The Seattle quintet Minus the Bear formed shortly after the turn of the millennium, fusing the previous decade’s forward-thinking math rock guitar gymnastics with the new century’s poptimistic pulse, indie sleaze revelry, and technological adventurism. Across the span of eighteen years, six full-lengths, and an array of singles and EP, the band traversed a broad swathe of sonic territories, seamlessly jumping from brainy indie pop to glitchy dance-punk to ambitious prog rock, all while retaining their signature blend of celebratory swagger with a pensive and reflective patina. Fueled by guitarist David Knudson’s fingertapping dexterity and pedalboard wizardy, vocalist/guitarist Jake Snider’s wistful and poignant depictions of adulthood escapades, multi-instrumentalist Alex Rose’s lush synth layers, and bassist Cory Murchy’s nimble groove, Minus the Bear created a body of work that cemented their place as one of modern indie rock’s most distinctive and influential acts.

Though Minus the Bear toured extensively across Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia, they were mainly known as an absolute juggernaut on the North American circuit, where they routinely sold-out theaters from coast to coast. Their final US tour was documented on the posthumously released live album Farewell, which captured not only the fiery and flawless execution of their most beloved material, but also the fervent enthusiasm of their devoted fanbase. The band dissolved at the end of 2018 as the responsibilities in their private lives took precedence over the rigorous demands of being in a full-time band.