Minus The Bear Concert Review

By Mike Stringham

On Friday, October 26th I got to see Minus The Bear at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Minus The Bear has been a staple in the genre that is math rock for nearly the last two decades. Without them, current math rock would not be where it is, almost noticeable. Some would say that it is getting popular (well maybe in a super low-key indie way). Anyway, this is MTB’s farewell tour, and they’re breaking up at the end of this year, to many fan’s dismay (including myself).

Though they haven’t made much ‘mathy’ music in their last few releases; their first few albums stood true to many math rock values. The classic tappy/dancy vibes, with some time signature changes; although most of their music is in 4/4. For me and many fans this was a sad day, but we were happy to hear them play a lot of tracks from their first three albums. The most tracks were played off of their 2001 release Highly Refined Pirates, including fan favorites “Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse”, “Thanks for the Killer Game of Crisco Twister”, and “Get Me Naked 2: Electric Boogaloo”. They played 25 tracks in total, an incredible setlist spanning their entire discography – to a sold out crowd nonetheless. Minus The Bear will be missed, but their music will live on forever. RIP.

 

Setlist

Drilling
Last Kiss
Lemurs, Man, Lemurs
Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse
Thanks for the Killer Game of Crisco Twister
Diamond Lightning
My Time
Summer Angel
Cold Company
Fair Enough
The Fix
Fine + 2 Pts
I’m Totally Not Down With Rob’s Alien
This Ain’t a Surfin’ Movie
The Game Needed Me
Invisible
White Mystery
We Are Not a Football Team
Knights
Let’s Play Guitar In A Five Guitar Band

Encore

Hey, Wanna Throw Up?
Get Me Naked 2: Electric Boogaloo
Into the Mirror
Throwin’ Shapes
Pachuca Sunrise