Interview with Shake That Bear!!!

Here are the members of the band:

	Brandon Zemel- Lead Vocals Sean Mulligan- Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals Chris Vuoncino- Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals Jim Sabino- Bass Frank Massanova- Drums

Below are the group responses to my questions:

1. What inspired you guys to play music?

Our love for it. We all have our individual points in life where we decided “this is what I want to do with my life” ,but we all have a serious passion for music that can never be replaced.

2. How has music changed your life?

The great part about music is that there is something for everyone, literally. There is hundreds probably thousands, of different genres and subgenres. Each bringing something different to the listener. Music for me personally (Brandon) gives me a way to vent. I listen to music if I am happy, pissed, or depressed. I write to vent feelings that I have and I need to express. Writing a song is the only way I know how to do it. For me at least, it is not so much that music changed my life, but more that it saved it.

3. What bands do you guys listen to and how have they shaped your music?

We actually all have very different favorite bands and genres. I am all about the post-hardcore (A Day To Remember, Asking Alexandria, We Came As Romans, Woe Is Me, etc.) and a lot of pop punk like Mayday Parade and Go Radio.  Jim listens to a lot of that kind of stuff as well, bands like Memphis May Fire and ADTR. Chris listens to many older stuff that does not fall into our genre at all, his favorite band being Brand New. He also listens to bands like Thursday, Thrice, and then some classics like the Beatles. Sean does the post-hardcore thing as well but also likes bands like Foo Fighters and such. Frank actually does not really like much heavy music, he tends to go towards bands like Blink 182. Our wide range of influences helps us craft music that is more than cookie-cutter post-hardcore. We don't try to sound like anyone, we just play music we like.

4. What advice do you guys have for others that want to pursue in music as their career?

Work hard. It is a very very difficult career path to pursue because there are millions of people out there that want the same thing you do. There is a ton of competition.  Unlike other types of jobs, to succeed in music it is not about stepping on people to get higher up the ladder, it is about networking and making friends everywhere you go. Every single person who hears your band's name and music is one more person you have on your side when it comes time to talking to a prospective manager, label, and booking agent. You gotta have the work ethic and be in it for the right reasons. If you are in it for money, just stop now because there is not much to be made. If you are in it for the love of music, touring, and meeting new people, affecting people's lives with what you create, then that is the mindset you have to have.

5.Where did you guys get the idea for the name of your band?

There is a redneck amateur porno online in which a couple goes hunting and kills a bear. They proceed to have sex on the bear, and the guy keeps saying “Yeah, shake that bear! Shake that bear!” Originally the name was suggested as a joke, but after not being able to come up with anything better. It was decided that we would use Shake That Bear as our name.

6.What do you guys want your fans to know about you that they might not know already?

I think the better question is, what do our fans WANT to know about us? We are always down to talk to people at shows and online and answer any questions you got.

7.What are you guys thinking when you are on stage?

Brandon-“Why did we just skip that verse? SEAN!!!”

Jim-“Who should I awkwardly look at next?”

Chris-“I'm a great golden god!”

Frank-“Why did I join this band?” OR “Fuck you, Jim.” (haha)

Sean-Sean has no thoughts or emotions so this question does not apply to him.

What an interesting band and the name that came out of it is quite a comical tale. Want to know where they got their name from? Well then check out this interview because you will find the answer and go like the bands page because their music is sick!!!