Minus The Bear @ Joseph's Well
By Jameilla Thomas
Minus The Bear are a breathtakingly awesome band with a sound so in tune with the times whilst being apart from other bands of the guitar-electronics melody section, base-drums rhythm section set up. My point therefore is that any supports are simply going to be a flicker next to the luminous sparkle that is Seattle's MTB.
Tonight's bands to jump onto Joseph's Well's humble yet accommodating stage, however did anything but leave dullness in the eyes and ears of the crowd, which would have to be described as radiatingly intimate: as MTB front man put it, "We feel like we're in a spit roast up here. And not in a good way". For all the fans of a spit roast in the good sense of the way (?!) to save from insulting your preferred ambiance: the place was rammed.
This sort of turnout is the ultimate prize for 3 local supports, having missed the first band however, I can only comment on Ridgevex and This Et Al. It was great to see so many actually standing to watch the supports as often at Joseph's Well the temptation of going to sit on the comfy seats in the bar is always lingering at large.
Ridgevex, a Huddersfield four piece provided blissful melody in their tunes, set alongside fully fused angular guitars with rhythm guitar and main guitar working together to create a type of static abrasive noise woven with perfect melodies. This band have been on the scene for quite some time now, and it has to be said their sound has shown heaps of progression: not in the epic sense of the way even though their sound typically offered the ears of the audience a delight consisting of plenty of signature changes, and catchy vocals placed over delicate guitar parts from the guitarist/vocalist who offered from the heart emotional lyrics. "...'cos she lights up the world..." and "...act as if and you'll become...". The banter was heart warming too: with a birthday greeting to the guitarist/vocalist's Mum. A soppy set of guys?
In fact, these guys certainly know how to rock and they proved to the audience tonight that they are far from being guilty of conforming to the 'overly-emo' tagging. Their stance on stage was anything but static, even going for it a little too much at one point with bassist and guitarist crashing into one another whilst exploring the dynamics of the stage whilst giving us the dynamics of their highly layered sound. Thinking of a band like Biffy Clyro would call some comparisons in the way in which one song explores a variation of styles. If anything however, Ridgevex need to stop experimenting with old tracks and take their talents to pastures new. This proves successful in a couple of songs showing diversity in the form of technical drumming reminiscent of eighties hardcore and their use of echoing harmonising vocals.
This Et Al had to offer the audience a great jagged robotic sound with such a rhythmic underbeat from drums sounding good tonight, proven via plenty of heads dancing from an audience that seemed to be really lapping up Leeds locals. It was certainly hard to stop your toe from having its own little party. Soft sounds in a style not dissimilar to Interpol or originals Joy Division provided a good live atmosphere set against at one point a disco-samba baseline and twinkly guitar work. They have a creative danceable sound, were pretty tight and have what might be seen as the 'right image', but in my eyes are akin to the new wave of the post-punk or early indie sound.
To say Minus The Bear are unbelievably amazing would have little or no effect. Their sound is pure nectar for the ears and it oozes in, soothing you from your head to your toes. Try and stop yourself from dancing to this band: I challenge you. Down the front they were 'kickin' it like a wild donkey'. Movement certainly wasn't in abundance at this gig. Having only been exposed to pre-Menos El Oso material I was knocked right on my back by how well this band have evolved their sound to an even more Godly level. With plenty more catchy tunes being brought forward by both complicated guitar parts and twinkly repeated riffs.
On one hand, or in one ear, my mind was reading big fat strong baselines fusing with tap-tap-tapping drums to create the perfect rhythm section that was really exemplified by good sound quality at Joseph's Well tonight, and yet over the top we are presented with magical out of this word sparkles of sound from the guitar and electronics department, sending my body moving in completely different directions.
The main thing though that really makes their live sound is the laid back caressing vocals discussing romantic scenarios which sounded perfect tonight: through the PA confidently and unglitched. Their encore of Absinthe Party was the biggest crowd please of the night shown by heckles for it before and a sense of happiness felt during. Its cool intro leaving the crowd somewhat in anticipation of the musical party that's about to hit them in the aptly named song. A track that works particularly well live let alone as an encore.
In a time when so much of music is diluted regurgitate of prior periods in musical history, Minus The Bear are probably one of the few to offer only the freshest live sound. Synth/electronic action ensured that we heard electronic delights: buzzing, yawing, humming and even mobile-phone-esque melodies working with guitar to create delightful poppy tunes. In this electronic age such musical elements are proving vital at achieving songs that are something that gives a sense vitality live.
