Golden Bear Interview: SXSW 2010

Formed in 2002, Golden Bear have become stalwarts of the Texas indie scene. With two sprawling albums and an EP, the Austin-based band has crafted a unique take on indie pop and roots rock that they describe as "galactic forest rock." The band has recently begun recording their third full length LP, tentatively slated for a fall 2010 release. Spinner chatted with frontman Christopher Gregory about what it's like to play music in Austin, the band's ever-changing lineup and what we can expect at their SXSW appearance.

How would you describe your sound?

We kinda call our sound "galactic forest rock," which has elements of earthiness and also some elements of otherworldliness -- spacey sounds and feelings being conveyed. In general, it's kind of a classic rock -- a warm sound.

You guys have been compared rock icons like Flaming Lips and Built to Spill. What artists or musicians do you feel have influenced your sound?

I think bombastic is definitely something we go for, so in that way definitely 'Soft Bulletin'-era Flaming Lips. The Lips were always a band that I loved, so it's a compliment to [get that comparison], as long as our sound doesn't sound too derivative. As far as Built to Spill, I think what I really like about them is their epic-sounding guitar rock. That's something we sometimes go for – not so much on albums, but more when we play live. It can be very guitar-oriented. Led Zeppelin [is also an influence] -- just the whole power and bombast thing. Songwriter-wise, I've been on a Fleetwood Mac kick recently.

You mentioned that your sound changes between the album and your live shows. Are you a band that lives to perform live, or do you prefer to hone in on your sound in the studio?

That's a good question. I think it depends on when you ask. There have been times when we're playing live all the time, and then that's definitely our thing. But there will be other times, like now, when we haven't really played a show in while since we've been working on this album, where [we've] started to get into recording. It just depends. I guess the best answer is that when we're playing live, I enjoy that more than anything. But at the same time, recording can be very rewarding, and doesn't require you to get in a van and drive around the country.

How did the band form?

I did a radio show while I was a student at the University of Texas, and I had Andy [McAllister]'s band on as a guest. At that time I had played guitar in a couple of bands [which] never really got going, and had decided that I would have to start writing my own songs. Anyway, I really liked Andy's band, and ended up getting him and some of his friends from the Arthurs to come play. We added our current keyboard player, Matt Gardiner, soon thereafter, and my brother joined to play bass. There have been a number of lineup changes since then, just due to various life circumstances. The current lineup is Matt Gardiner on keys, my brother, Andrew Gregory, on bass, our new drummer, Rob Bacak, and myself. It's the first time we've ever been four-piece, and at first I was kind of nervous, but I'm actually really pleased with how it's working out.

Your 2006 debut featured appearances from members of the Black Angels, Voxtrot and Tia Carrera, amongst others. How would you say the music scene in Austin has influenced your sound?

I think that just being from Austin, and being from a place where there are great bands [really motivates us]. I mean, if we were from some run-down place where there weren't any bands -- or there were just metal bands -- you wouldn't feel any motivation to write. [In Austin] there's always that competition. There's so much quality here. It pushes you to want to produce higher quality material.

How did you guys come up with the name?

It was a few summers back when we assumed the Golden Bear moniker. We were playing in some park for a festival, and someone from the local newspaper asked us what our name was. We didn't have a name at the time, and I just said it. I can't remember what I thought before hand, but I just kind of liked it. It came out of nowhere, I guess. I had heard of [professional golfer] Jack Nicklaus and felt the connection there, and also really liked the idea of the "mythical golden bear."

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

We haven't really toured in a while, so I'm trying to think. I guess one of the craziest moments for me was when we did our first real tour and were playing at some venue in Detroit. I remember thinking to myself, "Man, we've really done it. I'm in a town that I've never been to before, and may never be in again, playing music for people that want to come out and see us." It was a great feeling. Other than that, not too much crazy stuff, really.