Learn more about Joe Burcaw
For bassist Joseph “Bearclaw” Burcaw, sharing the stage with Irish rockers Black 47 is like a fairy tale dream come true. “I used to go see the guys perform as a fan when I was in college”. “Now, I still need to pinch myself that I am an official member of one of my favourite bands.” “I am blessed to be surrounded by 5 of the most talented musicians in the industry”.
Bearclaw, a twisted version of his surname given by bandmates for his muscular lock down lines and feel was drawn to the ominous sounds of the bass from an early age. His influences run the gamit, ranging from 80?s pioneers John Taylor, Sting and Muzz Skillings, to prog funk players Geddy Lee and Bernard Edwards. In 2001 Burcaw moved to New York after a 6 month stay in London touring and performing with his former band Azurtech. This group was being promoted by John Taylor of Duran Duran fame. Taylor would take Burcaw’s group under his wing, helping promote and sell their music thru his own personal website at the time, www.trusttheprocess.com.
It opened them up to a huge spectrum of Duran Duran fans world wide, garnering gigs in the northeast and in Europe. Unfortunately the group was short lived and broke up while residing in London.
Not being one to dwell on the past, Burcaw made the decision of moving to Brooklyn New York, continuing his pursuit of making it as a professional musician. “I gave myself a 5 year plan of action to abide by”. “If nothing musical happened for me by the time the 5 year mark came up, I would have to seriously reevaluate what I was doing with my life, and go to plan B”. Burcaw would take the next five years breaking into the downtown scene networking and playing with anyone and everyone who was available. “There were times I would stay out until 3 in the morning watching bands perform at The Bitter End, Bottom Line and CBGB’s just to name a few”. “I would approach band leaders and singers, handing them my business card stating that they need to have me in their band if they were to reach any amount of success”. “This was a very audacious thing to say in hindsight, but most people were willing to give me a shot, I suppose the over confidence was a good selling point for me”.
During the late summer of 2006 Burcaw answered an ad in the classifieds for an established professional touring band who was looking for a bass player. Having forgotten about the advert, a week later he received a message on his voicemail that would change his musical life forever.
“Hammy (Thomas Hamlin) called me using a pseudonym to disguise himself and the band’s identity, which was pretty clever actually”.”He was interested in hearing my playing, so I put together a decent press-kit and sent it out for him to take a listen to”. It would be a few weeks before Burcaw would hear back from Hammy, and when he would discover that the band was actually Black 47. “My mouth dropped when Ham told me who he was, and for which band he played with”. “I knew from that point on my mission was to win these guys over”.”We made arrangements for me to come down and audition in late October, and the rest is history, eight years later I am holding down the bass position for the best live band to ever step into the limelight”.
Burcaw has performed or recorded with Black 47, Larry Kirwan, Al Maddy (Joey Ramone), Jan Xavier (Richard Hell and the Voidoids), Joe Hurley, Moya Brennan (Clannad), The Orphans, Christine Ohlman, Sheryl Bailey, Ron McClure, Pete Levin, Larry Bader, The Bureau/GI Blythe Group (Geoff Blythe, Archie Brown), Jim Paterson (Dexy’s Midnite Runners, Elvis Costello), Genji Siraisi (Groove Collective), Chris Almeida (Usher, New Edition, Anita Baker), Yutaka Uchida, Jordon Rothstein (Mascot’s Distance), Erene Mastrengeli, Jon Gordon (Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennet), Sean Wayland (Madeleine Peyroux, Wayne Krantz), The Spin Doctors, The Smithereens, The Neville Brothers, Black Crowes, Train, The Roots, The Dropkick Murphy’s, Young Dubliners, Flogging Molly and many more….
Joe Burcaw has toured extensively around the world and has been featured on live television/radio for:?The Tonight Show w/Jimmy Fallon?VH1’s Morning Buzz w/Nick Lachey?Fox News live New York?Fox News live Boston?Fearless Music on Fox 5?PBS Channel 13 Sounds of Ireland?WNYC Soundcheck?WRXP New York with Matt Pinfield?WFNX Boston morning show?Sirius Radio with Jim Brewer Crew
Joe Burcaw has been featured in these magazines/articles:?• Bass Player Magazine?• Bass Guitar Magazine?• Rolling Stone Magazine?• The Irish Echo?• Irish Voice?• New York Post?• New York Daily News
Joe Burcaw has taught bass guitar for:?School of Rock (Boston)?The New York Pops?The Bass Collective Master Class Clinic (Manhattan)?New Milford Music Center (New Milford Ct.)?Privately
Joe Burcaw has degrees from:
• BA/Minor Salve Regina University (Newport RI) ?• Minor Music Performance, BA American Studies of Music?• Diploma SAE Institute (Manhattan)