The Rivals

Kickin' Bear is a 6 member rock, jam band from Philadelphia, PA. If you are thinking along the way of The Grateful Dead then you are getting on the right track. Kickin' Bear, though, has more to offer than the traditional view of jam bands. As one might expect rhythm is an important part of the experience, but interestingly enough the vocals can really leave a solid impression with a soulful feel. This band has the ability to stick out in a few way. For one, the musicianship is second to none. There are no dead spots in any part of the songs. The ear is entertained like a Paul Simon song, and the soul is is triggered like catching an honest glimpse in the mirror. Basically it would be a good idea to check out their debut album Living Roots at their website below. Also be sure to check them out live if you are int he Philadelphia area. Kickin' Bear is a band that lives with you.

Songs I like are "I Know You Read It," and "Bare Down." Check them out with other info at their website: http://www.kickinbear.com/
- Paul Ruth at the Independentmusicscene.com

Kickin' Bear is a 6 member rock, jam band from Philadelphia, PA. If you are thinking along the way of The Grateful Dead then you are getting on the right track. Kickin' Bear, though, has more to offer than the traditional view of jam bands. As one might expect rhythm is an important part of the experience, but interestingly enough the vocals can really leave a solid impression with a soulful feel. This band has the ability to stick out in a few way. For one, the musicianship is second to none. There are no dead spots in any part of the songs. The ear is entertained like a Paul Simon song, and the soul is is triggered like catching an honest glimpse in the mirror. Basically it would be a good idea to check out their debut album Living Roots at their website below. Also be sure to check them out live if you are int he Philadelphia area. Kickin' Bear is a band that lives with you.

Songs I like are "I Know You Read It," and "Bare Down." Check them out with other info at their website: http://www.kickinbear.com/
- Paul Ruth at the Independentmusicscene.com

Kickin’ Bear was formed three years ago in the tiny beach community of Ocean City, New Jersey. The group was founded by members Rob Swift, Chris Ingram, Wayne Gallagher, and Tom Williamson during the dissolution of their Jersey Rock band, After the Universe.

Kickin’ Bear is a roots rock band living and gigging in West Philadelphia. Originally from Southern NJ, its members have been playing music together since childhood, performing in various bands and projects. The Bear combines elements of rock & roll, blues, folk and world sound to achieve a unique musical experience that is classic in appeal yet fresh in content.

The band set out for Philadelphia in the fall of 2009, hoping to bring their music to a wider audience. With new bassist Dan Boardman and violinist Eamonn Connor, they have already performed at popular Philadelphia venues such as The North Star Bar, Connie’s Ric Rac and The Fire. Kickin’ Bear live shows have always been known as crowd pleasers, with soaring vocals and evocative songwriting from pianist Wayne Gallagher, mind-bending guitar work from Rob Swift and a assortment of interesting instruments appearing on stage such as Indian sitar, violin, mandolin, banjo, Fender Rhodes and more.

Kickin’ Bear recently finished recording their first album, which will soon be available on iTunes, Amazon, and other music outlets. 100% self produced and recorded, the album attempts to recreate the sound of old 70s vinyl by combining traditional recording methods and vintage instruments to produce a unique and retro sound. Looking forward, the band remains focused on composing fresh and inspiring music, and experimenting with technologies both new and old, while growing into a nationally recognized act.

Kickin’ Bear is:
Wayne Gallagher: Piano, Vocals
Rob Swift: Lead Guitar, Harmonica, Sitar, Uke, Lead and Backup Vocals
Tom Williamson: Guitar, Mandolin, Lead and Backup Vocals
Chris Ingram: Drums, Percussion, Banjo, Vocals
Dan Boardman: Bass, Vocals
Eamonn Connor: Violin, Cello, Vocals - High Times Magazine

