it's not too late

My other band Debutantes still exists. Above you'll see a poster from a show that we did several years ago (Phony Bone's singer is now Panther and The Zoo, and Jane De Jong is now major label hope Ruby Frost), we're kinda one of those bands that has always been pretty casual. It's quite rare that we play a show and actually finish a recording of a song. Whether we've had the wrong lineup, not enough motivation, or for whatever reason, it's kinda this funny thing where we just never broke up. That's probably because it's always been one of the most fun bands to be in, with the most amazing people. Andy and Sean and Shane are some of my most favourite people ever. One of the most recent happenings... uh, which was over a year ago, was that our drummer Sarah left to concentrate on Wildwood Lights, and the result is that Shane Warbrooke of Bemsha Swing has jumped on the kit. I love his drumming.

We most recently recorded this song, and it's the first to feature our new lineup with Shane.... (free download). It might be a bit of you if you like that college rock kinda thing.



It's looking likely that Bear Cat won't really be playing live much over the next several months, which depresses me terribly, though I have lots of Bear Cat new stuff to record and keep me busy with. Josie has to pass university so she can't really play shows, so here's to other projects. Perhaps it's not too late for Debutantes to focus and make our magnum opus.

Franken-castle, franken-albums

I remember being very excited about these things when I heard about them, but feel a little let down by both. I think the most exciting thing was actually just the anticipation. So if you haven't read/heard these things, anticipate away, but be forewarned.

Franken-Castle is what Marvel decided to do with The Punisher. One of the best survivors in the comic book universe, especially considering his lack of powers, finally bit off more than he could chew. Wolverine's son killed him after The Punisher started going after Norman Osborn (the former Green Goblin who went on to become the president's #1 internal security guy). The issue where he fights Wolverine's son and dies eventually was pretty awesome. But they didn't recover his body! Monsters decide to reanimate him!

This was pretty controversial amongst comic book nerds. I just thought it was awesome, as I'd become really bored by The Punisher's character lately. I still think it's an exciting idea, but I can't say I was blown away by the first story arc. They got my attention for a while longer though. This is boom or bust. Here's a link to where someone's uploaded the arc from his death to inaugural franken-triumph.

Download Franken-Castle


500 Days Of Weezy


I saw this on Cheese On Toast the other day. I've only listened a couple of times. Thought it would be the perfect combination of swooning music and Lil Wayne. Don't find many of the mash ups very successful though.

Mushababy rules, mostly because the chord progression of Feist's Mushabloom translates into a Dr Carter styled hip hop loop amazingly, plus Please, Hustler, Please is swell. But I imagined Lollipop being looped with Hall and Oates would make me feel like a million bucks but it's just really, really annoying.

Download 500 Days of Weezy (or save yourself the disc space and just stream)

On a 500 Days Of Summer/Zooey note. It also breaks my heart to say that She & Him is entirely forgettable. Have total crushes on Zooey and M.Ward, but I just don't feel anything when I listen to you together.

Red Panda Blues live @ our album release

Crappy sound but it gets pretty loud. Thanks for everyone who came out to a really fun night, one of the best.

Bear Cat - Red Panda Blues @ Cassette Number 9 from Bear Cat on Vimeo.

SEE WITH YOUR HEART (thanks Auckland Central Library basement)

“Don't worry if you get it wrong. It's all right. We dogs know what's in your heart. So don't be discouraged. You have to keep on trying. Never give up. Wait, then return and try again. See with your heart, hear with your eyes, and feel with your ears. Mix it all up. Be different. Dogs love it when you play games with them. Make this a fun game and don't be so serious; have fun.

JENNY (DOG) VIA CAROLE DEVEREUX (OWNER)


This is a book called 'Awakening To Animal Voices'. It's about telepathy with animals, but may be most use to you if you are a teenager. The things you come across when you are shelving books in the basement of a public library. This one goes out especially to NATMOON.

Click on the photos to enlarge and read their wisdom.


The art of 'shape shifting'.


Some psychic words from 'Shanti' - a llama.


Some words from 'Jenny' (rog/dog) via her mum Carole (human).

SO GOOD. NOW GO BE PSYCHIC AND TALK TO THE ANIMALS

Musichype compilation, Xmas compilation, live on Balcony TV

Unreleased Bear Cat track on Musichy.pe's USB/VINYL mixtape!
We recently won a spot on a great new compilation of exciting new New Zealand bands. The compilation will feature our unreleased track 'Tappa Tappa Tappa'. It's a pretty silly song but I think it sounds like a party. The photo above shows what it looks like. It's also coming out on vinyl in the near future.

ORDER THE MUSICHY.PE COLLECTABLE USB STICK HERE.

In other compilation news, we are working on a Christmas song for a seasonal compilation due out this December. I think it will most likely be called 'This Christmas All I Really Want Is To Love Somebody'.


New song 'Snagglepuss' live on Balcony TV
We were recently asked to play live on Balcony TV, hosted by DJ Sir Vere. He's a very well known hip hop DJ here in New Zealand. We were unsure how it would go down with Sir Vere, but he was super nice. Maybe the hip hop vibe of our (kinda hard to hear it on video) drum machine helped. Upon watching this I'm convinced this song is way too long, but I was kinda trying to write a rap song without actually writing in the rap genre. You have to skip to the end of the song to actually hear the hook, followed by a wonderfully awkward interview. THANK YOU HEAPS to the rest of the band for commuting in for this. I hope to include their contributions on forthcoming, somewhat tropical sounding recordings.

WATCH THE VIDEO RIGHT HERE

related videos

Rejection acceptance

This is just like the time she said it was kinda mutual but still said “no”, and then I spent the next six months in swoon limbo until put out of misery. Except replace the "no" at the start with an initial “yes let’s go out in the near future” and take away the scene where you tearfully run home late at night and keep bizarrely running into people you know just out for a midnight stroll/bike ride, and where you are faced with no option but to ignore them and keep running. Except make it about music instead.