Golden Bear

Golden Bear characterizes its own output as "galactic-forest rock," a buoyant style propelled by lyrical undercurrents of optimism and anticipation. Midway through 2007 the Austin, TX outfit—still shifting personnel—featured frontman Chris Gregory on guitar and vocals alongside Matt Gardiner on keyboards, Andy McAllister on drums, Brent Pennington on bass, Jamie Reaves on guitar, and Kullen Fuchs on an array of instruments. Gregory first encountered Pennington, Reaves, and McAllister during a broadcast of his radio program at a time when the three played together in the Arthurs. Several years after the group’s 2003 formation, Golden Bear issued a self-titled debut album that featured guest contributions from Pink Nasty and from Jared Van Fleet of Voxtrot; the band promptly issued a follow-up, To the Farthest Star, in April 2007.