Beehive

Bumbershoot 2008 Review:
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The local electronic duo had gotten a difficult timeslot - Saturday at noon but made the most of it. They played an energetic rock set that lasted about 35 minutes, simulating a rock band with electronic instruments. To get the crowd on their side early started off with two covers known by everyone in the fairly large crowd - "We Will Rock You" and "Helter Skelter."

Overcoming a scratchy microphone, they got a lot of the crowd to stand and dance. They found their groove early and singer/programmer Alethea, or "Butterfly Beats," delighted the crowd with her soulful voice. (ChrisB)"
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Beehive Opens for Digitalisim on a Monday Night :
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Beehive is largely a classic rock band put through the filter of an electronic duo. Using mostly guitars, synths, laptops and drum machines, David Miller, and one-named band member Alethea (who also goes by the name “Butterfly Beats”) craft a sound that is not too dissimilar to fellow-travelers like LCD Soundsystem.

At one point late in the set they even brought to mind a psychedelic jam band – with programming. The next song they rocked an unexpected cover of “Helter Skelter.”

Beehive appears to be an equal partnership. Both Alethea and Miller sing lead vocal parts. Sometimes they rotate between songs other times between verses. She has a more soulful, Billy Holliday meets Beth Ditto voice.... yet their vocal parts were split roughly 50/50. He (David) also provided the guitar and bass lines while she worked the programmed parts, sometimes manipulating two laptops at once.

Overall,(Beehive) is a great band that operates comfortably in the rock and electronic worlds.


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Beehive's demo release, Cycle A, was voted into the top 20 of the Top 50 NW Releases of 2004 - ChrisB of Three Imaginary Girls

Pulsing beats, echoing slide-guitar riffs, Beehive is doing its part to bring more people into the fold of laptop music. The group is constantly playing shows at different venues where it capitalizes on the crowd's sense of melody and the desire to dance… With this mentality in mind, Beehive creates music that is not defined by a single genre. The song is the focus instead of fitting into a genre or label - Tom Christianson

Beehive selected by URB Magazine to be a featured artist on the URB Magazine/Ourstage Website - http://www.urb.com/ourstage/artists/profiles/20-Beehive.php

Securing equal influence from late-U2 and the Killers, guitarist /vocalist David Miller teams up with electronicist/vocalist Butterfly Beats to form Beehive. With a name that's bound to get the buzz going (zing!), and a debut full-length that's as infectious and fresh as it is a homage to electro pop rock albums that have come before, Beehive perfectly fills that emply space in your local rock catalog between the United State of Electronica and the Divorce. Mark "Better than Lies" and "Garden" for your summer soundtracks. - Joseph Riippi

SPIN MAGAZINE :

SPIN Picks: 8 Undiscovered Bands Worth a Listen

(Copy and paste link below)

http://www.spin.com/articles/spin-picks-8-undiscovered-bands-worth-listen-0

Beehive
Hometown: Seattle, WA

Recommended if you like… Garbage, Shiny Toy Guns

Why we picked them: Where many electronic acts synthesize, Auto Tune, and otherwise digitally enhance vocals, there's no doubting the inherent soul of Beehive singer Butterfly Beats.



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KEXP review for Beehive EP Operation Artichoke:

This is the first EP from Seattle duo Alethea "Butterfly Beats" and David Miller, aka Beehive. Eichhorn sings and programs the beats and electronics and Miller plays guitar and also sings, all combining for a very nice mix of rock and electonic. Everything about this EP shows a strong maturation from their debut release – from the beats and programming to the singing to the guitar playing, it’s all a nice leap forward for this very young and talented duo. Of the four tracks on here, track #1 is the most “pop” oriented, and also the one I like best. It features a fantastic chorus melody reminiscent of Joshua Tree era U2 and refrains reminiscent of Violator era Depeche Mode. On track #s 2 and 3, they venture into slightly darker, more beat heavy territory, with more of a distortion on the guitar sounds. Track #4 is an electronic instrumental with a very cool middle-eastern sounding influence to it, and Eichhorn really shows off her programming and production skills. This duo is definitely one to keep an eye on, especially if they continue the maturation they have shown.

- http://www.spin.com/articles/spin-picks-8-undiscovered-bands-worth-listen / KEXP 90.3 FM for EP

Myxer.com says
Beehive's Small Face is a featured pick for 11/16/08:

"Ordinarily we’d tell you to steer clear of beehives, however not today’s Beehive, we like them a lot. Combining the beat programming and production talents of Althea ‘Butterfly Beats’ and the guitar and vocals of David Miller, this hybrid, electronic/ rock act is being called, “definitely one to keep an eye on,” by Seattle radio tastemakers, KEXP. This particular Beehive is one you’ll want to get into and magically no sticky honey residue when you make your way out! Go on in; check out what all the buzz is about!"
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Future Music Magazine Says:

Beehive's "Love I Know" and "One" were top rated tracks in April 2005 edition.

