AQUABEAR LEGION |

Ohio’s Best: Minimum Tillage Farming

December 2, 2011

Aquabear is kicking off a brand new series of posts we have named “Ohio’s Best” (at least for now until we come up with something better or this name sticks -ed.) that will highlight all sorts of different things we love about the Buckeye State past, present, and future. This could include websites, venues, record labels, people, places, bands, or anything that makes us happy to call Ohio home. We are kicking this off with an amazing website archive of Central Ohio music from the past (and some present), the wonderful Minimum Tillage Farming. The premise here is simple and one that Aquabear loves… archiving and giving a home to awesome recordings. The focus is mostly on important Columbus and Ohio bands of times past such as Great Plains, Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments, New Bomb Turks, Gaunt, Scrawl and also on bands that are still active such as El Jesus de Magico, Cheater Slicks, Bygones, Lydia Loveless, and Nick Tolford and Company. For those that love Ohio music, you can spend days on here. So head on over and explore their archives, there is tons of free Ohio music! http://minimumtillagefarming.blogspot.com/

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! What do you think an Aquabear looks like?

December 1, 2011

By Brian Koscho

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! What do you think an Aquabear looks like?

The Aquabear Legion is looking for works of art in a variety of forms and types depicting interpretations of our mascot and namesake, the mythical Aquabear. Other than that there are not many limitations or rules, we just want to see what you think of when you think about an Aquabear. We are hoping to gather all of these up for a big Aquabear art show in Athens in 2012, most likely during the 6th annual Aquabear County Fair on March 9-10, 2012. In addition, we hope to use this art to continue collaborating between Ohio musicians and Ohio artists by featuring it on our website and in other items to promote Aquabear Legion (pins, prints, t-shirts, handbills, etc.). Also, if you are so kind to donate your work to use (hey, we’re almost a non-profit now!) we are hoping to auction off or sell some of this work to raise funds. Please contact us at contact@aquabearlegion.com if you have any questions or to RSVP that you plan on submitting. All entries for this round are due by March 1, 2012 but this will be an ongoing project so entries are always welcome. Feel free to pass this along...

Southeast Engine’s Mountain Stage Performance on NPR This Weekend

November 18, 2011

By Brian Koscho

Last month, Southeast Engine had the pleasure of taping an episode of NPR’s Mountain Stage. This weekend you’ll be able to hear the performance along with sets from The Jayhawks, Hot Tuna, Ha Ha Tonka and Karan Casey & John Doyle! This show was recording in October at Memorial Auditorium right here in Athens. Air times vary from station-to-station, and the show will appear on different days and different times, depending on where you are located. Please check out the complete list of stations and broadcast times here: http://www.mountainstage.org/mtnstageaffiliates.aspx For those of you without a Mountain Stage affiliate in your neighborhood, Southeast Engine’s complete set will be available on Thursday, November 24th at npr.org/mountainstage

Aquabear at ARTS/West THIS THURSDAY: Chat Logs, Many Mansions, Dead Winds of Summer

November 6, 2011

By Brian Koscho

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Aquabear Legion is having another fantastic evening of music at ARTS/West in Athens, Ohio on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 at 7:30pm. We hope that you will join us. We welcome Chat Logs and Many Mansions both on tour from the far away land of Brooklyn, opening will be Dead Winds of Summer. Chat Logs is a hyper-visceral psychedelic noise-punk trio in Brooklyn, NY. Their blistering live shows from The Whitney Museum of American Art to filthy Bushwick DIY venues have earned them a reputation as one of Brooklyn’s loudest and most surreal acts. Many Mansions makes post-world music fused with psychedelic and hypnotic passages of aural landscape and danceable world beats. “…the kind of party that will make your mind vaporize into a den of bobbing movements and involuntary motion. It’s music that can and will make you feel as if you’re losing control of things while becoming considerably more in control of vacationing craziness.” —Daytrotter Dead Winds of Summer is the beautiful atmospheric loops and sounds of Andrew Lampela. Chat Logs and Many Mansions are supporting their new record, a split cassette LP, “Control This.” Copies will be available at the show! $5 for touring bands and space ALL AGES,...

Aquabear and Disjointed Record New Compilation for 2012: 16 BANDS in 16 HOURS

November 2, 2011

By Brian Koscho

We are always trying to think of new ideas around here, so it made sense to record as many bands as possible in a short amount of time and put it out as a compilation right? Right? Well, we somehow convinced Mike Makosky of Disjointed Records that it was a good idea and he offered up his awesome studio space in the hills of Athens County. This Saturday, November 5th we will gather out in the country for a marathon of awesome Ohio music, record it and document it, and then put it out next year for you to hear. I have a feeling it will be more then 16 bands by the time we are done too. Look for pictures, video, and more and the more info on the release as we get into 2012. 16 BANDS in 16 HOURS (in order of time, beginning at 11am) Bram Riddlebarger, Saturn Missile Batteries, The Revulvas, Cop Hugger, Dune, Hookers Made Out of Cocaine, Moon High, Skumplast, Octopus and Owl, State Park, Nate Scheible/Alex, Dead Winds of Summer, Weedghost, Goodbye Goats, Casiotone Orchestra, Saclunch, Remainder

Sometimes the Bear Eats You: Episode Five

Hello again, internet! We’ve missed you so. In this very special fifth episode of Sometimes the Bear Eats You we focus our undivided attention toward our great state’s capital city. That’s right! It’s all Columbus all the time. No foolin’ this time. Your hosts Noah and Kris discuss jam bands, White Castle and semen. Noah interviews the talented Josh James of Joshua P. James and the Paper Planes fame. Also, we introduce a new segment as The Angry Ohioan joins us for the first time with a bit of political commentary. All this and plenty of great tunes exclusively from Columbus-based bands. Don’t forget to post comments listing your top three places to eat in Columbus. Now get to listening! Sometimes the Bear Eats You: Episode Five

Aquabear Live at ARTS/West: Moon High, Time & Temperature, Dead Winds of Summer

September 9, 2011

By Brian Koscho

Aquabear Live at ARTS/West: Moon High, Time & Temperature, Dead Winds of Summer

Aquabear Legion’s Live at ARTS/West series returns TONIGHT (Friday, September 9) with a great lineup featuring Moon High and Time & Temperature from Columbus, Ohio and an opening set from Athens’ own Andrew Lampela’s project Dead Winds of Summer. Moon High come back to Athens after the July release of their new record Six Suns (buy it here online, or come to the show!) and play in what we are honored to know is one of their favorite rooms. They have been playing around Ohio too including stops in Cincinnati and Cleveland, and gave us the fantastic “Autumn Leaves” for Aquabear Legion Volume 4. Time & Temperature is Val Glenn and she writes and performs some great songs. Her new album Cream of the Low Tide is available for a free download from her bandcamp! People With Animal Heads says Val “has been able to create singer/songwriter music for people who are sick to death of singer/songwriter music”. That sounds good to us. Athens’ own Aquabear Legionnaire Andrew Lampela will open the night up with a set from his solo project Dead Winds of Summer. Get there early cause he likes to play before people come. Music starts at 8:00pm...