Trevor Dykstra (bassist) and Lee Shepard (guitarist) went to high school together and were always close friends. They...
Trevor Dykstra (bassist) and Lee Shepard (guitarist) went to high school together and were always close friends. They started out a band together in 1995, each playing their instrument and signing dual vocals. They went to a lot of shows and that’s how they met their second guitarist, Aaron Scholl and their drummer, Mike Keire, at a New Day Rising show (before Trevor played in the band). However before Bree ever got started, Mike and Aaron had met playing baseball in high school, and Mike, Trevor and Adam Brodie were in a band called 3′s Company. By the time Trevor, Lee and Mike got together, their influences came from Sebadoh, Pavement, Archers of Loaf, Dinosaur Jr., The Jesus Lizard, Frail, Rye Coalition, Shotmaker, Braid, Cap’n Jazz, Hoover, Fugazi, June of 44, Drive Like Jehu, NoMeansNo and Grade. They named themselves Bree, after a horse in C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia”. The animal theme would be kept as the band named their songs after more animals. Names remembered include Bats, Snake, Tortoise and Donkey. Aaron was a friend of the band from early on, but would only join the band later on, though the date has not been established.