Bear & Moose Release First Single from Debut Album: "I'm Back" Available for Download Now

July 13, 2011 - PRLog -- Getting out of a rut can be an exhilarating experience. Portland bluesy rock duo, Bear & Moose's first single off their debut double album Bear/Moose, "I'm Back" captures the rush derived from jumping back into life with renewed vigor.  Eric Mueller's vocal delivery, which channels Van Morrison, vibrant guitar, Simon Lucas' simple percussion and tambourine along with the sunny ooh-ooh-ooh background vocals create a joyful, but not over the top tune about getting back on your feet again.  "'I'm Back' means getting back to your true self and working towards greater happiness," says Mueller.  "'Cause we all know happiness does not come to those who sit around and wait for it!" "I'm Back" can be found on Bear/Moose, due out November 8. Get out of the funk and download "I'm Back" now: http://glgpub.com/file_download/212/Bear-And-Moose-Im-Back.mp3

The 24 tunes on Bear/Moose, which are steeped in blues, psychedelia, punk, folk, prog rock and garage band excess cover a lot of musical and emotional ground. On the affecting love song "Love Lost Alone", Mueller blends finger picking and distorted power chords to support a delicate, reverb-drenched vocal. Lucas plays a double time rhythm against the tune's considered melody. Lucas drops a hint of samba into his percussive approach to "Run" while Mueller adds a simple rippling guitar figure that intensifies the song's tension. The bridge opens up with big chiming guitar chords as Lucas drops into a straightforward rock backbeat. "What We Call Home" drifts into singer/songwriter territory with Mueller's delicate, echoing vocal and minimal guitar drifting quietly along until it devolves into a noisy coda; folk metal perhaps? Other standouts include "Wear the Wolf", which blends 50s rock with 90s indie rock and the sort disjointed post-modern excursion and "Poor Man Blues", marked by Mueller's grinding chords, stratospheric guitar noise and Lucas' inspired cymbal crashes. "The album is alternative, experimental, psychedelic, bluesy and progressive with a folky, garagey feel," Mueller states. "Simply put, it's upbeat rock 'n' roll with enough confusion and chaos to keep it interesting."

Mueller and Lucas first met several years ago at Humboldt State University in California. Mueller was studying bass and was impressed by Lucas' stick work, although the two didn't play together that weekend. Fast forward to Portland in 2009. "I started Bear & Moose to explore the possibilities of loud rock guitar," Mueller says. "Bear & Moose came from a song I wrote. I always thought that if two animals were going to get along and rule the Pacific Northwest, it would be a bear and moose. I'd just finished playing a gig in Portland when my drummer told me he was done and moving to San Francisco. I remember being half drunk, packing up my gear and jamming it into my Honda when I saw the familiar face of Simon Lucas watching me. I said, 'Dude! Remember me? Want to be my new drummer?'"

Lucas signed on and, at the first rehearsal, the duo found they had a secret deep space connection, blowing away audiences with only two instruments - drums and guitar. Mueller may write the songs, but they take shape with input from Lucas. A lot of jamming and experimentation goes on at the studio they set up in Mueller's basement. "I have a 90-year-old old woman who can hardly hear on one side of me and meth heads on the other side, so we can play as loud and long as we want," Mueller says. "We're able to produce a large, expansive sound using only two instruments. On the album, there were a few overdubs of acoustic guitar, piano, percussion and lap harp, but it's mostly guitar and drums. I'm proud to share this music with people because it was made with a lot of heart and soul and rocks like mad."

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