Attention Kings of Leon fans: If you still haven't heard of Minus the Bear, do yourself a favor. There's no hint of Southern rock in the Seattle quintet's brand of indie rock, however -- Minus the Bear is a West Coast band through and through, whose complex, angular songs often reflect the ocean in shape and content, as well as the experimentation of young manhood.
A rather crowded house turned out last night for Minus the Bear's headlining gig at the Granada in Lawrence. Unable to secure a spot very near the stage, I felt that pang of pride and resentment at the success of a favorite band. The audience was young and mostly male, bobbing their heads and hips with Minus the Bear's characteristically percussive melodies.
The band's selections spanned mostly releases since the 2004 EP They Make Beer Commercials Like This, focusing heavily on 2007's Planet of Ice. The band also played at least three brand new tracks, available, I guess, on a seven-inch that was on sale at the merch table. (I snagged two new songs off iTunes this morning, but I can't tell if they were played last night or in what order. If anyone who as at the show can help, please comment.)
The lights often pulsed with the music, and the band occasionally tugged the totally jamworthy songs out a little beyond the studio versions. Near the soundboard, where I perched on tip-toe for most of the hourlong set, a green scent hovered in the air. Minus the Bear would be a great music for getting stoned to. The songs rarely occur in an ABA format; the clinking guitar tones combined with the keyboards can border on trippy; and there's a trace of zen in frontman Jake Snider's ruminations on drugs, sex and travel.
Like Caleb Followill, Snider also has a Don Juan thing going. He has a knack for delivering sensual lyrics that confidently express exactly what he likes to do with his lovers. Example: A kiss that she gets starts at her toes and then it goes. That blushworthy lyric is from "White Mystery." Snider also gets sexy on "Dr. L'ling": Don't give me no hand me down love/it don't wear the same/I want love that looks good on/With a fit that screams my name. And on a particularly poppy, keyboard-heavy new track, I swear he sang: I got your day/I got your nights/I got you off/My turn.
Personally, I think those are songs are every bit as hot as Kings of Leon's "Sex on Fire." For all his seeming prowess, though, Snider resembled a Seattle hitchhiker last night, with scraggly, long hair and an unruly, reddish beard. The rest of the band looked adequately rock sharp, particularly lanky Dave Knudson, who tends to bend sharply to and fro with his guitar lines. Poor bassist Cory Murchy deserved a special award. He limped on and off stage, and played on a chair, due, Snider said, to a back injury.
It was the final night of the Lions, Tigers and Bears tour. Twin Tigers wrapped up their set just as I arrived, dang it. I did catch middle band, Long Island's As Tall As Lions.
The Lions opened their set with a long, instrumental jam, setting the tone for a loose, improvisational set that showed off the lounge-y band's jazz and funk underpinnings. The elements on stage included more than one keyboard, two trumpets and a plethora of skins and other percussive instruments, plus a megaphone. One song, "Circles," began with at least half of the sextet beating skins or sticks in what could have been an aboriginal war song. The band jammed so much that it only got through eight songs, meaning several of my favorites ("In Case of Rapture," "Love, Love, Love (Love, Love") didn't make the cut. The enthusiasm and intricacy of the band's live performance did give me a greater appreciation, however, for the songs off the Lions' latest offering You Can't Take It With You.
Mostly complete set lists follow.
As Tall As Lions
1. intro jam
2. Stab City
3. Go Easy
4. Circles
5. Breakers
6. Ghost of York
7. Maybe I'm Just Tired
8. We's Been Waitin'
Minus the Bear
1. Knights
2. Dr. L'ling
4. Throwin' Shapes
5. new song
6. White Mystery
7. ??
8. Ice Monster
9. new song
10. Let's Play Clowns
11. new song
12. The Fix
13. Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse
Encore
1. Spritz!! Spritz!!
2. Pachuca Sunrise
Showing 1-6 of 6
Thanks for all your help, fellow Minus the Bear fans. On a fangirl note, I'm super bummed that I didn't go ahead and buy a hoodie at the show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
I got your days, I got your nights, i got you off, my turn!
haha
New song is called "I got your nights"
I love minus, but kingsleon doesn't get me off.
new songs = broken china, into the mirror, and....my time. :) also,they played guns and ammo but, that was also on the acoustic album.
and yes, "??" would be memphis and 53rd.
The first new song was Into the Mirror off the 7" you mentioned, the second new song was Broken China, again off the new 7". As for the ??? song, I'm not sure on that one either, maybe another new song that hasn't been released yet?
Great show, great choices for old songs, very surprised/happy to hear "Let's Play Clowns"
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