'Lost' boys

Head-tripping with Bear Foot Republic

by Joe Longone

A cassette single ("Out" b/w "Lost") and an appearance on the local compilation Union Station (also "Out") made me a fan of Bear Foot Republic's music, but it wasn't until a media event at the Tammany Club this spring that I caught up with the group.

Paul Dagnello (guitar/vocals), Frank Inangelo (drums), and Mark Rice (bass) are friendly and unassuming. A recent conversation with them at the Boynton made me realize just how young these musicians actually are. Their fresh attitude and honest enthusiasm won me over.

They're only in their early 20s (Rice is the oldest at 23), so naturally the guys' conversation still touches upon their high-school days. Dagnello and Inangelo met about five years ago while they were students at St. Peter-Marian. "I was jamming, playing drums, with a kid who played bass," Inangelo explains. "I knew Paul, and I knew he played guitar, so I asked him to join us."

Rice adds, "I was going to Burncoat at that time, but got to know Paul and Frank through some friends. The three of us actually jammed together years ago. When Bear Foot Republic needed a new bass player, I was there."

The years of practice and involvement in a number of faceless school bands made them ready to attack the clubs. The fact that one of Dagnello's and Inangelo's longtime St. Peter-Marian pals, Duncan Arsenault, had already established a name for himself with the Curtain Society didn't hurt the group's start. When Arsenault became Bear Foot Republic's manager, the trio started appearing everywhere.

Their sound is perfect for head-tripping, but maybe not for everyone. "We haven't gone over too well where people like to slam dance. I believe you don't have to beat up the person next to you to show your appreciation for the music," Dagnello says.

"We need more people who want to see a live band for its music. It's hard for a live band when most people want to go out and pay to hear a recording of the Spice Girls."

Their previously released efforts were brilliant. "Out" is a confident, hypnotic trance that muscles you with its sonic power and dramatic flair. "Lost," which came out soon after, is magnificent. Dagnello's great performance lingers between detachment and pain. The song's accompaniment is big, bad, and unrelenting in its conviction.

Dagnello is amazed by the way some of his songs are realized by the group. "You have this song in your head, and you bring it others who've never heard it. We start working on it, and finally everything meets together -- it's a great feeling," he says.

The group have a new tape out with five originals. Both "Out" and "Lost" make an appearance, but they have been re-recorded and sound as good as past versions. The others are good recordings but are missing the strength and individuality of "Out" and "Lost." The three rely too heavily on the Cobain formula of whisper-and-scream dynamics.

Recording quality, however, is topnotch (Curtain Society's Roger Lavallee produced at Tremelo Lounge). "For four days we basically locked ourselves in and just did it," says Inangelo.

The tape will be available at all Bear Foot Republic shows. The band plan to release a CD, but they're in no hurry. "We're slowly putting out more material as our fan base grows. It would be foolish for us to release a CD before we have an audience willing to buy it," says Dagnello.

Catch Bear Foot Republic next when they appear on September 20 at the Space with Say Hi to Lisa and Runaway Brain.

More Marley

It's great to see all-ages showcases succeeding in bringing in large crowds every week. Marley's, open for just several months, is already looking to expand its schedule. Starting on September 6, the Grafton non-alcoholic club will be open on Saturday nights.