SCRUFFY BEAR LIVE EP
Powerhouse rockers Scruffy Bear roll into the next chapter of their career by teasing their new recording set-up with a live EP, premiered to us from DIY venue ‘Pearlie’s Barn’, based in North Yorkshire. I caught up with drummer Ryan Hunt for a chat about their very special performance, so far kept restricted to close friends and family, but soon to be brought to the wider world.
Scruffy Bear are heavily influenced by 70s rock, with Led Zepplin clearly being one of their idols, easily heard in their riffs, groove and growling vocals. The EP features three original tracks, and one classic cover of a Hendrix tune. Georgy Eaton’s gritty and powerful vocals put a unique spin on the band’s sound and bring along a truckload of personality, but new member Jack Wild’s shredding guitar parts provide that authentic, overdriven blues rock tone which most fans of the era can only dream of recreating.
The intro track – 'Keep On Rolling' – is full of energy and angst, and sets a high precedent for the rest of the record to follow, in which Scruffy Bear bring all they can muster. Followed by a satisfying slap rhythm from bassist Sass Lafferty in 'Sundance'. Ending on a very different note, 'Water' is the final song on the EP and brings the tempo right down, but climaxes with the loudness you expect from Scruffy Bear, not sacrificing their dynamicity, but emphasising it with ambient build sections instead.
Hunt told me about their new venue, Pearlie’s Barn, and how the band have made it their mission to renovate an old, farmer’s barn in the scenic countryside of North Yorkshire. For some updates on the progress of this, and for photos of the performance, you can follow their Instagram: @scruffybearband. The Live EP releases on the 21st of October and is the best way to celebrate the return of live music.
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