Artist description Minneapolis native, Eric Thiegs, blends a unique flavor of urban folk with the sultry soul attitude of wife, Rebecca, as an acoustic duo named Bug Candy. Coming off an hour long appearance on New Jersey public radio and a rash of CD-signing shows in 2002 in the mid-Atlantic region (Greenwich Village, NYC; Princeton, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Wilmington, DE), the couple have surpassed the era in their mid-20’s of the rock & roll band days of the Minneapolis nightclub scene and stepped into the realm of national, professional acoustic performers. Don’t misunderstand, Bug Candy still passionately dishes out live music, but the duo now creates an immediate and intimate connection with the audience while fostering their original and viby atmosphere. From self-composed folk influenced ballads to singer-songwriter favorites, the couple’s musical line-up oozes over the listener in golden waves of whole chords and honest vocals. Now living and playing on the east coast, the couple focuses their musical energy nationally as they travel the U.S. playing acoustic concerts. So bring your sense of humor and your appetite for story-telling as their unpredictable style, raw acoustic guitar, and stark lyrics will capture both your smile and imagination.

Music Style Urban Folk / Pop

Musical Influences Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Aretha Franklin, Buddy Holly, Tom Waits, Beatles, Ben Harper, Joni Mitchell, CSN, James Taylor, Talking Heads, Fountains of Wayne, Joe Cocker, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, John Lennon, Jethro Tull, Guess Who

Similar Artists David Grey, David Gray, Nick Drake, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Ben Folds Five, Bare Naked Ladies, Fleetwood Mac, Talking Heads, Weezer

Artist History BUG CANDY MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTs: --Bug Candy is now performing as an acoustic duo on the East Coast, particularily in the Philadelphia and Baltimore areas. The group realeased their 3rd album,"Shade of Creon" in mid-2001. We want everyone to have a copy (go to our web site, www.bugcandy.com) --Bug Candy appeared LIVE on-air on KQRS 92.5 FM on April 8th. See www.bugcandy.com for all the current news, latest gigs, super fans, etc. Some highlights: Bug Candy has performed over 100 live gigs in the U.S. The band also finished their 2nd year in a row for the 20 gig concert series for the Big Ten University, University of Minnesota, as the official band to play for the incoming freshmen class (3000+ college students). Other news: 1.......MP3 editorial in "Siren." Local free press, "Siren" contacted lead singer, Eric Thiegs, to write an editorial about the MP3 scene for a feature story. 2............TV appearances -- Bug Candy received two feature stories on "The Buzz" with Robyne Robinson - Twin Cities UPN affiliate, KMSP Channel 9. On air interviews with song highlights. Aired in March 2000 and then again in April 2001 with approx. 1+ million viewers. 3........Minneapolis weekly A&E newspaper, Pulse, ran a feature story on Bug Candy in their Oct. 13th, 1999 issue. See below under "Reviews" for the article. 4...........Bug Candy was named the July 1999 Artist of the month by The Indie Journal. 5...........To a crowd of 1000+ on Friday June 4 1999, at The Cabooze in Minneapolis, Bug Candy came in 2nd place out of 70+ bands in the annual Twin Cities Bar Search Battle of the Bands contest sponsored by Miller Lite, Zone 105FM, Noiseland and Oar Fin Records. 6..............Bug Candy charted on the national college radio chart, CMJ (College Music Journal), at #13 out of college station KMSC in Moorhead, MN. 7................Bug Candy played First Avenue's mainroom in Minneapolis, Minnesota as part of the Minnesota Music Movement Showcase. And finally, see www.bugcandy.com for all the latest news. The band is releasisng their third album in the Spring of 2001.........History: Bug Candy is Eric, Becky, Marc & Michael. Straight from the streets of Minneapolis, MN, Bug Candy banded together in order to stop the horrible monkey/robot war (album linear notes explains it all). Now that the conflict is almost over, the band offers the local music scene some upbeat, fun, and off-the-wall urban pop folk. It's about music. It's about fun. They can't take themselves seriously.............Originally -- Eric, Becky and Michael grew up on the East Coast, PA and NJ, but now call Minneapolis home. Marc, the daredevil-vegitarian-likes-lotion-drummer, is a true Minnesotan........Bug Candy recorded an underground folk ablum back in the summer of 1995 which sold over 500 copies via grassroots channels mostly on the University of Minnesota campus. It was simple and straight forward but many people were telling the band to play live and get the sound out there........The second album, Man Eating Bugs, was released in the Fall of 1998 and since then the pop group has ventured out and started playing the local circut extensively. "We didn't know what to expect but wow have we been surprised with the support." With regular/steady turn out at shows, Bug Candy has grown a 32 person mailing list to over 650 people. They have a local sponsor, Lightning Printing, who helps their local promotion. Shows to note: '99 Battle of the Band finalist at The Cabooze, playing with nationally signed singer/songwriter Susan Sandberg at the 400 Bar, breaking the all-time Wednesday night attendence record at The Fine Line when 249 beer drinking patrons rolled in with Bug Candy tickets, etc.......As for antics...Eric jumps around on stage, Becky shakes her money maker, Michael smiles like a shark, and Marc...well...his on-stage attitude is one of mystery and intrigue. Eric says, "We are really just out there having fun. Our music isn't complicated. Our music isn't serious. It's all about getting friends out for a few beers and laughs".............Venues played: 400 Bar, The Fine Line, The Cabooze, First Avenue mainroom, 7th St. Entry, O'Gara's, Lee's Liquor Lounge, The Gastof/Mario's Keller Bar, University of Minnesota Northrup Plaza, Red Sea, Red Carpet, The Uptown, Five Corners.............................Plus, for Bug Candy fans, the band has a monthly fan contest with crazy mystery prizes.

