Minus the Bear is set to embark on the first leg of a major world tour, in support of their critically acclaimed release, Planet of Ice, out August 21, 2007 on Suicide Squeeze Records. The tour, which kicks off September 22, 2007 in Seattle with commercial station KNDD’s Endfest, will be the first of many dates across the globe and will continue well into 2008. Support for these dates (below) will come from respected indie acts Subtle, Ela, Helio Sequence and more to be announced soon. Pre sale tickets can be purchased via Music Today
In other Minus the Bear news – The week of August 20, the band will perform a series of west coast in-stores. Venerable retailers such as Easy Street in Seattle, and Ameoba in Berkeley, CA and Fingerprints in Long Beach, CA will play hosts. On August 21, Seattle’s Pacific Science Center will produce a very special laserium event, set to the tunes from Planet of Ice. During the month of October, Minus the Bear will visit WXPN’s World Cafe Live (air date TBA). A video for lead single from Planet Of Ice, “Knights” has just been finished and should see its debut in the next few weeks.
Minus the Bear is one of the most respected bands in the US with an impressive and devout grassroots following due to incredible live show. They have strong album and ticket sales, selling over 118K copies of their two full lengths (most recently Menos el Oso) four EPÂ’s and have sold over 75k in concert tickets.
Planet of Ice, is the perfect marriage of the bands signature sound and experimental elements, but with an accessible bent. Nurturing a bold stylistic shift towards progressive and psychedelic rock Planet of Ice is loaded with hooks. The album has several strong contenders for possible singles (check out lead single “Knights”; also “Throwin’ Shapes”, and “When We Escape”). The more experimental tracks (“Lotus”, “Double Vision Quest”, “Part 2”) will show that after years of writing and touring, they’re not satisfied with tried and true. They’ve continued to push the envelope, emboldening their chops as players, and mastering the art of reinvention almost effortlessly. Planet Of Ice was co produced by Minus the Bear and longtime collaborator/former member Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Isis), with additional production duties from Chris Common.
TOUR DATES
9/22 – Seattle, WA – KNDD Endfest 16 at Qwest Field#
9/23 – Spokane, WA — Service Station*
9/24 – Missoula, MT – The Badlander*
9/27 – Detroit, MI — St Andrews Hall
9/28 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop – Early (Ela Supports)
9/28 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop – Late (Subtle supports)
9/29 – Pittsburgh, PA – Diesel*
9/30 – Buffalo, NY – Traif Music Hall*
10/1 – Toronto, ON – Opera House -(TBA?)
10/3 — Cambridge, MA – The Middle East*
10/4 – Cambridge, MA – The Middle East*
10/5 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw*
10/6 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza*
10/7 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom*
10/8 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts*
10/10– Washington, DC — Black Cat*
10/11 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva**
10/12 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse**
10/13 – Charlotte, NC – Tremont Music Hall**
10/14 – Orlando, FL — The Club at Firestone**
10/15 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL—Culture Room**
10/16 – Tallahassee, FL – The Moon**
10/18 — New Orleans, LA –House of Blues**
# w/ Smashing Pumpkins, Bright Eyes, Social Distortion, Satellite Party, Hot Hot Heat, Paramore, etc.
*w/Subtle, Ela
**w/Helio Sequence, Others TBA
INSTORES/RADIO SESSIONS
8/20 – Seattle, WA — Easy Street Records – 11PM
8/21 – Seattle, WA — Pacific Science Center Laserium Show – 8PM
8/22 – Berkeley, CA — Amoeba 6PM
8/24 – Long Beach, CA — Fingerprints – 7PM
10/8 — WXPN World Cafe
Planet of Ice quotes:
Planet Of Ice finds the Seattle quintet more comfortable in their own skin, exploring looser, more organic arrangements and indulging next-gen guitar god Dave KnudsonÂ’s psychedelic side. The tightly wound dance numbers are dancier (“Knights”); the slow sex jams are sexier (“White Mystery”); Cory MurchyÂ’s bass and Erin TateÂ’s drums are as in synch as ever (the punchy, dirty “When We Escape”); and new keyboardist Alex Rose gives the synths a much stronger role than ever before, both with brilliant countermelodies and sublime textures – [4.5/5 Stars] – ALTERNATIVE PRESS
Minus the Bear’s brightly appealing indie-pop may be dispensed with remarkable technical prowess — complete with precise guitar work and complex time changes — but it also benefits from the band’s sweetly personal lyrics and flair for writing power-pop hooks…Planet of Ice (out next month), maintains an organic quality that allows the songs’ innate catchiness to shine through – NPR WORLD CAFE
Before delving into the many virtues (and modest shortcomings) of perpetually underrated rock savants Minus the Bear, a quick word for those new to guitarist Dave KnudsonÂ’s axe attack: DudeÂ’s one of rockÂ’s most dynamic, distinctive instrumental voices. Period. So go buy some plastic sheeting, cover the walls and spread the style section all over your floor while his pluck-positive, finger funhouses blow your freaking mind. Jake Snider keeps his fingers all over IceÂ’s thermostat, his tales of misappropriated personal currency (“White Mystery”) and corporate disconnect (the jawdroppingly dense “Dr. LÂ’Ling”) providing the titular chill while his hushed romantics (“ThrowinÂ’ Shapes”) beckon the thaw. MtB play the part of Trotsky subtle, tenderly thawing their frozen world rather than swinging away, picks-in-paws – FILTER
Its both a definite assertion of a new direction and and an exciting tease for whatever may come next for Minus the Bear- SKYSCRAPER
Minus the Bear has once again extended their sound in a powerful way, cleverly re-invigorating what lies at the center of their musical efforts. With longer songs, louder words, and catchy-as-hell guitar parts, this album is both immediately gratifying and deceptively interesting – DELUSIONS OF ADEQUACY
“Throwin Shapes” is in and out under three minutes, and you get the sense that Minus The Bear’s minds are on the track’s interlocking-guit hook with every second, in every section; even the bridge stays close to the chorus, with some components disassembled to remind you the Seattle band has paid its road dues and spent its time in the shed. Accessible track with detours in the soundscapes – [“Throwin’ Shapes”
Take a musical journey with this new song from Minus the Bear’s upcoming album, “Planet of Ice.” The track begins with a hint of ambient electronica, then jumps into choppy Gang of Four territory. When lead singer Jake Snider enters, you may imagine you are listening to … Roger Waters! … and there’s more than a touch of the Floyd lurking in the Bear’s honey pot. Listen to the repeated guitar figures while synthesizers squeal in the background. True to the Bear tradition, the song’s strange title is left unexplained – [“Dr. LÂ’Ling” from Planet of Ice Track Review ] – LA TIMES