Minus the Bear in Allentown, PA
Seattle, Washington’s Minus the Bear have just recently finished recording their untitled fourth album, which is expected to be released sometime this Spring. They have also recently just wrapped up a mini-East Coast tour with Maps and Atlases and Phantogram.
Maps and Atlases opened the Allentown show and offered a healthy serving off of their 2008 Sargent House release, “You and Me and the Mountain.” The Chicago natives are a intricately-rhythmic powerhouse, and played an extremely solid set. For those in attendance who had never heard of Maps and Atlases before hand, they definitely left being pleasantly surprised with the band’s performance.
Recent-Barsuk-signees Phantogram were up next, and in support of their up and coming release “Eyelid Movies,” which is set to be released February 9th. The duo plays electronically infused dance music, with guitar and vocals layered over top. A lot of the audience seemed to lose attention, and Phantogram seemed to be a bit out of place in the grand scheme of the night.
Minus the Bear then took the stage to a near full-capacity Crocodile Rock. The band played an extensive set which consisted of songs off of every release the band has in its past nine year life-span.
Particular stand outs during the show were “Fine + 2pts,” “Into the Mirror,” and “The Game Needed Me,” which offered an eclectic mix of Minus the Bear’s past and present.
The Untitled New Song that was played was a very mellow-paced track, and sounded very reminiscent to a lot of songs off the 2004 EP, “The Make Beer Commercials Like This.” The band was as spot on as ever, and left everyone anxiously anticipating their up and coming Spring release.
Set list
Drilling
Into The Mirror (New Song)
Thanks For The Killer Game of Crisco Twister
White Mystery
Throwin Shapes
Untitled (New Song)
The Fix
The Game Needed Me
Fine + 2pts
We Are Not A Football Team
Broken China (New Song)
Absinthe Party At The Fly Honey Warehouse
Knights
Encore:
Spritz!!! Spritz!!!
Pachuca Sunrise
[...] [review: minus the bear in allentown, pa.] [...]
I feel like I was there…Great band at a great venue…maybe you should review the pizza too( Im talking about you Paige, ; ) . ). One Love.
-Rbizzle
[...] [ac+r debut] what’s good Heath is a great addition to the ac+r family, and it’s not all credited to the fact that he shares a name with a classic candy bar. This elementary school teacher will be playing the best in pop music of the indie and rap variety, while also praying for snow days. Listen to him every Tuesday and Thursday from 6pm-8pm. [ac+r debut] buckets of rain Zack has been dishing out some pretty solid playlist for the past couple of weeks, but this week marks his debut to the live stream. He isn’t able to record the actual broadcast but you’ll be able to listen to the playlist after his shows via his usual grooveshark playlist. His Wednesday night show showcased Ryan Adams, so Zack’s favorite Adams’ album Cold Roses will be on play this week. Minus the Bear’s They Make Beer Commericals Like This Not only does this album rule, but it’s kind of timely seeing how the Super Bowl wasn’t too long ago (and you know you only watched it for the beer commercials). Brett got a chance to see Minus the Bear with Maps & Atlases and Phantogram after a mini roadtrip to Allentown, Pa. Read the review here. [...]