being a member of successful underground rock and post-punk groups Shellac and Mission of Burma as well as for his engineering prowess. After telling the band that the project was probably the most difficult recording that he has had to work on in the past seven years, Weston ultimately produced a successful original lacquer for the vinyl. That lacquer served as a mold for the rest of the vinyls, which were pressed at the Shepherdsville, Ky., record plant Palamino Records.
While they admit that finding an apt and receptive venue to their sound, which is gentle and unique, can sometimes be a challenge – “at this point, we prefer to do listening rooms and performing arts centers,” Wright said – the group has been motivated and humbled by recent accolades, which include a glowing review on popular L.A.-based music blog Aquarium Drunkard; an opening slot at the Singletary Center last fall for Diego Garcia, who was so taken by their sound that he invited Murphy to stay on stage and improv with him; and a slot on Knoxville’s upcoming Rhythm N’ Blooms Festival, which features the Decemberists and Drive-by Truckers.
“When we all got together to hash out these songs it just felt like something special was happening,” Wright said. “I am totally grateful; everything kind of fell into place.”
Stay in touch with Bear Medicine:
Instagram:@bearmedicineusa
Twitter: @bearmedicineusa
Bandcamp:www.bearmedicine.bandcamp.com
Facebook:www.facebook.com/bearmedicineusa
“The Moon Has Been All My Life” can be purchased online at Bandcamp; the CD can be purchased locally at Pop’s and CD Central; and the vinyl record will be released on March 10.
Upcoming Bear Medicine shows:
Bear Medicine will officially celebrate the vinyl release of their debut album “The Moon Has Been All My Life” at the tadoo lounge Session, a free and family-friendly event that takes place at Smiley Pete’s headquarters (434 Old Vine St.) from 6-9 p.m. on March 12. Knoxville-based 12-string guitarist Joseph Allred will open.
Other upcoming shows:
March 3 – w/ Ryley Walker and Ma Turner at Al’s Bar
March 12 – tadoo Lounge Session with Joseph Allred at Smiley Pete Publishing
April 10-12 – Rhythm N’ Blooms Fest (Knoxville, Tennessee)
April 18 – Black Sheep Burrito and Blues (Huntington, West Virginia)
April 19 – MOTR Pub (Cincinnati)