Jeff Beam

Bio
Jeff Beam is a guitarist, vocalist, and producer from Portland, Maine. He specializes in psychedelic music. Beam has released four solo albums and three EPs since 2007, and has recorded, mixed, and performed most of the instruments on his recordings. Beam's signature sound revolves around strong Beatle-esque melodies, a songwriting style inspired by Elliott Smith, and a kaleidoscopic and experimental focus in his home studio sound.

Beam broke into the Portland music scene with his debut album in 2007. He recorded Mind The Gap with producer/multi-instrumentalist Naythen Wilson. After the recording & release of his second LP, Living Room in 2008, Beam moved to Boston to complete a degree at Emerson College. Amidst his time there, he recorded and released 2009's Portraits of Poor Traits. Also in 2009, Beam teamed up with fellow Mainer/bassist Sam Peisner (the Slurpees, The Sauce) and Bostonian drummer extraordinaire Zander Kagle to form The Stereo Flys. The power trio cut their teeth by performing at overcrowded apartment parties in Allston, MA, before recording an album in early 2010. Tracked to analog tape in the basement of a retired whoopie pie factory (Studio Eight), The Stereo Flys released Hello Greetings From A Bunker on April 20, 2010. A grueling three-week tour ensued during the summer with The Goodnight Process. Upon the tour's completion, Beam abruptly moved to the remote island of Vinalhaven and abandoned Boston.

While on the island, Beam tracked his fourth solo album, Venus Flying Trapeze. Since there was a limited selection of instruments on the island, many of the album's songs feature household items as percussive instruments, and much of the album features acoustic guitar under various psychedelic studio trickery. Venus Flying Trapeze was released in November 2010 to glowing reviews around the country. In January 2011, Beam & his girlfriend moved to Brooklyn for a 6 month stay. Beam played relentlessly between February and May before heading back to Portland. In July, he released the EP The Maine Embassy, a selection of covers of Maine music. Some of the artists covered include Lady Lamb The Beekeeper and The Lucid.

In September 2011, Beam joined as the bassist of the band The Milkman's Union.

In April 2012, Beam released his 5th album, Be Your Own Mirror. The 9-song LP was met with almost unanimous rave reviews around the United States, as well as several positive international reviews. The exception was a bizarre write-up by Portland Phoenix writer Sam Pfeifle. Beam tracked the album over the course of 2011, starting with his stay in Brooklyn. He also recorded various segments while on tour with The Milkman's Union, which resulted in the album gathering sounds from random places like Syracuse, NY. Beam tracked cello in Ootsburg, WI while on a meditation retreat in December 2011. After a very successful CD release show with his band in Portland (featuring the live art projections of Gregory Kowalski), Beam embarked on the equally successful Be Your Own Mirror April 2012 solo tour.

Solo Releases

 * Mind The Gap (October 2007)
 * The Bird Flew EP (February 2008)
 * Living Room (October 2008)
 * Portraits of Poor Traits (October 2009)
 * Do They Know It's Boxing Day? EP (December 2009)
 * Venus Flying Trapeze (November 2010)
 * The Maine Embassy EP (July 2011)
 * Be Your Own Mirror (April 2011)

The Stereo Flys

 * Hello Greetings From A Bunker (April 2010)

Associated Bands

 * The Milkman's Union
 * The Stereo Flys
 * Specter
 * The Error
 * Will Gattis
 * Rocktopus
 * The Leftovers
 * Kurt Baker
 * The Slurpees
 * The Sauce
 * Naythen Wilson
 * Laminated Cat

Links

 * http://jeffbeammusic.com
 * http://jeffbeam.bandcamp.com
 * http://facebook.com/JeffBeamMusic
 * http://twitter.com/Jeff_Beam