Beginning as “Sh! The Octopus,” a solo project of singer/guitarist Randy Bishop in Detroit, Michigan, USA in July of 2003. Bishop recruited guitarist and former band mate Andy Stachowiak in late 2005. Drummer Joel Pearson and bassist Chris Sesta joined the project in the spring/summer of 2006. Vocalist/Keyboardist Marina Trejo joined July 2009.
The Bell Beat’s debut The Carrot Chase was released (while the band was named “Sh! The Octopus”) in July of 2007.
Bio – The Carrot Chase (PDF)
Cover – The Carrot Chase
Promo Photo – Carrot Promo (by Anne Ruthmann)
“After several listens and a couple weeks deliberation, I laboured to the decision that this album is… Brilliant… [The Bell Beat] pretty much incorporate all the successful dimensions of American pop.”
- Duncky (Faces in the Sand) (Full Review)
“[The Bell Beat] shows that Detroit still has some great music coming from its weary streets. At the same time, [The Bell Beat] has appeal beyond Detroit, and they mix elements that are popular in modern indie rock. I have a feeling we might see more of this band…”
- Kevin Eagan (Blogcritics.org) (Full Review)
“Something you might expect to hear from a bunch of angry kids in a farmhouse garage outside Kansas City. Like punk, but with cows and pitchforks instead of studded leather jackets and mohawks… [All the tracks are] so good, f**k the FCC. Play it anyway… ‘Last Great Massacre’ is easily one of the most honest, forthright tracks I’ve heard in the past year.”
- Zach Musgrave (WSBF) (Article about Last Great Massacre)
“Poppy and a bit more polished than their initial output…”
- Keith N. Dusenberry (Real Detroit Weekly)
“The kind of thing that could be a good backdrop for bar-brawling fun… Dashes of harmonica, twittering keyboards, female backing vocals and a well-defined rhythm section… On the mic, (Randy) Bishop is a pop philosopher, a jaded rock warrior… as he describes the bar band’s struggle for something more.”
- Natalie B. David (Detour) (Full Review)
“‘Flaking Friends[...]‘ A charming bit of acoustic-flavored pop… ‘If You Please[...]‘ Sparse and wonderfully Spoon-esque.”
- Matt Whelihan (Punknews.org)
“It would be very hard for [The Bell Beat] to live up to such a great name, but they do an admirable job on their debut album, The Carrot Chase. The Detroit band [has] some good lyrics and can unquestionably play…”
- Michael Edwards (Exclaim!)
“The 5-piece outfit from Michigan known as [The Bell Beat] have done a fine job of recording, mixing, producing and releasing their debut full-length The Carrot Chase…”
- Matt the Raven (Delusions of Adequacy)
“Sprawling psych-pop-folk collective polishes the jangle ‘n’ bash with hooks and harmonies to soothe the savage bohemian.”
- Metro Times
“Fairly poppy, frequently veering toward a stripped down ensemble sound… They squeeze a nice spectrum of little parts and sound/style spectrums out of four members.”
- Keith N. Dusenberry (Real Detroit Weekly)
“Folksy outfit aiming to make big waves… Elements of folk rock are backed by a more rocking rhythm section with spare but upbeat drumming. Bob Dylan goes indie maybe? Good stuff!”
- Lager House Detroit
“Kind of Steven Malkmus-y.”
- Jasper (Web Vomit / Eat This City)
“Eclectic popsters.”
- Jeff Milo (Real Detroit Weekly / Deep Cutz) (Full Article)
“Sea and Cake-like blend of spare melodies and bright percussion with folky undertones.”
- Jordan Miller (Ann Arbor News)
“There’s the budding young, hip folk scene and there’s the edgy, emotional indie rock scene… [The Bell Beat] is able to blend these two sounds with ease to create refreshing music that stands in its own box.”
- Lauren Gant (The Big Green) (Full Article)
“Folky pop and oil paint ambition.”
- Metro Times
“I will tell you that the guy who fronts the band can sing. He can also play guitar, and write a pretty good song. Those three things are important, and I’d guess they’re a pretty good foundation too.”
- JRC (Eat This City)
“Part folk rock, part psychedelic rock, this group put on a feel good session this weekend.”
- Bill Ketelhut (WXOU / MCB)
“Saturday was off the hook [... The Mighty Narwhale] were shapapjiewjo;fawf;j*., [The Bell Beat] were shapapjiewjo;fawf;j*., the bloody marys at the Blackstone were TOTALLY shapapjiewjo;fawf;j*…..the whole thing was as shapapjiewjo;fawf;j*. as you could want.”
- Scott McClintock (Member of Great Lakes Myth Society)
* We’re assuming this word has positive connotations
