Griff Bear
Fri, 9/17 HERE Trio at Seattle Kells (Seattle, WA)
NEW BAHTTSI: Beelzebub's Revenge Polka
3/30 Another New Bahttsi Video - March 2010
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Bahttsi
Bahttsi is short for Goombahttsi, but the "Goom" is silent.
Click here to hear Bahttsi Music
Bahttsi Personnel:
Drums = Strawdog Burdon; purveyor of many musical absurdities, who in this
group focuses on ideas somewhere between outright pounding/bashing and free
(soft) jazz. This is a complicated person with highly developed cribbage
skills and a penchant for small rubber snakes. He can play anything, but
proceed with caution.
Bass = Tantor; plays mostly by feeling around on the neck in the amazing
raking technique. The tallest member of this group or any group. Excellent
at imitating both drunkeness and sobriety, sometimes simultaneously.
Influences include Merv Rosell, Styles Bitchly and Jackie Treehorn. Ank Tantor!
Fiddle/Mandolin/Guitar = Griff Bear; a cross between finely honed classical
skills and sleep-deprivation induced sonic freakouts which must be
seen/heard to be believed. Able to take it farther/higher/faster than you
think at first, and also capable of getting my wife's goat faster than even
me. Ideology unknown, but somewhere between Christian fundamentalism and
Bhuddist punk rock.
Guitar/Trombone = ZRqXYZXC*4.2; Dedicated servant of aural obscurities on
the world's sexiest instrument. Influenced by everything, ZRqXYZXC*4.2
claims both a penchant for countrified weirdness as well as a "tiny bit of a
drug problem." Able to balance the driving needs for both extreme musical
exploration and a search for the Invisible Army of the USA.
Mandocello/Bizouki/Cittern/What is that thing? = Marc van Vizzle in the
Hizzle; beeps, blurps, and screeches permeated by a weird innate sense of
rhythm, and an attitude towards vocals best described as "freestyling." This
former mayor of Kelso is the glue which holds the band together, and is a
sought-after motivational speaker as well. One love, ya'll.
Guitars (laying down, standing, sitting, and double reverse piking) = Dylan-Thomas Vance; The newest member of the band is in fact a total nut. He passed through the probationary period in record time, in part because absane debauchery follows wherever he goes. (We like that in a pledge.) In addition to the never ending party scene hoopla, he has many guitars, and is an expert at making them go zing zip boing boing zing zip boing. Before we even knew what was happening, Dylan single-handedly resuscitated the band from perma-hibernation stasis pod mode, and also invented the genre known the world over as Bawk Rawk (tm). He can sing both soft and loud, and has a Ph D in Chasing the Squirrel. SOY NYSE.
Prices
Expectations of pay include basically making a lot of money, or at least some money, and/or making no money whatsoever. (Preferably none of the above.)
The expectations, however, contain the hidden flaw that they are based on (or in) the somewhat outdated concept of linear time. (i.e. a service of some sort, followed by some vague type of payment or satisfaction.) As usual, the truth lies hidden in the rumors. Suffice it to say that collectively, we scream out loud at the ubiquitous oppression represented by capitalism and the trappings of the so-called "free" market. More on this topic is available for your next event, either in booth form (with attendant) or in easy to distribute booklets, made from recycled paper and printed in friendly earth tones.
What has Bahttsi Been Up To?
Matt has been working in Viet Nam with Uncle Jack and the Rigli people.
Greg has been trapped at the PDX airport and detained indefinitely in
the Round Room.
Marc has been traveling cross-country in search of the perfect Mung
Bean.
Mark has been sucking 20 year old scotch from a rag he keeps in his
basement.
Griff has been raising all varieties of chickens and has several prize
red roosters.
Dylan is asserting wireless mind control over the planet, one stereo at a time.
So, what else have you been up to?
You can check out a bunch of Bahttsi music here (Bahttsi Music), as well as music from Griff Bear's other projects on the Listen to Music Page
HERE
It's a natural match made in heaven. Griff Bear has been playing with Matthew Rotchford (basses) for more than a decade, including lighting up stages throughout the Northwest with fiery Irish music and St. James's Gate since last century.
