Limbeck, a band with self-proclaimed "bear obsession," plays Turner Hall Ballroom, 1032 N. 4th St., with John Ralston, Juniper Tar and the Candliers Friday at 7 p.m.

The band released its third, self-titled record in April 2007.,”Lions and tigers and bears and a Doghouse, oh my!

Limbeck, a band with a self-proclaimed "bear obsession," plays Turner Hall Ballroom, 1032 N. 4th St., with John Ralston, Juniper Tar and the Candliers Friday at 7 p.m.

The band released its third, self-titled record in April 2007. Listeners can detect a broad range of musical influences. Big Drag sounds like an early rock and roll hit that could have easily come from the Beach Boys, but final track "Sunset Limited" showcases its country roots.

"We started as punk rock only, but we've grown to like a lot of different things," said Patrick Carrie, guitarist and vocalist. "We've come full circle and learned to appreciate the music we grew up with, and that let us branch out. We end up with a confusing batch of songs, but we like it."

Limbeck has been releasing its "confusing batch of songs" on Doghouse Records, a label that promises "the finest indie rock, punk and hardcore records," since 2003.

"We never really fit," Carrie said. "We record something and they don't know what to do with it, but it's not like they make us do it all over again."

Carrie said that even if Limbeck doesn't fit into labels like "hardcore" or "punk," the band felt comfortable enough on Doghouse Records to stick with it for three albums.

"A lot of bands treat smaller labels like, 'Let's put out a record and move on,'" he said. "But we've stayed around, even though we're different from what they want to push these days, because they're good, nice people."

Although Limbeck has always been proud of its eclectic sound, Carrie said there is something especially symbolic in this recent release.

"We felt like we were really coming into our own in this album," Carrie said. "Things were really falling into place, so the personal title was fitting."

Limbeck bears more of the band's personality than its title. According to Carrie, Limbeck has a "bear obsession."

"We are obsessed with bears, as in the animal," Carrie said. "The album has a picture of a bear on it. We call Justin, our bass player, 'The Bear.' We just self-released a live album and started Bear Records."

The live album, The Delicacy of Living Modestly, is not available from mainstream retailers like Best Buy or Amazon.com. The band is personally dropping off copies of Delicacy in local record stores they encounter while touring. Right now the album is only available at independent music stores in California, Oregon and Utah.

"We want people to go back to record stores," Carrie said. "A store like a Best Buy doesn't really care about little bands, because they don't have to."

Also containing re-recorded songs and covers, Delicacy will help support independent record stores. According to Carrie, some of the proceeds will benefit the small-time businesses.

"Indie record stores know more, and care more about music," he said.

Carrie said he's excited to play Turner Hall Ballroom Friday. This will be Limbeck's first time at the venue, although it's played Milwaukee before.

"Milwaukee has some really fun people, and it rubs off on us," he said. "We have played the Eagle's Ballroom, and Mad Planet, which is my favorite place to play in Milwaukee."

Drummer Jon Phillip is from Milwaukee and is still a resident, even though the rest of the band is from California. Carrie said that sometimes Limbeck stays in Milwaukee, but recording isn't done in California or Wisconsin. Carrie, Phillip, Robb MacLean (vocals, guitar) and Justin Entsminger (bass) meet up in studios outside both home states in order to take recording more seriously.

"We record in different states, so it's more secluded and there are no distractions," Carrie said. "This way we can make a trip out of it."

“