"Love I Know" was included on the Future Music Magazine compilation cover disk. - Myxer.com / Future Publishing

Beehive is on an entirely different trip. The "rocktronic" duo gleefully mixes rock and electronic, in the tradition of the Chemical Brothers. Beehivers Alethea "Butterfly Beats" and David Miller follow up their 2004 CD "Cycle A" with a blazing new EP, "Operation Artichoke." With Eichhorn (aka Butterfly Beats) singing and manning dual laptops and Miller on guitar. Beehive breaks out the honey! - Tom Scanlon

One of the best Live Electronic Bands in the Northwest! This duo makes music that electronic heads can dig into and rockers can rock out to. Beehive is Rad!!!

- Erik Schultz

Seattle Weekly: Nominated as one of the best local bands in Seattle in 2006!!
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Stranger: Added to October 26th 2007 “SetList” Podcast for great local music performing that week hosted by Megan Seling and Ari Spool

- Seattle Weekly and The Stranger

I met Alethea “Butterfly Beats” Eichhorn and David Miller of Beehive about two years ago at the Premiere (now the Phoenix) in Seattle. We were both hired to entertain at a Microsoft Gaming Conference. I was performing in an acoustic duo. They were an electronic duo using laptop-generated break beats and live electric guitar and vocals to make a sound they call “rocktronica.” I was so jealous (but in a good way). Their sound was giant, cool and fun, and it made the room come alive. I felt small and old fashioned standing there with my acoustic guitar, but I was totally hooked and intrigued by what they were doing. It was technology and humans interfacing, causing a tidal wave of infectious energy. I couldn’t stop smiling. They were awesome. The stage was all decked out in larger than life beehive décor, the lights were amazing, and they even had go-go dancers up there! It was just about the coolest thing I’d ever seen. We discovered that we had some friends in common so we stayed in touch after the gig (don’t you just love MySpace?). When I heard they had released their first full length CD, Pretty Little Thieves, last week I immediately contacted the band to get my hands on a copy. This weekend it arrived in my mailbox, and I was so very NOT disappointed! First of all, the CD art reflects perfectly how they seem as people: cute, mysterious, modern and artsy.

Then I slid the disk in my car stereo and BAM! I was transported back to the Premiere. These are all new songs, but they have that same Beehive “buzz” I remembered from their live act. The new songs surge with the same barn-burner spirit that garnered Beehive a nomination for Best Electronic Artist by the Seattle Weekly in 2006.

The music on Pretty Little Thieves is fresh and inventive, however at times it has an ’80s feel that seeps directly to my roots and nourishes a long lost hunger. I am reminded of bands like ABC and Human League. You can’t call it retro though, I just won’t allow it because there are some amazing sounds and sonic thrusts on there that are definitely of the future.

The stand-out song on the album for me was “Hound Dog” because not since Rednex’s rave-inspired rendition of “Cotton Eyed Joe,” have I heard an electronic dance song that sported cowboy boots and sneered at me like a badass chiseled shirtless redneck.

It’s tough to pick a favorite, though, since all the songs have killer intros, lush arrangements and lyrics that I’m sure are filled with wisdom and truth if I could only stop dancing long enough to decipher them.

Here’s what they had to say about it:

“This album is the culmination of great personal struggle,” Miller says, “and finding the strength to overcome life’s heavy twists. There were a lot of personal struggles encountered during the writing and recording the album. The album has a darkness as well as a warmth to it, but as the cover art depicts, there is a sunrise waiting right behind dark forest.”

“To me the album is a journey from start to finish in which we address the pretty little thieves that exist in our daily lives,” explains Eichhorn. “We have a choice to accept them and let them go or let them rule our world. The pretty little thieves show up in one shape or form in each one of the songs. So in a way I view the album as a commentary to the world we live in. I also think this album is fun, too. It’s a double-sided coin where you can get out all the angst and rock out to cleanse your mind and spirit.”

Beehive’s music has been aired on network and cable television shows including MTV.
Pretty Little Thieves will be available on CDbaby.com in about two weeks. You can also get it directly from the band until that time. Contact them at www.myspace.com/beehive. The album will be for sale at Sonic Boom locations, Cellophane Square and Easy Street Records next week.

My name is Angie and I’m just a shot away. If you can’t rock me, somebody will. - Weekly Volcano--Swarner Communications, Inc. --Angela Jossy-writer