BEAR

Singing Bear is MusicZeitgeist.com’s February 2011 Indie Artist of the Month</strong></h2>
Even as we listened through dozens upon dozens of entries and comers for February 2011's top indie act, we couldn’t resist Singing Bear’s confident but sultry, groovy but ethereal eclectic song catalog. Not having a clue who this enigmatic but prolific talent was, we asked him about the name and the music and here is what returned ... - MusicZeitgeist.com

Singing Bear is MusicZeitgeist.com’s February 2011 Indie Artist of the Month</strong></h2>
Even as we listened through dozens upon dozens of entries and comers for February 2011's top indie act, we couldn’t resist Singing Bear’s confident but sultry, groovy but ethereal eclectic song catalog. Not having a clue who this enigmatic but prolific talent was, we asked him about the name and the music and here is what returned ... - MusicZeitgeist.com

Singing Bear writes lyrics that really have something to say and he delivers those
words with catchy melodies and a passionate vocal style. - Foley Entertainment, Inc.

Singing Bear writes lyrics that really have something to say and he delivers those
words with catchy melodies and a passionate vocal style. - Foley Entertainment, Inc.

He brings a special spirit to his music that we need more of, both in the music scene as well as in the children’s television scene. All of the music on his electronic press kit was enjoyable and a pleasant addition to my eclectic mix of music.
Then I checked his YouTube channel. He’s got fifteen videos up, more than many performers I review. What is more fun is that besides the standard poorly framed videos of performances at one venue or another, or even well shot videos from recording studios, he has people’s music videos. Supported has wonderful images of rock formations, sunsets, campfires, and road trips. - Aldon Hynes of Orient Lodge

He brings a special spirit to his music that we need more of, both in the music scene as well as in the children’s television scene. All of the music on his electronic press kit was enjoyable and a pleasant addition to my eclectic mix of music.
Then I checked his YouTube channel. He’s got fifteen videos up, more than many performers I review. What is more fun is that besides the standard poorly framed videos of performances at one venue or another, or even well shot videos from recording studios, he has people’s music videos. Supported has wonderful images of rock formations, sunsets, campfires, and road trips. - Aldon Hynes of Orient Lodge

Bay Area artist Singing Bear may have grown up in Ohio, but with his conscious style, it comes as no surprise that he has found his audience in California, dense with New Age spirituality. His unabashedly awakened lyrics may prove too far out for some, but given a chance, Singing Bear’s superb musicianship and sensual vocals just may win over new fans and lead to new awakenings. For those already in a similar mindset, his new album Gold is a perfect mix of dance tracks and folk pop.

The title track of Gold quietly shimmers in with pads, acoustic guitar and Singing Bear’s hypnotic voice. Drums and harmony kick in on the line “lift me up” in a wonderful moment of prosody and the song turns danceable. The lyrics advocate reaching for dreams, not allowing anyone to get in the way of his and then promising not to get in anyone else’s way either.

“Believe” keeps the dance vibe going with a funky New Age rap about saying yes, and a soaring melodic chorus about believing and accepting the blessings of day-to-day life. The instrumental solo rocks out with wah-wah electric guitar. “Relax Intuit” begins with a scorching blues harmonica and chronicles the struggles of a seeker’s path, first breaking out of the programmed ideas of the system, and then frustrated with whether or not he is “meditating right”. As Singing Bear continues to find his way, the more he looks, the more he embraces the mystery. The song encourages him to relax, use heart and intuition to guide him through life, because spirit always knows what is for the highest good.

An atmospheric rock intro opens “Again”, which speaks to the hard times of today and the fear of what might come, but asks why be afraid of what we don’t know? The only constant is that everything is going to change again and again. Singing Bear declares he would rather sing out of tune than not sing at all, rather die trying than live a lie and asks us to go deeper into our own hearts. Slowing things down even further, “Beautiful Life” starts with sparse acoustic guitar and pads. Drums, vocal doubling, and harmony on chorus fill out the song to dreamy rock. As the lyrics “It’s a beautiful life, such a beautiful life” repeat, we believe, because Singing Bear acknowledges that doesn’t mean everything is perfect. We all run ourselves in circles and fall down from time to time, but we have each other to remind us to rise up again with gratitude.

The rolling, shuffling, rhythm of “Walking and Dancing” picks up the pace with an infectious dance beat, a head-bobbing bass line and a hot electric guitar solo. Keeping things hot, the sensuous reggae of “Reach Back” with a thick bass line and tight drums, speaks to how we all grow on the same tree, are fruits on the same vine. If we reach back to the moment of creation we all started from the same seed. Smoking horns on the solo section turn the heat up a notch further.

Before burning us up completely, Singing Bear cools it down with “H2O”. The song opens with an American Indian Elder offering a prayer of thanks to water for how it sustains and nourishes all life on the planet. Very atmospheric, watery synth builds below Singing Bear’s almost chant-like continuation of the theme before breaking into a funky love song to the ocean. Following up with the slow, mellow rock of “Earth Song”, Singing Bear claims he didn’t write the song but rather just joined in with what the planet has been singing since the beginning. He elaborates to say we’re all singing Earth’s song whether we know it or not, and because of this there will always be music. Bluesy organ adds an extra layer of soul to the already soulful vocals.

