Brown Bear

LABEL: Starving Kids

Every musician has a side project and this was the case for former Tonjip guitarist, Col Hockey. Brown Bear came to fruition midway through 2003 and after collaborating with local film composer & producer, Cliff Bradley (Undead - 2003), Brown Bear found its sound.

A four-piece outfit, Brisbane based Brown Bear effortlessly takes the mood from delicate to intense throughout its eclectic catalogue. With an echo of The Doves, Neil Finn or Elliott Smith running softly through it, Brown Bear fits casually into the Pop/Rock genre and is rapidly establishing itself as a real songwriters band. As Grandpa Hockey says, "If it's hard to play, it's hard to listen to" and that's been the motto Brown Bear lives by.

In 2004 Brown Bear released its debut EP The Casual, a six track selection showcasing songs that accentuate their need to create good music as well as good production. The music itself orbits around warm acoustic hums, layered with hypnotic harmonies and messy but colourful guitar tones.

That same year, the band went from playing outskirt, suburban pubs to high profile Brisbane venues such as; The Zoo, The Healer, The Troubadour.

2005, however, proved to be an uneventful year for Brown Bear. The marriage of Cliff (Guitar) to long time girlfriend, Emily; followed by the matrimony of Col with fiancee Leah, side-railed the band to a standstill. Col also took up fulltime music studies while Cliff pushed his composing career. To add to the woes (and vows) bass guitarist, Mark McCrystal and drummer, Dave Zimmerman moved to the UK respectively leaving Brow Bear to hibernate for the winter.

It wasn't until 2006 that Brown Bear awoke with a new musical vision and vitality. With a new five piece lineup that includes Isaac Myers (Bass), Justin Daugherty(Drums) as well as digital influences from laptop guru Ryan Murray.

Finally, "The Casual" EP is getting the attention it deserves and is thrust into the faces and pockets of as many victims as possible. As well as this, Brown Bear is aiming toward releasing another EP late in the year.