Band of the Week: Kickin Bear
After a long work week without fun, games and live music, you must feel like a bear in a cage, just itching to escape. Well, you aren't the only one! Come catch Kickin Bear as the band unleashes its one-of-a-kind rock 'n' roll at Hibiscus Restaurant and Bar, located at 101 E. Maryland Ave. in Somers Point, on Saturday, March 6.
"We want the people who come to our shows to know that they are apart of something when they see us perform," says Wayne Gallagher, vocalist and pianist for Kickin Bear. "We feed off the energy of the crowd. When we really get the show pumping, the feeling in the room just seems to grow to mammoth proportions. That is the experience we want to share with our audience at every show."
All of that excitement has a lot to do with the musical background of each band member. They are proud to not be confined in a musical box, and their sound runs the gamut of genres, including rock 'n' roll, blues, jazz, folk, soul and world music.
"We try to take on all the different styles of music that have affected us during our lives," Gallagher explains. "We make a stew of music that is very much our own, but we also try to stand on the shoulders of giants - we don't deny our influences at all."
Some of those influences have made their way into Kickin Bear's show by the way of cover tunes. If Kickin Bear decides to play a cover, it could be an original by such legendary acts as The Allman Brothers, The Beatles, The Band or The Who. But if you came for original songs, you won't be disappointed.
"Right now, we are in the process of writing our new album, so we have been road-testing a lot of different material," Gallagher says. "We do some covers, but it's really just a tribute to any band that influences us to make the music that we do. We formed this band about four years ago, and have always been inspired by just having the goal of playing music and making that our lives."
Come see and hear all that Kickin Bear has to offer Saturday at Hibiscus Restaurant. You can call Hibiscus at 609-926-9400 with any additional questions.
What To Expect: When Kickin Bear takes the stage, you can expect a unique blend of several genres and musical styles.
Roster: Wayne Gallagher, vocals and piano; Robert Swift, vocals and lead guitar; Tom Williamson, vocals and guitar; Chris Ingram, vocals and drums; Eamonn Connor, multi-instrumentalist; Dan Boardman, bass; Mike Massimi, tenor sax and flute.
Originals: "We have finally finished our first album after a year of hard work," Gallagher says. "We recorded it at our old studio in Ocean City. The album is called 'Living Roots.' All that's left to do is finalize the artwork, packaging and, you know, putting mystical voodoo spells on it." You can expect "Living Roots" to be available for purchase later this month.
Claims To Fame: "Well, you mean, besides being featured as 'Band Of The Week?'" Gallagher asks. "We really appreciate all the attention and press we get, but besides this story, we are going to be High Times Magazine's 'Band Of The Month' for June. It just feels really good after all of our hard work to get recognition."
Fun Facts: Dan "Burger" Boardman is a culinary genius and renowned chef. "Oh, and the band secretly performs under the name The Traveling Yurks," Gallagher admits with a laugh. "It's a Viking, vaudevillian, soft shoe, burlesque show inspired by the work of Rick James. There! We said it!"
Web Site: www.kickinbear.com or www.myspace.com/kickinbear
Go See Them: Catch Kickin Bear Saturday, March 6, at Hibiscus Restaurant and Bar, located at 101 Maryland Ave. in Somers Point. For more information, call 609-926-9400.
- Story by Rebecca Grites; photo provided by Kickin Bear - Press of Atlantic City Media Group

"Kickin' Bear is making the world safe for original music." - Mike Ummarino

"this band...is getting attention locally and opening new ground for local bands." - Mike Ummarino

"They've opened the floodgates of local talent and creativity." - Jeffrey McIntyre - The SandPaper

With much of today’s contemporary music lacking a lot of personalized panache, it’s refreshing when young musicians band together to not only produce sounds with style and staying power, but original compositions with classic flair. That description would be well suited to a six-man ensemble called Kickin’ Bear, which will perform live at Hibiscus in Somers Point this Saturday night, March 6.

Kickin’ Bear consists of a group of friends from Ocean City High School who have been making music together in various incarnations since childhood. They include guitarists Rob Swift and Tom Williamson, drummer Chris Ingram, pianist/lead vocalist Wayne Gallagher, bassist Dan Boardman and violinist Eamonn Connor. The band will occasionally incorporate less-common instruments like the mandolin, banjo and Indian Sitar into its sound. Having recently relocated to West Philadelphia and playing gigs in Philly (they recently played the Trocadero), the sextet makes a homecoming of sorts Saturday in tandem with their soon-to-be-released debut album called Living Roots. Three of their songs — “I Know You Read It,” “Rivers of Cypress” and “When Your Received” — can be downloaded off the band’s Web site at kickinbear.com.

“We all met in school [OCHS class of 2005] and just moved to West Philadelphia in October,” says Swift. “Wayne, Chris and I have been playing in various bands together for about 10 years, and Tom and Eamonn were part of a sort of four-piece blues band with each band sort of having their own thing going. Eventually we kind of mixed it together to form one group made up of the best of both worlds, and it ended up blending together really well. We started playing shows, and three years later, we’re here.”

Kickin’ Bear has performed at many of the hot spots in Philly including the Trocadero, Connie’s Ric Rac, the Fire, the North Star Bar and others. Their earlier live shows were more of an equal mix of cover songs and their own material, but now, says Swift, the bulk of their lives shows consist of their own creations.

“It’s become more like 90 percent our songs, 10 percent covers,” he says. “It’s much more of an original scene up here [in Philly]. It’s cool because we’re getting to that turning point where people are getting to know the songs really well, and coming out and singing along.”

Much of the band’s influences come from bands like the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Pearl Jam, but they also draw largely from lesser-known artists.

“We’re really into the classic stuff and some underground roots music,” says Swift. “Along with the classic rock bands everyone’s familiar with, there [are] other bands like the Strawbs, which are a British band from the ’60s that never got real huge; Derek Trucks Band, a modern roots band; My Morning Jacket — bands like that.”

Kickin’ Bear takes its name from a Paiute Indian and significant figure in American history.

“We started going through books and researching certain things, and we wanted to try to find something that was native,” says Swift. “Kicking Bear was a Native American at the turn of the [20th] century. He fought in the Battle of Wounded Knee and had a reputation for being a wild guy. We felt that name was well suited to the band’s personality.”

Swift says he is certainly looking at Saturday’s show from the perspective of a homecoming.

“Absolutely,” he says. “It’s cool because it coincides with the release of our CD, which has taken about a year to make, and it all sort of led up to a big grand finale in South Jersey. Many of the people who have been coming to our shows for 10 years ... will be coming out. Many still live in the area and have traveled to Philly to see us. Our fan base is still very loyal even though we’ve moved.” - Atlantic City Weekly