With his music, guitarist/singer Jeff Eagan from Bear Down Bear looks to share stories from his life, whether funny or insightful.
Recently, Jeff, who leads the band with his wife, Jessey, told more of those tales through the EP “des(s)ert.” The couple will perform music from their collection on Friday, Sept. 12, at Wooden Tooth Records. Also on the bill is Manor Born, an indie folk band featuring Jeff on bass.
Bear Down Bear and the Manor Born will also play at the Hotel McCoy on Saturday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 1, and at Whiskey del Bac on Friday, Nov. 21.
Bear Down Bear’s new music has six songs: “My Road Rage,” “With Ruined Tongues & Renewed Lungs,” “Emma, I Still Remember,” “Coma,” “War or Something Like It” and “Damn, It Feels Good.”
Jeff said the newest album has an “indie nostalgia rock” feel, with playful and heartfelt songs.
On track, “Coma,” one of the older tunes on the album, has a different sound than the others, he said.
“It’s about people who live in proximity to one another and think they would be in love with that person if they could just get up the courage to talk to them,” Jeff said.
“Then, a tragedy happens that keeps that from ever coming to fruition. I think it’s an interesting song. I don’t like singing it alone. So since (Jessey’s) singing again, I like it,” Jeff said.
The EP was recorded in their home’s hobby room and upstairs bathroom. Jeff used minimal equipment, including a podcast mic and his computer.
“I got a much better sound on my acoustic guitar in the bathroom with the mic rather than through an amp,” Jeff said.
Serving as singer and guitarist, Jessey said the song “Emma, I Still Remember” is an emotional ode to Jeff’s grandma.
“It often makes people laugh,” she said.
“By the time it’s toward the end, people have tears in their eyes. It’s really lovely, and sometimes it’s hard to sing because I also want to cry at the end.”
“It’s my memories of my grandma, so they’re captured forever,” Jeff added.
His humorous song “My Road Rage” is about his experiences of driving around Tucson.
“My goal is to make somebody laugh or have joy for even a moment, either with how dumb I am or how silly life is. We’re together in that feeling that life is absurd,” Jeff said.
Hailing from Illinois, Jeff and Jessey have lived in Tucson since October 2021. They lived in Colorado for about eight years before moving to Arizona. Their shared experiences include teaching in the Middle Eastern country of Jordan.
On social media, Jeff recently shared a new tune called “A Song for Gaza.”
Jeff said he doesn’t often get political, but he felt compelled to write the song.
“This song is a departure from normal,” Jeff said.
“I think Jessey’s also been moved and frustrated by how long things have gone on and how bad things are…. My brother-in-law has been in a lot of frustrating conversations with family. He’s been looping us in on all of those conversations as well… I know people come from all different sides when it comes to Middle East politics, but having spent a lot more time than most people have in the Middle East, I feel like I’ve got a perspective that’s worth listening to.”
Longtime musician
Jeff has been writing and recording music for nearly three decades, since he was in high school, when he fell in love with punk music.
He started on the bass and later learned guitar.
Jessey sang solos in church choir, starting around age 9. In high school, she was part of a competitive song choir.
Jessey took a few years of piano as a kid. In the last year and a half, she has been relearning it.
“I wanted to be able to sing and play at the same time. I knew it was going to be a lot of work, and it was, but it’s a lot easier now that I put all that practice in. I still try to keep up with the practice,” Jessey added.
Jessey and Jeff have been married for 22 years. Jessey has sung with Jeff on and off over the years.
They were in another band together called “Boulder, CO,” a name their created before moving there.
For a time, they performed under “Bob and Marie,” which reflects their middle names.
Jeff said that they complement each other musically.
“I write songs, and Jessey makes them sound better with harmonies,” Jeff said.
Jeff described his style as being similar stylistically to Pedro the Lion, The Format and AJJ.
He and Jessey have been playing out as Bear Down Bear since February.
Jeff said the name was inspired by the “Bear Down, Chicago Bears” song. He came up with it while they were still living in Colorado during the height of the pandemic.
“I thought it was like a funny name that you could say with different inflections, and it could mean different things,” he said.
“My sense of humor doesn’t turn off. It wasn’t a serious name. We moved here, and I still liked the name Bear Down Bear and hadn’t really done anything with it. I decided to just start recording and putting music out under that name, and the rest is a story continuing to be written.”
In concert, the duo plays songs from throughout its catalog. A few of the older tracks have been rewritten.
“We both grew up in church,” Jeff said.
“We were connected to that world up until 10 years ago. I still have some good songs that I wrote before that reference that religiousness. I’ve rearranged some words so it feels more authentic to who I am now.”
Jeff is the primary songwriter, but Jessey contributes ideas.
“Nowadays, when he writes new songs, he always wants me to listen to them first, and I try to be honest,” Jessey said.
“The newest song about Gaza, he wrote it, and I listened to his rough recording of it. He didn’t feel like the tune was quite right yet. I agreed with him… He went back and worked on the melody and figured that out. I try to be kind but honest.”
The two of them have passed on their love of music to their kids.
“We have a 13- and 14-year-old,” Jessey said.
“Our son, who’s 14, is a drummer, and our daughter plays ukulele and is going to start learning guitar.”
The two of them helped during the recording for “My Road Rage.”
“In the end of the road rage song, there are two cars honking back and forth at each other. My daughter honked one of the cars, and my son honked the other car. It was great,” Jeff said.
Bear Down Bear w/Manor Born and Jess Again
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12
WHERE: Wooden Tooth Records, 426 E. Seventh Street, Tucson
COST: $3 cover
INFO: woodentoothrecords.com
Bear Down Bear w/Manor Born
WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 and Nov. 1
WHERE: Hotel McCoy, 720 W. Silverlake Road, Tucson
COST: Free
INFO: instagram.com/beardownbear
Bear Down Bear w/Manor Born
WHEN: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21
WHERE: Whiskey del Bac, 2106 Forbes Boulevard, Tucson
COST: Free
INFO: instagram.com/beardownbear
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 4, 2025.