Psycho Depot Issue 287 Aug 4, 2001 Current # of subscribers: 201 (daily and digest) Subjects in this issue: 97x Bears updates Bears article City Beat Bears article Q&A for 3/4 of the Bears Bears article Bears Q&A Soon dots: big in france? naming the band the simpletons observations: bears cd Re: Bears Q&A Soon ++ psychodots ++ Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 23:47:32 EDT From: Artichoke6@aol.com Subject: 97x Bears updates Hey everyone. Just noticed "Life In A Nutshell" is in heavy rotation on 97x. Here's the playlist: http://www.woxy.com/play.shtml Here's the request line link: http://www.woxy.com/index.shtml Also, there's a Bears thread on the Message Boards (Main Music Discussion category): http://www.woxy.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000892.html All for now..... Mary ++ psychodots ++ Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 17:26:21 EDT From: Artichoke6@aol.com Subject: Bears article Cincinnati Post Thursday, July 26, 2001 Timeout Magazine Spotlight, by Rick Bird (page 3) The Bears: Out of hibernation at last It's been 13 years since the Bears released their last album. Shame on them for making us wait this long for such a delicious collection of infectious, cerebral, power pop that fans will find on the 13-cut "Car Caught Fire." The Bears formed in 1985 when Northern Kentucky native Adrian Belew - already known for his work with King Crimson, solo projects and as a sought-after session player - hooked up with members of Cincinnati's Raisin Band (later to become psychodots). Belew, Rob Fetters, Bob Nyswonger and Chris Arduser put out two critically praised Bears albums, but the band went on hiatus as Belew pursued his numerous projects. The new album was recorded over a four-year period when the four could get together at Belew's Nashville home studio. It was done as a labor of love with no record deal or plans to mass-market the project. As Belew says, "We just had to make some Bears music again." The new album is an exquisite work of songcrafting and musicianship. It is perhaps less of a cohesive sound than the Bears' '80s material, often playing as a collection of solo tunes, which it is. But that's not distracting. Each member contributes songs branded with his own style, but it all comes together in a truly unique Bears pop sound - with a heavy dose of Beatles influences. The disc opens with Belew's gutty "Life in a Nutshell," sounding like a John Lennon blues rocker. It's a great adult pop song about having no regrets and contains the lyric where the album title comes from - "It's been a long hard drive, and maybe my car caught fire/But nearly everything, everything came out fine." Next up is Fetters' hypnotic love song "Under the Volcano," filled with lush flowing harmonies. Fetters also has the album's most heart-wrenching song, "Dave," about a childhood friend who committed suicide, featuring a searing guitar solo from King Crimson's Robert Fripp. It is obviously a true story from Fetters' past and one aches hearing him sing, "I could have been a better friend/I can see where I went wrong/I hid behind my selfishness, like I hide behind this song." There's Belew's "117 Valley Drive," a nostalgic romp to the Northern Kentucky home where his first high school garage band - the Denims - played Beatles covers for the neighborhood. It ends with the bittersweet memory: "What it was was a way of life/But no one noticed we'd run out of time." The album concludes with what could be the best track-"As You Are." It is Fetters' "All You Need is Love" and "Give Peace a Chance" sentiments rolled into one fabulous power ballad. It is loaded with radio-friendly pop hooks wrapped around his Zen statement on life and love: "I've got some good news bad news/At the end I'm you and you are me." The disc is a guitar lover's delight with two masters, Belew and Fetters, trading licks with their fantastic, intricate playing. And their crisp clean voices are wonderful together, often switching off on choruses and verses. There's not a wasted track on "Car Caught Fire," as it plays as a tremendous collection of songs from veteran musicians at the absolute top of their craft. At this point, the album is available only through mail order at (800) 859-8410 ($16). The Bears hope to tour, but no plans have been finalized. The band is still shopping the disc to national labels. ++ psychodots ++ Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 