Uncountable bands are formed in Miami, most of them disband and create others in no time, but no one really grasps the true essence of amiable music like Bear Hugs does.Sergio DeLaGuera, (singer, song writer, people-go-getter) has been getting people together for a few years now, to promote the good sides of folk/punk music. We got the chance to interview this example of a boy, and this is what he told us:
When did you start composing?
I started playing music in 6th grade (about 10 years ago) playing the trumpet, and later euphonium in my middle school band. That's where I learned most of my music theory from, but I didn't start playing guitar until about 11th grade in high school. I'm still not a great guitarist, but I know the basics so y'know! To think of it, I'm not terribly great at any part of songwriting and performing. I'm just middling, but people don't seem to mind too much. I started writing my own songs pretty much the same time I started learning guitar. I've never liked learning other people's songs unless they mean a whole lot to me.
What are your main influences?
I guess the closest comparisons that people give are The Mountain Goats, Neutral Milk Hotel, and various folk-punk acts like Ghost Mice, Rosa, or Defiance, Ohio. My equipment is kinda limited, so my voice and my acoustic are usually what I stick to. I try and take in influences from everything I hear, like pop-punk and black metal, ska, and songs with vocal harmonies. I can't sing worth a penny, but c'mon, who doesn't love the Beach Boys? Or T-Pain's totally amazing three-part harmonies? No shame, no care. All of it's great.
What are your thoughts on the Miami-folk scene?
Everything besides bro-core and the downtown club scene is almost non-existant, but there are a few good folk acts playing around. A Really Bad Idea, Shotty Kill, and The Humdrums are all really great and nice people, who play awesome songs free from all the desires that plague most local bands. It's a real shame that there aren't more people in this city interested in them, because they're pretty much the best artists around.
You organize small concerts and even give other bands the opportunity to shine and be heard. What drives you to do this?
Well, there was this band Reflexes, who was a big inspiration for me. "Reflexes" was really one kid, Danny Herrero, who played the most beautiful and motivating songs, on top of being the nicest guy ever. He started this "Naked Lady Park" thing, where every month a few acoustic acts would get together and play a free show at Dante P. Fascell park in Kendall. It was always a lot of fun, and gave me high hopes for this city. So I'm really just carrying on his efforts. I put on free shows once in a while for local and touring bands, more for having a good time than making any money. Out of necessity as well, since nobody else will really book any of these acts. It's a real shame, but what can you do but do it yourself? I'm just hoping that more people will attend and catch on. Local bands don't need overbaked breakdowns or ridiculous Myspace layouts to be good.
What are Bear Hugs' plans for the future?
I just released a home-recorded EP at http://bearhugs.bandcamp.com , and you can download it and my old EP for free. As for the future, I've been playing with a friend of mine on drums, and hopefully we can work up something for a new CD. I'm always looking for people to play with, so feel free to get in touch with me (http://myspace.com/bearhugsfl) and check it all out! I also am playing in a black metal band with one of my best friends and I'll be doing that too. So, it'll be busy, but I'll try to book some shows and everyone reading this should come to them! I promise they'll be cheap and fun.
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