Minus The Bear

Minus The Bear. If you’re not already familiar with the name, note it down. Scrawl it on the back of your hand, on a receipt from your lunch or in giant marker pen on your desk, whatever, but just take note. One day, soon, they’re going to be the biggest pop band in the world.

But first, the sold-out Underworld is treated to The Murder Of Rosa Luxemburg, or, to give them a more appropriate nomenclature, The Murder Of Joan Of Arc. Ditching the spazzy hardcore of their earliest f/rumblings in favour of Kinsella-approved jazz-cum-indie is a brave move, but one that leaves many dumbfounded. The jury remains out. Chicago outfit Challenger up the tempo somewhat with a set of tuneful, if rather derivative, punk. If I’m brutally honest, they failed to meet expectations formed on the basis of their album, ‘Give People What They Want In Lethal Doses’, kicking seven-shades of shit out of 2004’s punk rock bigwigs. If I’m fairer, they played a solid set that failed to inspire any down-the-front action.

Minus The Bear don’t struggle to grab the attention of a single soul; the place is in the palm of their collective hand from the off. It helps when you’ve a one-time member of Botch in your ranks when it comes to stirring interest, but on the biggest night of their inaugural UK tour, the Seattle quintet leave everyone hungry, nay, ravenous for more. Even I stay until the very death, something I’ve not done since, well, I forget. The only possible criticism one could level at a band so perfectly in tune with both pop and punk aesthetics is that their song titles are stupid – a personal, lump-in-throat favourite is titled ‘I’m Not Really Down With Rob’s Alien’. Stupid stupid stupid. ‘Absinthe Party At The Fly Honey Warehouse’ is another glorious pop song (when I use the term ‘pop’, please think of The Dismemberment Plan over, say, Britney Spears) ruined only by a ludicrous title. Still, there is no better band in the world right now at this game – splicing genres with such ease, it’s like they’ve been doing it for 20 years rather than two and a bit. The follow-up to their recently released here (but old over there) album, ‘Highly Refined Pirates’, is approaching completion, with recording scheduled for early next year. When it drops, expect heads to turn from all corners of the music industry, and beyond.

When you're on top of your game like this, why shouldn't you be on top of the world too? In a fair and just industry, Minus The Bear would be number one with a bullet. Take your notes, and here's hoping...