Meanwhile, Dylan-Thomas Vance and Griff Bear have been whipping up their own brand of squirrel chase improvisation and fun loving magic as the Powerhouse Duo for more than five years.
Still more recently, all three (Dylan, Matthew, and Griff Bear) have been pumping out wild and other wordly recordings with the mythical jam band "Bahttsi."
Finally - these triangles, squares, and hexagons come full circle as the trio that's just "HERE."
So seriously, if you dig intense & spirited improvisational music played by musicians and friends with years and years of communication built up between them, you've got to check out HERE.
Bio & Family
i'm a griff bear.
i started to play the violin
when i was just a fat little 10
years old but i liked it.
by high school i spent three periods a day playing classical & pops music or practicing ... which sometimes was serious, and sometimes just flirtatious ... and i really liked it.
college: small state U in ohio, four years to bachelor of music performance .. playing about a billion symphonic, chamber, musical, opera, and wedding gigs along the way. starting flirting with jazz. started learning about computer music & synthesizers, working with MIDI (1986!), and acoustics. practiced and practiced and practiced!
grad school: "mr. jefferson's university" - studied about relationships between linguistic and musical theory & criticism, MIDI & computer composition, some jazz improv, more theory, composition, and music history (especially jazz). also "existentialism from hegel to sartre." practiced violin for at least a billion hours. designed and taught some music theory classes. did master's recital - half classical/half jazz (quintet). finished all degree requirements - except foreign language proficiency test & 3-5 page paper. had to go ... never finished.
also ... started playing bluegrass & old time -
WOO HOO!!
a year in michigan (A2) - playing folk rock sort of stuff & some fusion here & there.
moved to oregon for law school. learned to play guitar, mandolin, and played tons of piano. start writing songs like crazy ... it's hard to keep your head on straight when you're in law school. joined an irish band (FALL IN LOVE IRISH FIDDLE!). occasional orchestra gigs, gypsy band, and BAHTTSI. bahttsi is just its own deal. joined another irish band. tons of bar ("pub") gigs, weddings, outdoor summer concerts.
finished law school. worked with homeless youth. managed shelters.
built a home studio. relearned MIDI!
SEPTEMBER 2007 - JAMUARY 2008
- recorded over 30 demo songs, coupled them with previously recorded but remixed & updated songs, and sent 60 song collection for copyright registration. many styles & vibes.
i can write, arrange, play various instruments, record/engineer, read, run MIDI, and perform.
i can play the shit out of the fiddle.
my singing, i'd say, runs in the C to B+ range with occasional flashes of "right on."
i'm half bear. i'm not that hot as a human, but i'm a knockout as a bear.
i've never worked with film, but i'm dying to, so that's my next priority to learn about. (i sure would like to learn "on the job" - and i'm sure i can.)
i'd like to sell some songs. i'd like to have a well paid band & studio time to make a kick-ass but careful record (or six ... or forty). i'd like to find a gig writing "compositions" more than "songs," but i still love songs!
i'm also starting to work on some children's books, including "the troubled talkative cow," and "the over-competent kangaroo."
Family
Jenica Rose
Laura & Jenica
Laura Liz
"Bear with cub" (griff & Buck)
 Papa
Grandma Sally with Jenica
Aunt Terri with Buck
Bear's Den Studio
Bear's Den Studio is my in house recording facility. The emphasis in the Bear's Den is on acoustic music - and especially on being a welcoming and comfortable place for musicians. This is "my musical home within a home."
E-mail me for more info, rates, etc..
Some Past Recording Projects
Ancient Ways - Mbira & Marimba Music of Zimbabwe.
This is a 2 CD set put together by the non-profit organization Ancient Ways, whose mission is mission is "to learn from and preserve the traditional ways of indigenous peoples around the world, and throughout time, by exploring their art, music, and cosmology, so that we can educate and encourage people today to develop ways to live which are more environmentally and socially sustainable." Proceeds from these CD sales go to support the organization's humanitarian support of rural villages in Zimbabwe. I was proud to be part of this project by pulling together and mastering the diverse collection of recordings and performances.
