Spirit of Bear is taking its own path
By John Benson
Whereas dozens of teenage bands are battling it out in the High School Rock Off taking place this month in Cleveland, local high school group Spirit of the Bear is taking its own path and thus shying away from conformity.
“We’ve been around since last summer,” said Boardman High School junior James Harker, 16.
The trio – Harker (guitar, vocals), Jamie Vitullo, 16 (drums) and Danny Svenson, 18 (keyboards/synth) – has been prolific to say the least. Soon after forming, the act wrote and recorded its debut effort “Forests,” which boasts a Radiohead-meets-The Black Keys sound.
Harker said songs such as the straightforward rocker “I Don’t Know Yet” and the dynamic “Towers” epitomize the nine-song album. As for a style that is a combination of the Thom Yorke-led alt rock act and the Akron blues duo, which on paper seems incongruous, the singer said it’s Spirit of the Bear’s use of the synth that caters to the Radiohead aesthetic while the basic instrumentation – guitar, bass and drums – takes the band into a Black Keys sound.
Up next for Spirit of the Bear is a CD release show at 7 tonight at Covenant Church, 5210 Glenwood Ave., Boardman, as well as a gig playing the Sweethearts Dance at Boardman High School on Jan. 31.