Knoxville legacy group? Superband? What was a general reunion project for musicians that have played in Knoxville bands for more than 20 years might be hard to define; nor does it matter. The collective that now goes by Beare wants to use this moniker with their love of creation and performing as a vehicle to do many things: tribute shows, new unions and reunions, and a chance to showcase amazing songwriting talent throughout the band with this and other published (or soon to be) material.
Core members of the band go back to before the turn of the century growing up and playing music together in Kingsport, TN. Twin brothers Adam and Vincent Gray began performing with school mates Andrew Bryant and Michael (Mick) Hull before moving to Knoxville in 2000. John Montgomery (Jomo), from the same area, began sitting in with their band Limit Nine whenever he could, but also played in other great Knoxville bands like Left Foot Down. Limit Nine became a prominent rock establishment in Knoxville, playing with Stanton Edward, J.C. Haun, Stevie Jones, and many others. After disbandment, Jomo and Bryant created Garage Deluxe and had success in that project as well.
Since then and with many other different bands and records released, the group came together to record an EP at Mike Armstrong’s Vibe City in 2023, with the hopes of capturing a “powerful, vintage live feel” that the members have always had together, and was released January 1st, 2024.
The band went on to perform as the finale tribute band at Waynestock in Feb of 2024 with much acclaim, demonstrating the breadth and scope of their live and stylistic power and diversity. However, their original material has been left unperformed.
Beare’s first official show at Barley’s marks a special moment. They will be performing for The Swerve the night before, August 15th, and will be joined Friday night with J.C. and the Dirty Smokers opening the show. Both nights will feature live for the first time Beare’s Vibe City Sessions EP, new Beare music, as well as songwriting from the Gray/Hull collective Digital Phantoms with their new EP, War of Regrets (and, of course, an incredible curation of covers).
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