17:43:55 EDT From: Artichoke6@aol.com Subject: City Beat Bears article City Beat July 26-August 1, 2001 (http://www.citybeat.com/current/musicspillit.shtml) Spill It By Mike Breen The Bears ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'Car' Songs It's been over 13 years since The Bears, a "supergroup" of sorts featuring local fellas Rob Fetters, Chris Arduser and Bob Nyswonger, along with area native Adrian Belew, have released any new material. But the band is back again, armed with the superb new release, Car Caught Fire, which the band began work on in 1997 (coincidentally the same year they were the first inductees into the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards Hall of Fame). The record is being released in Japan on the Pony Canyon label, but the band is hoping to find a domestic label to release the record in the States. In the meantime, the band is beating the bootleggers by releasing a limited run of the CD through a toll-free number (800-859-8401). Fans can place orders between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. There's a maturation to the songs on Car Caught Fire, which can be easily charted if you've followed the individual members endeavors since 1988's Rise and Shine album. Each member contributes songs to the project, which adds a blissful diversity from track to track. Drummer Arduser turns in a true gem with "Safe in Hell," a textural meditation on death, while bassist Nyswonger offers the gorgeous, dynamic "Sooner or Later." Fetters provides four excellent songs to the mix, including the touching, intimate "Dave," written about a close friend who had committed suicide (the track also features a trademark guitar solo from Belew's King Crimson mate, Robert Fripp). Belew pens three of Car's songs, the best of which is the hyper-catchy "117 Valley Drive," a paean to his Beatles-lovin' upbringing. Of course, the best thing about The Bears, besides the amazing songwriting, has always been the chemistry between the four talents. Any of these songs could have gone to individual projects pretty easily, but when sprinkled with Bears-dust, they take on certain magic. From the telepathic harmonies to the airtight, creative rhythms to the incomparable guitar teaming of Belew and Fetters, each player is a vital, irreplaceable part of The Bears' creative success. Let's hope we won't have to wait another decade for another album. For more information on the new album and The Bears history, check the band's new Web site at www.thebearsmusic.com. ++ psychodots ++ Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 13:01:25 -0400 From: "David Ash" Subject: Q&A for 3/4 of the Bears On the Bears web site (http://www.thebearsmusic.com/index2.html) there's an announcement that questions can be submitted for Rob, Bob and Chris (Adrian is busy touring with King Crimson) which will be compiled and submitted to them. This is along the lines of what was done here on Psycho Depot with Rob after his solo album came out, and it was fun, with lots of good questions and revealing/humorous answers. And this time there are three times as many people to question. So send some in! ++ psychodots ++ Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 21:06:01 -0400 From: "pbeshuk" Subject: Bears article This from the Timeout section of the 8/2 Cinti Post: By Rick Bird Bears Alert: The other great pop release of the summer, the Bear's new album "car Cuaght Fire," is now available at Everybody's Records,Pleasant Ridge. The band is still shopping the album to major labels, but wanted to make sure long time fans could get a copy. A spokesman for Everybody's said it will have a limited number to sell starting today ($16). The CD remains available through mail order 800-859-8401. -pete ++ psychodots ++ Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 20:16:15 -0500 From: "Rob Murphree" Subject: Bears Q&A Soon Hi, For those who haven't visited the Bears site in the last 48 hours, we have a new feature. I've asked Rob, Bob, and Chris if they'd be interested in participating in a Bears Q&A. Their response? Yes. So, if you have a question, go to the Bears site http://www.thebearsmusic.com , click on the face of the Bear you'd like to question and after you fill out the email (subject specific), send it. For my sanity, please keep your questions for Rob, Bob, and Chris addressed individually (please do not change the subject heading). It will help