Grizzly Bear—Can Somebody Please Find Ed Droste Some Decent Pho?!
Grizzly Bear [left to right]: Christopher Bear, Ed Droste, Daniel Rossen, Chris Taylor
Back in January of 2004, we found a promo CD dropped in our mailbox. There was no postage, just a CD crudely wrapped in thick paper with a note attached from Kanine Records. Their studios were just around the corner on Powers Street, just a few blocks from FREEwilliamsburg. The CD had some nondescript scribbling on the front and was called Horn of Plenty—an exceptionally low-key, moody record with haunting vocals drenched in reverb. It was recorded by some locals who called themselves Grizzly Bear. Horn of Plenty became our soundtrack for the winter.
Soon after receiving the CD, we saw the band play Glass House Gallery. They killed.
Of course, Grizzly Bear became indie A-listers in 2006 with their masterpiece Yellow House, which was on everybody's shortlist for record of the year. Their latest, Veckatimest (their website explains that it's "a small, uninhabited island off the coast of Massachusetts") will be released on May 26. It's among the most anticipated records of the year.
Ed Droste (guitar, vocals) wrote us a few weeks ago, inquiring about the lack of Pho in the neighborhood. He'd heard rumors of a new Vietnamese restaurant opening on the Southside, that we haven't been able to substantiate. (Anyone?) Ed was kind enough to answer a few questions about Brooklyn and Grizzly Bear's upcoming record.
1. How long have you lived in Williamsburg?
If you include Greenpoint (some people do and some people don't) I've lived in the area since 2003. If you don't count Greenpoint, since 2006.
2. Where do you eat & drink? Any favorite local haunts?
Chris Bear's girlfriend works at Marlow and Sons and everyone that works there is so friendly and the food is insanely amazing so I ultimately always end up there. Other than that I've been cooking a lot at home. I would like to publicly say I would KILL for a good Vietnamese Pho joint in the hood, so please somebody open one!!!
3. Is the rest of the band out here?
They are. Chris Bear lives off the Graham stop, myself off Lorimer. Chris Taylor off of Bedford and Dan in Greenpoint.
4. Culturally speaking, what's your take on New York these days?
I love living in New York. It's the one place I've lived where I alway can count on seeing people from around the world and most of my friends visit the city at least once a year. My family (in Boston) can visit easily and I'm just generally at home here. No matter what year it is, there will always be people complaining about how "it used to be" but I've enjoyed living here all 10 years for better and worse.
5. Animal Collective, Wolf Parade, Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, Bret's T-Shirts on Flight of the Conchords.... What's going on with all the animal references?
In retrospect I wish I could just name our band "Omelette" or something random. Are food names played out? I didn't even know Animal Collective when I named the band. And there was no Wolf Parade or Fleet Foxes, at least to my knowledge. The name was based on a joking nickname to an ex, so I though it was funny/appropriate at the time. Oh how cliche it ended up being. Such is life. Gotta own it I suppose!
6. We're really looking forward to the new record. What's your 25 word review of it?
Oh man! You can't ask an artist to review their own work. That's practically begging for some anonymous commenter to come get aggro. I'll say it's different sounding and more dynamic and I'm proud of it. :)
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Posted by: Rolex Daytona watches | January 14, 2010 09:30 PM
look up chris bear hes cute
Posted by: emogirl | December 14, 2009 04:07 PM
i luv chris bear
Posted by: emogirl | December 14, 2009 03:59 PM
We don't deliver yet however we do to go so you can pick it up. We are open all day on mondays.Bep at simple cafe 346 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 218-7067
Posted by: An Nguyen Xuan | February 25, 2009 07:07 PM
We don't deliver yet but you can order and pick it up. We serve all day on Monday. 346 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 218-7067
Posted by: An Nguyen Xuan | February 25, 2009 06:30 PM
Here's an article on BEP. Looks great.
Posted by: FREEwilliamsburg | February 25, 2009 04:36 PM
iS BEP only doing food on Mondays? Do they deliver?
INFORMATION PLEASE
waht is simple cafe?
Posted by: BEP?? | February 25, 2009 03:47 PM
My name is An and I am the cook at BEP every mondays Corner 346 Bedford Ave and South 3rd. Hope to Ed and the rest of the band there on monday. We might extend more days in the future.
Posted by: An Nguyen Xuan | February 25, 2009 03:41 PM
there's a new pop up restaurant called BEP @ simple cafe on bedford and south 3rd. they have PHO and the best fried spring rolls stuffed with pork and shrimp.
Posted by: tub | February 25, 2009 03:17 PM
I will go to Rhyannon's pho house as well. Get on it Rhyannon. I think he's pretty much saying he'll come all the time. I would love some pho in the hood.
Posted by: me2 | February 25, 2009 11:46 AM
i will go to Rhyannon's pho house if that happens. alot.
Posted by: stuffnthings | February 25, 2009 11:28 AM
i'll open a PHO joint if GrizzlefoBizzle promise to be the houseband on the regular!
Posted by: Rhyannon | February 25, 2009 11:25 AM