Minus the Bear
Revolution Live
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
May 24, 2011
Review by Sergio O'Day
Photos courtesy Minus the Bear
As the sun set on May 24, fans from all over South Florida gathered at Revolution to spend an evening seeing and hearing Seattle indie-rock pioneers Minus the Bear. The band’s sound is best described as the soundtrack to a relaxed evening with good company overlooking the sea. Their beautiful compositions have been garnering them an expansive fan base since the band’s inception 10 years ago.
The night began with a set from The Constellations, an experimental six-member rock band from Atlanta. Employing a wide array of instruments to sculpt their unique sound, the band was greeted warmly by the show’s denizens. Playing an interesting amalgam of funk and indie rock, their groovy compositions nodded heads and moved hips throughout the crowd. The set ended with an energetic closer, complete with cowbell-wielding stage dives (what concert is complete without) and wailing screams from the band’s lead singer.
Up next was SkySaw, a rather yawn-inducing but noticeably talented rock band whose piano-driven rock songs lulled the crowd into a hypnotic trance. Despite their fluttery guitar-work and attentiveness to beautiful melodies, the band lacked stage presence, and as a result only heightened the anticipation for the night’s headliner. The last song SkySaw played, however, showcased the technical talents at the band's disposal, playing a six-minute epic with dizzying guitar solos and Bonham-inspired drumming. SkySaw successfully managed to meld a variety of different influences into their songs and their set was certainly the most diverse of the night.
The now famous synth intro stirred the crowd’s energy and the anthemic song about an alcoholic afternoon ended with Jake and the loving crowd screaming, “Let’s get a bottle and drink alone tonight!”
After a brief wait, Minus the Bear took the stage and was met with thunderous applause and screams from adoring fans. As the mics were checked and the lights were dimmed, they opened with an explosive intro that segued into a new song from their upcoming record. The song stayed true to the catchy sounds of their most recent full length, Omni, and if it achieved anything, it reassured the crowd that MTB’s signature sound is here to stay.
The band’s ever-energetic guitarist Dave Knudson’s instrumental wizardry wowed the crowd, and rhythm guitarist/lead singer Jake Snider’s croons laid the foundation for the band’s beautiful sounds. The next song on the set list was “Knights,” the lead single from their 2007 effort Planet of Ice. The crowd loved every second of MTB’s presence, without the slightest complaint or snarky remark, leading the keyboardist to comment, “You guys are the most polite people we’ve ever played to.”
The band proceeded to play various crowd pleasers such as “Into The Mirror” and “Pachuca Sunrise,” the latter being the song that arguably garnered them the most acclaim. After an encore, the band closed with “Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse.” The now famous synth intro stirred the crowd’s energy and the anthemic song about an alcoholic afternoon ended with Jake and the loving crowd screaming, “Let’s get a bottle and drink alone tonight!” As a band that writes songs about lacking inhibition and enjoying the simple things in life, it’s difficult not to understand Minus the Bear’s appeal.
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