a lot. And before you all ask... At first, I didn't include Adrian in the Q&A because of the hectic KC tour. Adrian DID email me from the road and asked about the Q&A and I told him I'd gladly include him but in the same sentence, I also mentioned a future Adrian Belew ONLY Q&A so the Bears Q&A may be limited to Rob, Bob, and Chris at this time. (Please check the psychodot FAQ before asking your question) http://members.home.net/p-dots/dotsfaq.html Thanks and I can't wait to receive your questions. Rob Murphree The Bears Official site http://www.thebearsmusic.com ++ psychodots ++ Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 21:26:42 -0400 From: "Jeffrey A. Burroway" Subject: dots: big in france? Could the dots be the next Jerry Lewis?? http://www.cybercd.fr/index.htm?id=3b69fe9e7499889|cmd=query|page=ausgabe_e. htm|qwords.Artist=Psychodots ++ psychodots ++ Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 19:13:51 -0400 From: "Jeffrey A. Burroway" Subject: naming the band the august 2001 edition of george cunningham's online column, A Guitar Case, is available at http://graveblankets.com. in this issue, george reflects on the pains one goes through naming a band...namely...his newly formed trio. enjoy! jeffb! ++ psychodots ++ Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 19:28:25 -0400 From: "Jeffrey A. Burroway" Subject: the simpletons psychodots favorites the simpletons release a highly anticipated cd this weekend (aug 4). the album has received tremendous local reviews in the cincinnati citybeat and cincinnati enquirer. there is a great interview and an in-depth review at http://cincymusic.com. buy this cd!!! obligatory pdots: eric diedrichs...host of the tuesday night 'songwriters night' at allyn's cafe...and lead singer of the simpletons...performed a wonderful acoustic version of 'old-fashioned girl' at allyn's cafe this week. stop by...maybe he'll play it again!!! jeffb! ++ psychodots ++ Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 19:35:12 -0400 From: "Jeffrey A. Burroway" Subject: observations: bears cd just a few observations regarding the new bears cd: + noticed both rob's "lefty loose righty tight" and the bears' "car caught fire" cover art contain bodies with covered faces. also...rob appears rather gloomy on the back photo...as do the bears. is it simply coincidence that michael wilson (photography) and daryl kalmus (cover design) worked on both projects? interesting. + in addition to the "feed that chicken" sighting...did anyone else notice the melody from raisin rob's "obsession of the heart" in one of the guitar segments in "as you are"? it is at approximately 2:42 of the bears song. + i like the fact that the new songs do not sound like the other bears cds. + we don't need a tour...just a few shows!!!! jeffb! ++ psychodots ++ Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 19:55:12 -0400 From: psychodots@bigfoot.com Subject: Re: Bears Q&A Soon Rob Murphree said: > At first, I didn't include Adrian in the Q&A because > of the hectic KC tour. Adrian DID email me from the > road and asked about the Q&A and I told him I'd > gladly include him but in the same sentence, I also > mentioned a future Adrian Belew ONLY Q&A so the Bears > Q&A may be limited to Rob, Bob, and Chris at this time. Rob, Your implication that the bears is "Adrian" and "those other guys" is upsetting. In my opinion, a bears Q&A should contain all four members. Mike - Depot. ++ psychodots ++ End of Psycho Depot 287 Aug 4, 2001 Comments, suggestions, postings, and administrative or the switch between digest and daily versions of the Depot (or be on both!): Mike Brown mbrown @ bigfoot.com psychodots @ bigfoot.com To order psychodot merchandise: contact Elaine Diehl of Umbrella Artists and Strugglebaby Records ediehl@cinci.rr.com 513 871-1500 Voice 513 871-1510 Fax and Hal Bernard Enterprises, Inc., 2612 Erie Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208 For back issues (2 ways): Email: Tony Nowikowski tony@nowikowski.com or Web Site: http://members.home.net/p-dots/ Check out the psychodot FAQ and news at: News: http://members.home.net/p-dots/dotsnews.html FAQ: http://members.home.net/p-dots/dotsfaq.html Check out the psychodot Home Page at: http://www.psychodots.com Check out the graveblankets Home Page at: http://graveblankets.com Check out the Bears Home Page at: http://www.thebearsmusic.com Check out the Ricky Nye Home Page at: http://www.rickynye.com