Cowboy Indian Bear started off like most bands; in search of a name.

When members CJ Calhoun, Beau Bruns and Marty Hillard came together they couldn’t decide on a band name so they traded a buddy a six pack of beer for the one they settled on. For the Lawrence, Kansas-based trio, the name was essential. With featherweight melodies, ghost-like echoes and whirring rhythms they create an ethereal celebration that is tempered with a tinge of classic rock/pop. Reflective of the free association ethos of the music, Cowboy Indian Bear stands as the perfect name for its sprawling, ambitious sound.

The trio began working on material in April 2008. Building from demos that CJ and Beau compiled on the side of their previous project, the group quickly found themselves moving in a unique direction. With each member drawing from a variety of influences the resulting sound is, at once, a singular statement with timeless appeal. In February 2009 they released a self-titled, three-song EP to critical acclaim and a strong grassroots response from all over the Midwest.

Their refreshing take has allowed them to open for such esteemed artists as Peter Bjorn and John, The Appleseed Cast, Murder by Death, and The Republic Tigers. After signing to Kansas City label The Record Machine in early 2010, the band released a 7-inch split with It’s True!, a quintet from Omaha, NE. Eagerly awaiting the release of their full-length debut album “Each Other All The Time”, Cowboy Indian Bear is confident that a six pack was a small price to pay. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.