Minus the Bear

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Minus the Bear
Performing at the 2008 Bonnaroo music festival
Background information
Origin	Seattle, Washington, USA
Genres	Experimental rock Indie rock Math rock [1]
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Suicide Squeeze Records Arena Rock Recording Co. Polyvinyl Record Co. Luckyhorse Industries Tigre Blanco Records
Associated acts	These Arms Are Snakes Kill Sadie Botch Sharks Keep Moving State Route 522 Onalaska Askeleton
Website	minusthebear.com
Members
Jake Snider Dave Knudson Alex Rose Cory Murchy Erin Tate
Former members
Matt Bayles

Minus the Bear is an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington that incorporates elements of ambience and sonic experimentation while maintaining indie influences. The band features current and former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. Their sound is a combination of Pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics, with sophisticated time signature composition.^[2] Some argue the name "Minus the Bear" comes from an inside joke among the band members, referring to the 80's TV show B. J. and the Bear.^{[citation needed]}

Contents 1 History 2 Band members 2.1 Former members 3 Discography 3.1 LPs 3.2 EPs 3.3 Remixed LPs 3.4 Non-Album Tracks 4 Music videos 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (December 2008)

On January 2, 2006, Matt Bayles, keyboardist and producer for Minus the Bear, announced that he was leaving the band in order to focus on record production work. 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 Menos el Oso.

In 2006 the track "We Are Not a Football Team" from their first album Highly Refined Pirates appeared in a TV advertisement for mobile network operator O2 in the UK and Ireland.

An album of remixes of songs from Menos el Oso, entitled Interpretaciones del Oso, was released on February 20, 2007,^[3] including a remix by underground rapper P.O.S..

The band's fourth full length album, titled Planet of Ice, was released on August 21, 2007, and contains ten tracks. On top of an exclusive iTunes track, a bonus CD was also released containing 2 B-sides, a demo track, and a remix also done by P.O.S..

In 2008, tracks from Menos el Oso such as Pachuca Sunrise, have been used as clips for the intro and outtro to NPR's All Things Considered. In addition, the band recorded four tracks on Daytrotter that have since been distributed for free with a membership to the website. ^[4]

The band posted a note on September 3, 2009 on their Twitter saying that they've finished recording their new album.^[5]. On October 27, 2009, they released a digital two song single, Into The Mirror on Amazon and iTunes. ^[6]

[edit] Band members

• Jake Snider - guitar, lead vocals
• Dave Knudson - guitar
• Alex Rose - keyboards, backing vocals
• Cory Murchy - bass
• Erin Tate - drums

[edit] Former members

• Matt Bayles - keyboards

[edit] Discography

[edit] LPs

Year	Title	Label	U.S. Charts[7]	Other information
2002	Highly Refined Pirates	Suicide Squeeze
2005	Menos el Oso	Suicide Squeeze	#20 Heatseekers
2007	Planet of Ice	Suicide Squeeze	#74
2010	Untitled	TBA		expected release - April 2010

[edit] EPs

Year	Title	Label	Other information
2001	This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic	Suicide Squeeze	Debut release.
2002	Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them	Suicide Squeeze	Promotional CD for Highly Refined Pirates
2004	They Make Beer Commercials Like This	Arena Rock	Re-released in 2008 on Suicide Squeeze with "Houston, We Have Uh-Oh."
2005	Minus The Bear/CIty On Film 7" Split	Polyvinyl	Split EP featuring "This Ain't A Surfin' Movie (IQU 06 Remix)."
2008	Acoustics	Tigre Blanco	Acoustic EP featuring "Guns & Ammo" and six previously released tracks.
2009	Into The Mirror	Tigre Blanco	Single from forthcoming album with b-side, "Broken China."

[edit] Remixed LPs

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

[edit] Non-Album Tracks

• "Houston We Have Uh Oh" originally appeared in 2004 on the compilation, In Honor: A Compilation To Beat Cancer.
• "Cat Calls & Ill Means" was released exclusively as an iTunes Bonus Track with the purchase of Planet of Ice.

[edit] 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.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Minus the Bear at MySpace
• Minus the Bear on Twitter
• Minus the Bear channel at YouTube (requires Adobe Flash)

v • d • e Minus the Bear Jake Snider · Dave Knudson · Alex Rose · Cory Murchy · Erin Tate LPs Highly Refined Pirates · Menos el Oso · Interpretaciones del Oso  · Planet of Ice EPs This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic · Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them · They Make Beer Commercials Like This · Acoustics