Members of the band were formerly in the bands Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. Their sound involves a mix of pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics, with a Don Caballero-esque sophistication of composition. The name Minus the Bear comes from the famed TV show B.J. and the Bear—minus the bear.
After initially forming in 2001 with guitarist David Knudson, bassist Cory Murchy, and drummer Erin Tate, the trio eventually recruited keyboardist/sequencer Matt Bayles and vocalist/guitarist Jake Snider. They released their debut EP This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic on September 14, 2001 through Suicide Squeeze Records—who would subsequently release the majority of their albums and EPs.
The following year, on August 8, 2002, in preparation for the up-coming album the band was working on, they released the 5 track promo EP Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them. On December 2, 2002, the band released their first full-length album, Highly Refined Pirates.
In 2004, the band released their third EP entitled They Make Beer Commercials Like This through Arena Rock Recording Co. on July 13th. The band then contributed the track "Houston, We Have an Uh-Oh" to the Vagrant Records compilation In Honor: A Compilation to Beat Cancer which was released on September 21st.
Their second full-length album, Menos el Oso, was released on August 23, 2005. The title in Spanish translates to "Minus the Bear." The album featured the band's first-ever official music videos, with videos being made for both "The Game Needed Me" and "Pachuca Sunrise". The album signaled the end to the amusing song titles featured on previous releases.
On January 2, 2006 after touring in support of Menos el Oso, keyboardist/sequencer and producer Matt Bayles announced that he was leaving the band in order to focus on record production work. His last performance with the band was on January 28, 2006. Bayles wrote on his homepage that he would be replaced by Alex Rose, an engineer on Menos el Oso.
A remix album of Menos El Oso, entitled Interpretaciones Del Oso, was released on February 20th, 2007. The title in Spanish translates to "Interpretations of the Bear." The album features remixes by Plan B, Morgan Henderson of The Blood Brothers and Jason Clark of Pretty Girls Make Graves, among others.
Minus the Bear's third full-length album, Planet of Ice, was released on August 21, 2007, with a limited vinyl pressing on Suburban Home Records. To date, there have been three official pressings of Planet of Ice on vinyl. All pressings are double LPs. The album was recorded during February and March of 2006. Music videos were made for both "Knights" and "Throwin' Shapes".
On June 3, 2008, Suicide Squeeze Records re-issued the band's third EP They Make Beer Commercials Like This. The EP was remastered and expanded to include the track "Houston, We Have an Uh-Oh".
On October 7, 2008 the band released Acoustics, a 7 track EP featuring acoustic versions of the band's songs including the previously unreleased "Guns & Ammo". The EP was released on Tigre Blanco Records. The EP was released on vinyl on February 17, 2009 through Vinyl Collective.
On October 27, 2009, Minus the Bear released a digital 2 song single for "Into the Mirror", which features the title track and "Broken China". The band released their fourth original studio album Omni on May 4, 2010. Their final live performance was December 16, 2018 at The Showbox in Seattle.
Band members
Dave Knudson - guitar Cory Murchy - bass Alex Rose - synthesizer, drum machine, vocals, electronics, saxophone Jake Snider - lead vocals, guitar Erin Tate - drums
Former members
Matt Bayles - vocals, keyboards/drum machine, electronics
Former bands
Dave Knudson - used to play in botch Jake Snider - used to play in sharks keep moving Erin Tate used to play in kill sadie Cory Murchy used to play in kill sadie
Double Vision Quest
Minus the Bear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These hours motions circle, still repeating
[Chorus]
The beat moves on itself
The beat moves on itself
Every day my love
Crazy crazy days are gone
And we're finally alone
And I'm caught in your arms safe from a morning
No one walks out on the tightrope today my love
[Chorus]
We awoke at the edge of a summer
New days began to stretch their legs
And the tempo's changing the complacency
The needle finds the groove to free us tonight
We awoke on the edge of this winter
The ice melts off and flows in like a song
The record plays but the needles old
It lets the player take control
Move the speakers how they're told
To make us march for something more
Music is a sedative
And you put out what you put in
The lyrics to Minus the Bear's "Double Vision Quest" paint a picture of being caught in the repetition of time, trapped in a locked groove. The motions circle around in a monotonous pattern, with each day feeling like the last. The chorus speaks to the inevitability of the beat moving on, with days come and gone, but being caught in your arms, safe from the chaos of the outside world. The song seems to suggest that love is a place of respite from the crazy, and that being together allows for a momentary escape from the constant rotation of time.
The second verse contrasts the edge of summer, with the awakening of new beginnings, with the edge of winter, where everything melts away, and a new song begins to play. The tempo changes, and the complacency of time breaks, releasing a sense of freedom that allows us to march for something more. Music is a sedative, the lyrics suggest, with the power to bring us fully alive, but only if we put in the effort to let it take control.
Line by Line Meaning
Caught in the locked groove of this long season
Feeling stuck and unable to escape the repetitive routine of this prolonged period of time.
These hours motions circle, still repeating
The passage of time seems to be unchanging and monotonous, constantly repeating the same motions and patterns.
The beat moves on itself
The song's rhythm continues on its own, almost as if it has a life of its own.
Every day my love
Each day that passes, my affection for you grows stronger.
Crazy crazy days are gone
The chaotic and unpredictable times are over, replaced by a more stable and predictable situation.
When I come home
Upon returning to my place of residence.
And we're finally alone
The two of us are able to enjoy each other's company without any outside distractions or interruptions.
And I'm caught in your arms safe from a morning
Feeling protected and secure in your embrace, shielded from the challenges of the upcoming day.
No one walks out on the tightrope today my love
No one is taking any risks or being reckless today, my dear.
We awoke at the edge of a summer
We woke up at the beginning of the summer season, with all its possibilities and potential ahead of us.
New days began to stretch their legs
Fresh opportunities emerged and began to take shape, allowing for growth and exploration.
And the tempo's changing the complacency
The pace and energy of the music is disrupting any feelings of contentment or satisfaction, prompting a desire for something new or different.
The needle finds the groove to free us tonight
The song's melody resonates with us and empowers us to let go of our worries and just enjoy the moment.
We awoke on the edge of this winter
We woke up at the end of the fall season, with the onset of winter looming ahead.
The ice melts off and flows in like a song
The cold and frozen landscape starts to thaw and transform, much like the way a song can change our mood or perspective.
The record plays but the needles old
The music continues to play, but the technology used to produce it is outdated and no longer cutting-edge.
It lets the player take control
The imperfections of the recording allow the listener to interpret and connect with the music on a deeper level, as opposed to relying on a flawless and predictable performance.
Move the speakers how they're told
Follow the prescribed methods for setting up and arranging the sound system in order to produce the desired audio experience.
To make us march for something more
To inspire us to strive for something better and more meaningful, through the power of music and shared experience.
Music is a sedative
Music has the ability to calm and soothe, much like a sedative drug.
And you put out what you put in
The quality, energy, and intent that you invest in your art or craft is reflected in the final product, and can influence how it is received by others.
Lyrics © SONGS MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: JOHNSON, KNUDSON, MURCHY, PESSIA, ROSE, SNIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind