By: Jared Gudnason

Back in high school, the saying was “don’t hate the player, hate the game.” This was when 50 Cent, Outkast, Jay-Z and lastly, good Kanye were running the scene.

Unbeknownst to me, an indie rock band (some would label melodic post-hardcore punk), released an album in 2005, the year I graduated. That band, Minus the Bear, performed in downtown Minneapolis on Tuesday.

They performed the aforementioned record, titled Menos el Oso, for its 20-year anniversary. When originally released, I had no clue the band existed, let alone had midwestern geographical ties. Some of the most foreign-to-pop-streaming-services-and-radio music, famous or otherwise, are penned in isolated geography. It is Minus the Bear’s (MTB) second full-length album.

Last Tuesday, the band had both newer members along, whose stellar (stellar would be a massive
understatement) performances aren’t on original recordings. On Menos, it’s drummer Erin Tate (of former Minneapolis shredders Kill Sadie), and on keyboards, Matt Bayles who also engineered and mixed the album. Last week, onstage was Alex Rose, keyboardist, and Josh Sparks playing drums. Rose also aided the record in-studio. Prior to last week, the first time I saw Minus was at the same venue, 15 years ago. After that, it was in support of their fifth album, 2012’s Infinity Overhead.

Like last time, they had midwestern regional bands as opening acts. On Tuesday, Chicago’s Into It, Over It played for approximately 45 minutes. Coincidentally, Josh Sparks was the former drummer, and formerly of the bands Former Thieves, and possibly Desperation. 2012’s MTB opening was was Nebraska’s Cursive. After an impaired (to say the least, on my friend and I’s part) conversation, we met up with friend Knol (currently of MPLS’ Tender Comrade; tendercomrade.bandcamp.com – IG @tender_comrade_mpls), who got us entry free of charge.

MTB played Menos in its entirety, 12 songs. Most encores were from albums directly prior and directly following. Prior is 2002’s Highly Refined Pirates, and the following is 2007’s Planet of Ice. The last song of the evening was titled “Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse,” from Highly Refined Pirates. Because of their similar song titles, and some of the finest musicianship, MTB could be labeled niche, but there were possibly 1,500 spectators at First Avenue last week. Menos el Oso’s opener is “The Game Needed Me.” Banger. And last Tuesday, “Me,” was the collective us.