Minus the Bear

Minus the Bear
Performing at the 2008 Bonnaroo music festival
Background information
Origin	Seattle, Washington, USA
Genres	Alternative rock, indie rock, experimental rock, math rock, electronic rock
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Dangerbird, Suicide Squeeze, Arena Rock, Polyvinyl, Luckyhorse, Tigre Blanco, Albert
Associated acts	Sharks Keep Moving, Botch, Kill Sadie, State Route 522, These Arms Are Snakes, Askeleton, The Forecast, Onalaskan
Website	www.minusthebear.com
Members
Jake Snider Dave Knudson Alex Rose Cory Murchy Erin Tate
Past members
Matt Bayles

Minus the Bear is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2001, the group features current and former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. Their sound has been described as "Pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics with sophisticated time signature composition."

History

Minus the Bear is an indie rock group which formed in Seattle, Washington, United States in 2001 and have released four albums and four EPs. The band consists of Jake Snider (vocals, guitar), Dave Knudson (guitar), Cory Murchy (bass), Alex Rose (synths, vocals) and Erin Tate (drums).

On January 2, 2006, Matt Bayles, keyboardist and producer for Minus the Bear, announced that he was leaving the band in order to focus all his time on his career as a producer. His last performance with the band was on January 28, 2006. Subsequently, he was replaced by Alex Rose, who previously worked as a sound engineer on the band's second full length album, Menos el Oso.

Interpretaciones del Oso, an album of remixed songs from their second full length album Menos el Oso, was released on February 20, 2007 through Suicide Squeeze Records.

The band's third full length album, titled Planet of Ice, was released on August 21, 2007 through Suicide Squeeze Records, and contains ten tracks. On top of an exclusive iTunes bonus track titled "Cat Calls & Ill Means," a bonus CD containing two b-sides, "Electric Rainbow" and "Patiently Waiting," a demo version of "Ice Monster," and a remix by P.O.S. of the album's first single, "Knights," was released with the album's first edition.

In 2008 the band recorded four tracks live on Daytrotter that were released for free with a membership to the website. Later that year, the band also released their acoustic EP titled, Acoustics, which contained an unreleased track, "Guns & Ammo," and acoustic renditions of six previously released tracks.

On October 27, 2009, they released a two song single, Into The Mirror on various digital music outlets and sold exclusive 7" vinyl copies on tour.

On February 17, 2010, Dangerbird Records announced that it had signed Minus the Bear and that it will distribute the group's next release. A week later, it was announced that the album was titled Omni, and was scheduled to be released on May 4, 2010.

On May 8, 2010, Minus the Bear was the first band ever to be featured on RadioVA and be interviewed by David Lowery.

On August 5, 2010 Minus the Bear opened for fellow Seattle natives Soundgarden, in their pre-Lollapalooza warm up show in Chicago, Illinois at the Vic Theatre.

On January 9, 2012, the band began recording their fifth full-length album with producer and former keyboard player, Matt Bayles.

Band name

The name "Minus the Bear" comes from an in-joke among the band members, referring to the 70's television program, B. J. and the Bear. "A friend of the band had gone on a date,” explains singer-guitarist Jake Snider, "and one of us asked him afterwards how the date went. Our friend said, 'You know that TV show from the '70s B.J. and The Bear? It was like that... minus The Bear.' That’s the straight truth."

Band members

Current members

• Jake Snider – guitar, lead vocals (2001–present)
• Dave Knudson – guitar (2001–present)
• Alex Rose – keyboards, backing vocals (2006–present)
• Cory Murchy – bass (2001–present)
• Erin Tate – drums (2001–present)

Former members

• Matt Bayles – keyboards (2001–2006)

Discography

LPs

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US Billboard 200	US Heat.	US Indie	US Alt.
2002	Highly Refined Pirates Released: November 12, 2002 Label: Suicide Squeeze Records	-	-	-	-
2005	Menos el Oso Released: August 23, 2005 Label: Suicide Squeeze Records	-	20	41	-
2007	Planet of Ice Released: August 21, 2007 Label: Suicide Squeeze Records	74	-	8	22
2010	Omni Released: May 4, 2010 Label: Dangerbird Records	49	-	9	8

EPs

Year	Title	Label	Other Information
2001	This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic	Suicide Squeeze Records	Debut release.
2002	Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them	Suicide Squeeze Records	Promotional CD for Highly Refined Pirates.
2004	They Make Beer Commercials Like This	Arena Rock Recording Co.	Re-released in 2008 on Suicide Squeeze Records with "Houston, We Have Uh-Oh."
2005	Minus The Bear/City On Film 7" Split	Polyvinyl Record Co.	Split EP featuring "This Ain't A Surfin' Movie (IQU Remix)."
2008	Acoustics	Tigre Blanco Records	Acoustic EP featuring "Guns & Ammo" and acoustic versions of six previously released tracks.
2009	Into The Mirror	Tigre Blanco Records	Single from Omni with b-side, "Broken China."
2011	Hold Me Down	Dangerbird Records	Single from Omni with b-side, "Broken China," including three tracks recorded live at the Dangerbird Records studios and a fan-made remix of "My Time."

Remix LPs

Year	Title	Label	Other Information
2007	Interpretaciones del Oso	Suicide Squeeze Records	Menos el Oso remixed.

Music videos

• "The Game Needed Me" from Menos el Oso.
• "Pachuca Sunrise" from Menos el Oso.
• "Knights" from Planet of Ice.
• "Throwin' Shapes" from Planet of Ice.
• "My Time" from Omni
• "Hold Me Down" from Omni

External links

• Official website