St. James's Gate - We'll Be Right Back
St. James's Gate's third CD is the first real "studio" effort. Recorded and mixed in the Bear's Den, it's the band's most elaborate project yet.
Bahttsi - Zig Zag 1 & 2
We have no further information or comment on these recordings. This message will self destruct in 30 seconds.
Mark Burdon - ESI
Led by drummer & composer Mark Burdon, this is a quartet (drums, t-bone, clarinet, bass) that follows a path only barely ever charted, but ever interesting and symbiotically supportive. Two days of fun and exploration in the bear's den.
The Acoustic Slam Project.
... record 8 acts in three days ... record 11 acts in all - with only 2 hours per act ... sure, why not? This project with Dan Coleman has been magic from the get-go.
Njuzu Mbira - Traditional Music of Zimbabwe
Dylan Thomas Vance - Bittersweet
Click here for more on "Bittersweet."
Boka Marimba - Serevende
The title track of this 2003 CD was recorded and mixed here in the Bear's Den.Click here for more on "Serevende."
Dylan-Thomas Vance & Griff Bear - Live at Biddy McGraws
Recorded live at Biddy McGraw's in Portland, OR, mixed at Bear's Den Studio.
St. James's Gate - Station to Station
Recorded "live in studio" by Sean Flora at Rocket Science Studio, mixed at Bear's Den Studio.
Powerhouse Duo
(Click here to download this image)
A classically-trained violinist with a penchant for old-time fiddle, Powerhouse Revival member Griff Bear's impossibly fleet fingered and precision playing
never fails to elicit hoots and hollers from the audience while he and Vance play fast and furious, spinning up the energy of the crowd until someone shouts, "play some Hendrix!" And Vance's slide guitar wails a Voodoo Chile to impress even the staunchest Hendrix fan. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle
"Drop by Biddy McGraw’s nearly any Tuesday and you’ll get an earful of mournful, forceful blues from these Portland pros. [T]heir extended residency has served them well. Vance’s sandpaper vocals have gained an ever-rougher grain. The pace is faster. His guitar steams while Bear’s frenzied fiddle practically gooses listeners. If this duo’s sound gets any bigger or wilder, it’s liable to overtake the whole damn bar itself." Willamette Week, January 2005
Here are some excerpts:
click here to hear selections from dylan & griff & other projects
Or click here to go to Dylan-Thomas Vance's website.
Click here for more info on the Live at Biddy's CD
Click here to purchase the CD
St. James's Gate
St. James's Gate
Contemporary Irish Music
St. James's Gate is the Irish Music group I've been playing in since aboout 1999. This band is just a ton of fun & great for parties, dancing, and a raucous good time. Cronin Tierney and I had both been playing at Kells Irish Pub in Portland for several years with various groups when the pub owner called me up & suggested I meet Cronin & we try playing together. Meanwhile, I'd been playing a little Irish music with Matt Rotchford, but mostly we knew each other from Bahttsi, so when Cronin asked if I knew a bass player I said "sure." St. James's Gate was born & we haven't looked back, producing three CDs, and playing festivals, pubs, and private events all over Oregon & Washington.
Although we specialize in "neo-traditional" Irish music, St. James actually loves to play all kind of music from bluegrass & old time to Classic Rock & Pop. We also often add other instruments to the mix, including drums, bouzouki, bodhran, and occassionally my own wife on flute.
Personnel
Griff Ocker - fiddle, mandolin, vocals
Cronin Tierney - vocals, guitar
Matt Rotchford - acoustic and electric bass, vocals
Dennis Elmer - Drums
click here to hear music from St. James's Gate and other projects
Click here to check out St. James's Gate's recordings.
click here to contact St. James's Gate
Click here for full size picture of St. james's Gate
Link to St. James's Gate Website
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