Minus the Bear, Cursive

[MUTEMATH ROCK] Bursting upon the muso-sphere as fully formed inverted icons from the moment of its full-length debut a decade past, Minus the Bear combined prog talents, pop affections, digital shadings and a genuine humor absent any hint of their forebears’ sloppy experimentation or aggressive navel-gazing. In their shambling way, the Seattle quintet effortlessly scrawled the post-grad thesis/immediate justification for ’90s college-rock excesses—tour mates Cursive, say, whose signal track off latest release I Am Gemini (a concept album about evil twins, natch) features lyrical allusions to past song titles set to jagged calliope riffage—but arrived too early at a sincere focus upon a whimsical craft. After an ill-advised electro romp, fifth full-length Infinity Overhead sees Minus the Bear reuniting with its longtime producer and further developing its signature sound, which somehow seems a surrender. 

Where: Wonder Ballroom
Phone: 284-8686
Address: 128 NE Russell St.