Minus the bear lead singer

When Minus the Bear played their debut show in Seattle back in September 2001, there was an immediate hype surrounding the band. The individual members had already established themselves on a national level with earlier music projects, and their debut EP This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic was already available at the merch table.

The bear subtract episode

Minus the bear live

Minus the bear reunion

Minus the bear merch

Jake snider

Within the first few measures of their distinctive brand of nimble and dexterous indie rock, it was obvious to the audience that the insider buzz was well deserved. It may not have seemed like the most serious venture at first—there were the bizarre song titles, the underlying pop impulses, and an overall sense of fun that seemed at odds with the members’ reputation for heady and angsty music—but the band quickly proved that beneath their revelrous live performances was some truly erudite artistry.

Twenty years later, we’re treated to Farewell—a 3xLP live album spanning their seventeen-year run and a sonic goodbye note to