Perhaps wisely, the well crafted track listing of Gold saves the most “out there” songs of the bunch for the end, because by this time you are already a Singing Bear fan, prepared for whatever ride he takes you on. “Molecular Transport” starts out with a red-hot wailing harmonica. A seventies style ska flavored guitar vamps behind a lyrical ride through parallel universes and third eye openings. “Mind Sex”, encouraging mental foreplay, is a super funky throwback to Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”. An extremely deep voice both harmonizes and adds sexy commentary throughout, while an ethereal synth line floats over the low funk bass, giving further emphasis to the merging of spirituality and sensuality.

With a tight band that effortlessly moves through a variety of dance genres and a clear, confidant, and mesmerizing voice, Singing Bear is sure to continue building a devoted fan base. Having the musical chops to hold his own playing next to someone like Jason Mraz, some may misguidedly counsel Singing Bear to mold his lyrics into something more commercial, but in an age over-stuffed with commerciality, what the world needs is more Singing Bears.


Review by Heather Miller-Rodriguez
Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5) - Heather Miller-Rodriguez - Ariel Publicity

Theirs is music with a throwback, Greenwich Village kin of folk groove. uninhibited, spontaneous, free-flowing acoustic stuff of a lyriucally righteous sort. - Athens Insider

Theirs is music with a throwback, Greenwich Village kin of folk groove. uninhibited, spontaneous, free-flowing acoustic stuff of a lyriucally righteous sort. - Athens Insider

10-06-2005

Forealious will pack the house with Rainbow family, belly dancers, and much, much more. These folks are on the spiritual vibe, and if you are looking for a good dose of Rainbow love, this is as close as you'll get.

09-01-2005

Forealious (acoustic jam, trippy): This crew throws forth a lot of love with a socially conscience attitude, and imbued with an artistic spirit. Flute, guitars, hand drums, with value added by belly dancers and other things found at the Serendipity Circus.

07-28-2005

Forealious and the Serendipity Circus roll into the Blue Gator on Friday night for FREE night of mayhem and good vibes music. Expect the unexpected, with mountain flutes and belly dancers not being out of the question at any of these spiritually driving events.

05-26-2005

Forealious and the Serendipity Circus are putting on their acoustic groove thangs and funkin' it out for the benefit of your boogyin' butt.

04-14-2005

Saturday night, Forealious will take to the Skull stage with their acousti-funk and roll: distant flutes and pounding drums, funky beats and dancers.

03-17-2005

Saturday, in part one of a two-club outing, Forealious, along with Matt Peters, pop into the Donkey at 8 p.m. to satisfy their more sensitive friends, before traipsing off to the bar. Matt Peters ill be the closing act.

Saturday night, part of a double header for these hard working musicians, Forealious, will let loose for an evening of funky acoustic music that will get a wiggle out of yer butt.

02-10-2005

Tony Beres is about as funky as you can get with an acoustic guitar, and his poignant and jammy songs might get you dancing around that often-staid scene.

01-27-2005

. . . and those acoustic-groove-funksters of Forealious and The Serendipity Circus, which usually include dancers and drummers and all kinds of fun stuff.

10-14-2004

The acoustic groove funk of Forealious will reverberate throughout the downstairs of the Blue Gator tonight. This ever-expanding love concept includes the ubiquitous Serendipity Circus (also the title of one of my favorite paintings by flautist Lindy Kehoe) and tends to include anything from African drumming to belly dancers and anything tangential to the inspiration of expression. In short, they offer up good, sweaty fun.

09-30-2004

Tonight O'Hooley's is all agog for the return of Forealious (For-real-eye-us), and their requisite Serendipity Circus. The permits have been secured and the forest creatures have been turned loose. Belly dancers, African drumming, and soul-searching acoustic funk are what you will find beneath the Big Top. So get growing.

09-02-2004

Also on the bill will be the eco-political acoustic jam funk of Forealious

08-26-2004

. . . groove-folk serendipity-do of Forealious

03-25-2004

The "Serendipity Circus" rolls into O'hooley's tonight. For real I, us, will see Forealious (for-l--us), the crew comprised of Lindy Kehoe, Tony Beres and their revolving sideshow of dancers and players. Expect belly-dancing from the Sheikettes, African dancing and drumming with Mjomba (back from Kenya), a sword dance, and other playful mayhem from this politically and spiritually minded troupe. They have an excellent new CD to add to your collection, so get one before they head to Europe for a couple of months.

02-26-2004

Friday night, the fabulous Forealious throws a CD release party for their new disc, "Serendipity Circus," which sounds lovely. Their catchy, moody, acousti-funk will be augmented by new percussionist Billy Crocker (no relation to Betty) and trumpeter Brandon Jaeger, but wait, that's not all. Local belly-dance troupe, the Shiekettes, will join the festivities with hip-a-licious performances. Come one, come all! Step right up! The "Serendipity Circus" is in town

Eric Leighton, Music Columnist
Athens News

- Athens News

A conscious musical creation for the heightening of one's awareness of the greater whole occurs while listening to Singing Bear's "Earth Speaks" album. Oneness pulses through each song and the power of inner-knowing opens as one journeys through the mother earth inspired compilation. A sweeping wave of appreciation is extended to Singing Bear for musically expressing that which is being remembered now - our Oneness.

Spring 2009 - Healthy Referral International

A conscious musical creation for the heightening of one's awareness of the greater whole occurs while listening to Singing Bear's "Earth Speaks" album. Oneness pulses through each song and the power of inner-knowing opens as one journeys through the mother earth inspired compilation. A sweeping wave of appreciation is extended to Singing Bear for musically expressing that which is being remembered now - our Oneness.

Spring 2009 - Healthy Referral International