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 Bearβminus 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 Recordsβwho 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
Surf
Minus the Bear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Splitting you from me
Where do these cliffs come from
They keep on lining up
Can you hold out your hand
Just a little bit further
I can feel your finger tips
Save me from myself
Save us from all the rest
Don't rest till you've saved enough
Then you know you've passed the test
The wind is moving you further
So soft on the cheek
The wind is moving you further
Can you break all the rules
Leave the cliff for the sea
Let the surf carry us
Where it wants us to be
The lyrics of βSurfβ by Minus the Bear speak of standing at a point where a cliff separates two people, signaling a distance that exists between them. Despite the distance, the singer is reaching out for the person on the other side of the cliff; willing to extend a hand to bridge the gap. The mention of the wind blowing is symbolic of the passage of time, which can take us further from those we love. However, it can also bring about change and propel us to where we are meant to be. The singer asks the person on the other side of the cliff to break the rules, leave where they are, and let the surf carry them to where they are meant to be. The surf represents an uncontrollable force of nature that the two can place their trust in, to guide them to their ultimate destination.
The songβs central theme is about breaking boundaries, pushing limits, and the ultimate journey to find yourself. The opening lines speak of the obstacles that exist that keep us from reaching out to others. The mention of cliffs and their lining up represent the barriers that prevent connection. Yet, the singer reaches out, reminding the person on the other side that the smallest gesture could bring them closer. The chorus asks the other person to save them, to rest until enough has been done to make them who they are meant to be. The song challenges us all to take a step over what is familiar though it might be a boundary or safety that hinders growth or progress.
Line by Line Meaning
Right in front of me
This situation is happening in my field of view
Splitting you from me
Something is separating us from each other
Where do these cliffs come from
The origin of these cliffs is unknown
They keep on lining up
More cliffs are appearing one after another
Can you hold out your hand
Can you extend your arm towards me
Just a little bit further
Extend your arm a bit more
I can feel your finger tips
I can sense the tips of your fingers
If I just reach out a bit
If I extend my arm a bit more
Save me from myself
Help me escape from my own problems
Save us from all the rest
Help us escape from others who are causing us trouble
Don't rest till you've saved enough
Don't stop helping until there is a sufficient amount of rescue done
Then you know you've passed the test
When enough rescue is done, you will know you have succeeded
The wind is moving you further
The wind is pushing you away from me
So soft on the cheek
The wind feels gentle on the skin
Can you break all the rules
Are you willing to break established limits
Leave the cliff for the sea
Abandon the safety of the cliff for the uncertainty of the sea
Let the surf carry us
Allow ourselves to be carried by the waves
Where it wants us to be
To go where the waves take us and not resist their force
Lyrics Β© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alex Rose, Cory Murchy, Dave Knudson, Erin Johnson, Jake Snider
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Breanna Quinton
My brother showed me this song because I wanted to hear about his playlist. He passed away that year and I have been a fan. I love you Cody
travis branham
Easily there best song! your bro had good taste!!
Zack
May your brother rest easy. I hope he gets to listen to mtb for eternity!
Enku
KNow this is old, but man, the same thing happened with me years ago. A friend of mine I considered a bother showed me this band and I've been in love ever since. Rest in peace, Fusa. Hope you're givin' em hell, wherever you are.
Brandon Wells
something similar happened to me. Friend of mine showed me this band like 10 years ago. She just passed away last year. Everytime i hear MTB, i think of her.
David Burke
This band is everything. The armory show in RI in 2016 will forever live rent free in my brain bucket.
ben hattersley
when i saw this song live it was beautiful. it was perfect. in the pause i turned around and all my friends were almost in tears. they are all so appreciative of this band and so am i.
Tom
This may not be a surfing movie, but this song sure makes me want to surf. I love this band.
Dee Marie
I love how their music just makes you feel so calm, like whenever i hear thier songs all my troubles go away
lahguitarist
i just found this band today and im wayyy stoked! im about to go buy all of their albums. Support the music industry! Buy your music!