Group Members Eric [Guitar/Vocals] and Becky [Vocals]

Instruments Guitar, Bass, Drums, various percussion, i.e. a cow bell and friends

Albums 3 Albums: Bug Candy [1995], Man Eating Bugs [1999], Shade of Creon [2001]

Press Reviews Robyne Robinson, Channel 9, said in the tv review, "The name may be strange but the sound is sweet - Bug Candy is playing in front of packed houses here in the Twin Cities and they have a single climbing the alternative charts [MP3.com]!" The Oct '99 review from the Twin Cities A&E weekly,Pulse: Man Eating Bugs infest Minneapolis nightclubs by David Maeda -- If the local bar scene was a microcosm of the nation, the band Bug Candy would be the epitome of the American Dream. The group has existed for less than a year and already has received some impressive attention. In December of 1998 the group broke a Fine Line attendance record when they attracted over 230 fans into the bar for New Band Night. In June, the group finished second among over 70 bands in the 1999 Annual Bar Search Battle of the Bands contest sponsored by Zone 105, Oar Fin Records, and Miller Lite. Songwriter Eric Thiegs recently won the first place award in the national Fort Bends Songwriting contest for the song “Icar Leaty” which is included on the group’s latest CD, Man Eating Bugs. And to top it off, childhood sweethearts (and Bug Candy bandmates) Eric and Becky married in August. “We want to be bigger than the Beatles,” bass player Michael Carvale jokes. Carvale, whose melodic bass lines masterfully mix with drummer Marc Bohn’s polyrhythmic layered percussion, gives the group its solid backing sound, said the best thing about playing Eric’s songs live is that he gives the musicians room to improvise so that each and every show is unique. “[Eric] gives us the freedom to do whatever we want to do, which is really great and kind of unusual,” Carvale says. Becky says it is the blending of the foursome’s sound that has made Bug Candy so successful. “Eric and I have been together so long. Mike and Marc play together so well, it’s like they’re in the back doing their thing and we’re out front and yet we blend together,” she says. The group’s sound is difficult to define. Eric cites influences such as Cat Stevens and Bob Dylan in his own songwriting. Yet there is almost something Jonathan Richman-like in the humor so present in the lyrics. Starting with folk song roots, Bug Candy blends R&B, funk and pop to create a sound that is often described as “urban folk.” The group’s rather original name fits the group like a glove. Becky says it was her misfortune that led to the name. “My first summer in Minnesota I was being eaten alive by mosquitoes,” she says. “And one night we were sitting around and I said ‘I’m just like bug candy.’” She said the group selected the name because it can mean different things — sounding sweet in one context and somewhat morbid in another. Even the title of the group’s CD (Man Eating Bugs) conjures up contrasting images: Taken one way, one can picture a man with peculiar dietary habits, and taken another way one sees gigantic insects devouring the oppressors that once squashed them. Perhaps the most noticeable thing about the Bug Candy sound is that there is no “lead” guitarist to play the obligatory guitar solo that is so prevalent in rock music today. The band thus relies on Eric’s acoustic guitar and the solid backing sound of Carvale and Bohn — who are both charismatic improvisational players. For the past two years Carvale has played with Lamont Cranston when he isn’t busy with his Bug Candy duties and Bohn plays with the local blues group Pork Chop. Both backed Jonny Lang and Ted Larson this last year at the Whiskey Junction for the Twin Cities Blues Showcase. The group’s stage show is full of energy and it’s clear the fans enjoy the music. Perhaps the Bug Candy philosophy is best summed up by a new song called “Pocket Full of Love” which Eric says will be included on their next CD (due out in February). In the bridge of the song Becky turns to Eric and asks what is in his pocket. Eric then improvises lyrics to describe what he is actually carrying and what he thinks he has in his pockets that evening. “We want our music to be about having fun,” Eric says. “It’s raw and spontaneous.”Bug Candy plays its one-year anniversary show on Thursday, October 14 at the 400 Bar. 10 p.m................2) March 1999 Review by James Freud in Twin CitiesRevue [Mpls, MN]: "How fortunate it is for a youngband to garner a strong college following. Those kids will stay out 'til bar time on a Tuesday, buy your CDs, tell their friends to book you for their parties. Bug Candy has that kind of support. They can pack a club on a Wednesday, attract corporate sponsorship for their mailings and sell 500 records without help from a label." .............................3) March 1999 Review by Jim Vallet in Toast Magazine: "People like Eric shouldn't be allowed to write shit this awful....Bottom line? Thiegs sucks big donkey dick." .....................4) National Award from Fort Bends Songwriters Association National Song Competition: USA first place winners - Rock/Pop category for "Icar Leaty" off second album, Man Eating Bugs........................5)Selected as the July 1999 Artist of the Month in The Indie Journal. Intro to feature interview by Editor: "Bug Candy is a relatively new band on the scene in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, but they've made quite a name for themselvesin the few short months since they started playing out. Pioneering a new type of music called, "urban folk," Bug Candy is gaining a large local following."

Additional Info Radio Play: Cities 97FM, KQRS 92.5 FM, KFAI 90.3FM, and College Radio at: Radio K 770AM (Mpls, MN), WRDP (Chicago, IL), WMUR (Milwaukee, WI), KGRK (Cedar Falls, IA), KJNB (Collegeville, MN), and 20 other Midwest College Radio Stations.....Sign up for the band's e-mail newsletter at their web site www.bugcandy.com

Location Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Baltimore, PA, MN, MD - USA

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