Bethesda Live From the Roof of Bad Racket Recording Studio
Special Feature for OhioAuthority.com online magazine, featuring a behind the scenes live recording of the band Bethesda.
Directed/Filmed/Edited
Aaron Freeder
Forged from the fables of their childhoods and inspired by the moving world around them, Bethesda is a band from Cleveland that aims to lift your heart and move your feet with the music they make.
Founded in 2008, Bethesda has been a labor of love for its members who propel its engines with their passionate pursuit of a singular dream and a cause. After finding their footing and sound with the releases of their 2008 Self-Titled EP and their 2010 “Love in a Time of Tra La La” LP, Bethesda began to make its mark with the 2011 release of “Dreamtiger & Other Tails” that introduced them to the national scene with successful radio, licensing and press campaigns.
With a larger audience than ever before, Bethesda decided to take their brand of thoughtful indie-folk and high energy live shows to as many cities as they could muster. Their first national tour was highlighted by an appearance at Bonnaroo Music Festival 2012 where they were named one of “The Other Best Bands of Bonnaroo 2012” by Esquire Magazine.
With renewed confidence, Bethesda recorded and released “The Reunion,” their second full-length album, to critical acclaim in the Spring of 2013. Following this release their tracks found their way to regular rotation on over 200 radio stations nationwide, the “New and Noteworthy” list on iTunes, and licensed for major TV stations, including MTV and VH1. A successful release of a music video for the song “Go” on Baeblemusic followed where the video had an extended multi-week stay on the top 5 list.
Since the release, Bethesda has toured relentlessly with stops at SXSW, Bunbury Music Festival, CMJ Music Marathon, Burning River Fest, MidPoint Music Festival, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame highlighting the list. They have also shared the stage with notable acts, including Sharon Van Etten, Nouvelle Vague, First Aid Kit, Eisley, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s and many more.
After completing the year near the top of several “Best Albums of 2013” lists, Bethesda has harnessed the momentum of their 2013 release to get back into the studio, thus starting the next leg of their improbable journey. Combining their recent successes with their passionate drive and growing national presence, it is clear that the best is yet to come.
Sharon Van Etten, The Hush Sound, Nouvelle Vague, Eisley, The David Mayfield Parade, Azure Ray, Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s, Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Lonely Forest, First Aid Kit, David Dondero, River City Extension, Paper Route, Suckers, Frontier Ruckus, Tim Fite, Plants & Animals, Linfinity, Revolver, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Thomas Dybdahl, Among the Oak and Ash, Cameron McGill and What Army, and many more.
