BAND STORY

The Mad Scientist who cooked up the idea of the band BiPolar Bear.

Full Band after Eden's Show, Kevin Cavanaugh who did sound is in the middle.

First piece of Bi Polar Bear Art Courtesy of Alik Tuliau - trying to make two dorks look good!

THE BAND STORY (PART I):

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Jimmy Cavanaugh wanted to be a rock star. He dreamed of opening for Iron Maiden, and sharing stories about the road with Aerosmith on the corporate jet. Problem was, his life got in the way. He was busy working and raising a family.

When he turned 42 years old he told his beautiful wife, Jen, "I want to be a Dentist, no that was Hermey the Christmas elf, (christmas-specials.fandom.com/wiki/Hermey.)

"No, he told her, "I want to rock."

Jimmy bought a guitar and humbly began lessons. At some point, he learned his friend Rob had a bass and a gift card for ten lessons from his wife at a sound education , and in fact wanted to take bass lessons, but could never find the time. Jimmy begged Rob, "Come on, we can practice together, we can be in a band."

"No Jimmy, I would only take lessons if I had time to practice." Even though he denied it, Rob secretly took 6 months of lessons. In july of 2015, Jimmy, Rob and a bluetooth speaker (and Rob Blair plugging his ears) became the first version of BiPolar Bear.

Poor Rob Blair had to listen to the two of those idiots make mistakes and struggle to play simple tunes for several years. Finally, Jimmy says, "We are a little better, let me call my buddy, Rolly Tolly, who if he is not popping wheelies thru a toll booth could probably sit in and play drums with us, it would be good to try it."

The brilliant Ron Townsend came in and slapped at the kit Rob and Jimmy had purchased and made magic. Rob's mouth dropped, "Holy Shi*, it is amazing to play with a guy like that. His back has to be killing him from carrying me, the bass player!"

Ron graciously accepted the invitation to join the Bear, and immediately called up his good buddy, and talented singer, Sir Richie LaFaire. "Hey I am helping a buddy of mine live out his dream of playing music, you want to come out and sing with us?" Rich came out.

Meanwhile, Jimmy was chatting with a kid at the gym, who had the same deep love of music. "You play guitar?" Jimmy said to the handsome Dave. Quietly, Dave answered, "Yes."

The band goes from 2 guys and a speaker to a quintet. They rehearse, work on a set list and get the ba##s to put on a show in Jimmy's back yard in August of 2019. 60 good friends and family came out to see that initial offering.

Shortly after, Rich leaves to focus on his DJ business and Rob texts his friend Johnny Guido, a fraternity brother. "Hey Johnny, your sister still sing and do you think she might want to sing with us?" Lisa comes to a practice and after she belts out her first few notes, Ronnie smiles like a cat about to eat a canary (or a dozen chalupas).

At the same time, Jimmy is talking to a keyboard player through band mix, and Planet Ellen comes to a practice and is invited in.

For those of you keeping score, the band is now 6 pieces and begins rehearsal to play Edens lanes in March of 2020. BOOM!! Pandemic hits and no shows! But the band, after a bit of time to adjust figures out how to practice. They continue to work on the set list and work. One day, Richie comes back to practice and sings with the band, and walah, he is back. HOLY CRAP, now there are 7 people in the band.

Jimmy and Dave on guitars, Richie and Lisa on vocals, Ellen on keys and backing vocals, Rolly Tolly on drums and backing vocals put up with Rob on bass, and Bipolar Bear Mach 2 is born. The band started as a concept from 2 guys and a speaker in July of 2015 to a 5 piece in 2019, to a 7 piece playing shows in 2021.

Since that time, they have played 6 shows as a 7 piece band. The first was in Cavanaugh's back yard in May of 2021, 18 months after the first backyard concert in 2019.

The story continued with shows at Cuzin's, Pub 78 and Davern's in 2021.

Thursdays are for rehearsal, and the band targets a show once a month. Winter and the pandemic have gotten in the way a bit, but you know, you really can't stop a Polar Bear if you wanted to stop it!!!

At the end of February of 2022, Dave "Evad" Gonzalez left the band because he moved out of state. Aldo Kleine, who Jimmy contacted through the band mix application stepped in as a Lead and additional rhythm guitarist.

Aldo Kleine left in November of 2022 to pursue other projects. The great Joe "Baron Von Tappin'" Smith was named his replacement.

During Labor day of 2023, the Mach I line up of BiPolar Bear went their separate ways.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!