Minus the Bear set up a two night event in NYC during their 10 year anniversary tour for their popular album Planet of Ice. The Planet of Ice tour kicked off a few nights earlier in Ft Lauderdale, FL and brought along The Coathangers as their opening act for the first half of the dates.
Night One was in Brooklyn at a personal favorite venue, Warsaw. Warsaw has become a local legend and with a tag line “where pierogies meet punk”, it’s easy to see why. Hosting artists from punk to rock to hip hop, this venue is situated inside the Polish National Home, which has been serving the Brooklyn community for almost 100 years.
The Coathangers, an Atlanta, GA based punk rock/garage band, took the stage promptly at 8. I wasn’t familiar with their music but was instantly converted to a fan. The band, comprised of singer/guitarist Julia Kugel (Crook Kid Coathanger), bassist Meredith Franco (Minnie Coathanger) and singer/drummer Stephanie Luke (Rusty Coathanger) had an energy and very unique sound – to what some might categorize as erratic and unhinged. But it worked, and the fans that showed up early for them were singing along to every word. Even the fans that were unfamiliar inched their way forward and participated in the unpredictable show that was unfolding before them. The Coathangers, signed to Suicide Squeeze Records, will be releasing a live album, appropriately titled LIVE, on June 1st.
Fellow Suicide Squeeze artists Minus the Bear then took the stage. Minus the Bear, comprised of guitar/lead vocalist Jake Snider, guitarist Dave Knudson, bassist Cory Murchy and keyboard/backing vocalist Alex Rose, as well as touring drummer Joshua Sparks, has been making music for over 15 years and have perfected the craft of experimental/progressive/indie rock. They might have just released a new album in 2017 called Voids, but tonight was all about their 2007 album Planet of Ice. The lights dimmed and the beginning notes of the opening track, “Burying Luck,” began to resonate throughout the venue. You could barely hear the band through the melodic singing from the crowd. With professional conviction, Minus the Bear nailed all ten tracks. Than in true “we love our fans” fashion, they played another 10 tracks spanning the rest of their discography.
Minus the Bear are staples in the indie music scene. It was a pleasure and an honor to see these guys perform an amazing album in its entirety. Two more years until the 15 year anniversary of Menos el Oso… if we’re lucky!
You can check out Minus the Bear on tour now! Tour dates below
Setlist:
1. Burying Luck
2. Ice Monster
3. Knights
4. White Mystery
5. Dr. L’Ling
6. Part 2
7. Throwin’ Shapes
8. When We Escape
9. Double Vision Quest
10. Lotus
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11. Hooray
12. Last Kiss
13. Women We Haven’t Met Yet
14. Michio’s Death Drive
15. Secret Country
16. Hold Me Down
17. Dayglow Vista Rd
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18. Invisible
19. Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse
20. Pachuca Sunrise
05/01 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom 05/02 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s 05/03 – Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot 05/04 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues 05/05 – St. Louis, MO @ Ready Room 05/30 – Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall 06/01 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk 06/02 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall 06/03 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater 06/04 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom 06/06 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee 06/07 – Los Angeles, CA @ Mayan Theatre 06/08 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues 06/09 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory 06/10 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom 06/12 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre 06/13 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox