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Minus the Bear

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Minus the Bear
Performing at the 2008 Bonnaroo music festival
Performing at the 2008 Bonnaroo music festival
Background information
OriginSeattle, Washington, USA
GenresAlternative rock, indie rock
Years active2001–present
LabelsDangerbird, MapleMusic Recordings (Canada), Suicide Squeeze, Arena Rock, Polyvinyl, Big Scary Monsters, Luckyhorse, Tigre Blanco, Albert
MembersJake Snider
Dave Knudson
Alex Rose
Cory Murchy
Past membersMatt Bayles
Erin Tate[1]
Websitewww.minusthebear.com

Minus the Bear is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington.[2] 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."[1][3]

History

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

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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6]

On February 17, 2010, Dangerbird Records announced that it had signed Minus the Bear and that it will distribute the group's next release.[7] A week later, it was announced that the album was titled Omni, and was scheduled to be released on May 4, 2010.[8]

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. An announcement on their Facebook page on April 30, 2012 stated the new album was recorded and had been sent off for mastering.

On June 21, 2012, Dangerbird Records announced that their fifth full-length studio album, Infinity Overhead would be released August 28, 2012.[9]

On June 29, 2012, Minus The Bear announced the release of the first single from "Infinity Overhead" entitled "Lonely Gun" on rollingstone.com

On July 10, 2012, it was announced that Minus the Bear would be joining the Big Scary Monsters record label in the UK. "Infinity Overhead" to be released on BSM in September 2012.[10] On July 10, 2013, Minus the Bear announced that they would release "Acoustics II", a ten track LP featuring 8 acoustic versions of old songs and two new tracks. An acoustic version of Hooray was given to everyone who preordered the album.

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the "They Make Beer Commercials Like This" EP, the band played two small shows in the early part of 2014 on west-coast. In the summer of that year the band announced a new full-length compilation album entitled Lost Loves. The LP was released in both vinyl and CD form and contains music which did not seem to fit in a sequential order appropriate enough, at the time, to put on a full-length release. The tracks 'Invented Memory' and 'Lucky Ones' were the only tracks that were unavailable prior to the release of the compilation. The latter was made available prior to the release of the album through SoundCloud and on the band's official web page. The band toured in support of the new EP and continued the celebration of their 'Beer Commercials' LP in the second half of 2014.

On January 29, 2015 the band officially announced via its Facebook page, That drummer Erin Tate is no longer a member of the band. "It is with heavy hearts that we regret to inform you that due to personal and creative differences Minus the Bear and Erin Tate have decided to part ways," signed by Dave, Jake, Cory, and Alex. The band then talks about future tours, and continuing to work on the follow up album to Infinity Overhead.[11]

Band name

The name "Minus the Bear" comes from an in-joke among the band members, referring to the '70s television series 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."[12]

Band members

Current members
  • Jake Snider – guitar, lead vocals (2001–present)
  • Dave Knudson – guitar (2001–present)
  • Cory Murchy – bass (2001–present)
  • Alex Rose – keyboards, backing vocals (2006–present)
Former members

Discography

LPs

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US Billboard
200
[13] 		US
Heat.
 		US
Indie
 		US
Alt.
2002 Highly Refined Pirates - - - -
2005 Menos el Oso - 20 41 -
2007 Planet of Ice 74 - 8 22
2010 Omni 49 - 9 8
2012 Infinity Overhead 31 7 7

EPs & Others

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."
2012 Your Private Sky/South Side Life Dangerbird Records 7" vinyl released for Record Store Day that includes two Omni b-sides, "Your Private Sky" and "South Side Life."
2012 Steel And Blood/Surf-N-Turf Big Scary Monsters Limited 7" vinyl released for the UK leg of their 2012 Infinity Overhead Tour. Each copy is hand numbered and has a die-cut carboard sleeve. Only 300 transparent red records were pressed.
2013 Acoustics II Dangerbird Records Acoustic LP featuring two new songs and acoustic versions of eight previously released tracks.
2014 Lost Loves Dangerbird Records Collection of rare and unreleased tracks.

Remix LPs

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

Music videos

References

  1. ^ a b Facebook https://www.facebook.com/minusthebear/posts/10153135646584714. Retrieved January 30, 2015. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ Ambrose, Anthony. "inTuneMusic Online: Minus the Bear / Tim Kasher / Twin Tigers @ NYC 12/4/2010". Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  3. ^ "Minus the Bear". Suicide Squeeze Records. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2007.
  4. ^ "MTB prep new album, remix CD out Feb. 20". Minus the Bear News Page. Archived from the original on January 21, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2007.
  5. ^ "Torn Out Of The Scene, A Room Suddenly Cold, Hot And Empty". Daytrotter. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  6. ^ "Minus the Bear, Into The Mirror (Exclusive)". FILTER. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  7. ^ "Dangerbird Welcomes Minus the Bear". Dangerbird Records. February 17, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
  8. ^ "Minus the Bear Release Date". AbsolutePunk.net. February 22, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  9. ^ "Minus the Bear Infinity Overhead Coming August 28th on Dangerbird Records". June 21, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  10. ^ http://bsmrocks.com/news.php?id=73
  11. ^ name="Official Facebook page"> https://www.facebook.com/minusthebear?fref=ts. Retrieved April 3, 2015. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ "Minus the Bear". Spin Magazine. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  13. ^ Billboard, Allmusic

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