Though brothers named Bear and Bo from rural Possum Kingdom, South Carolina, sound like characters drawn from a quirky Southern tale, their accomplished modern rock band, NEEDTOBREATHE, is no joke. The Rineharts, joined by Seth Bolt and Joe Stillwell, have recorded in the U.K. with British producer Andy Green (Keane, KT Tunstall); toured nationally supporting Train, Jars of Clay, Edwin McCain, and Collective Soul; and will have a song from their recent release, The Outsiders, featured on NBC’s new fall drama Mercy. Last July, USA Today highlighted the Atlantic Recording artists’ “Something Beautiful,” including the song in their weekly top 10 playlist and calling it a piece with “folky verses and choruses that soar,” adding that the “South Carolina band looks for a transcendent moment and comes close.” “Our music is supposed to reflect who we are,” says Bear. “From what we’ve seen, people respond to you caring about something, singing passionately about whatever it is you’re passionate about.” So the Rineharts lay out the intimate details of their lives in vibrant, poetic hues—and that’s no story. Follow the band online at www.needtobreathe.net and www.myspace.com/needtobreathe, then catch them at the Music Farm on September 26.
