After 14 Years, Minus the Bear Finds Ways to Keep Things Fresh

Hailing from gloomy Seattle, Minus the Bear comes from a place that breeds unforgettable music. And it’s no surprise that bassist Cory Murchy says that ’90s grunge innovators Nirvana influenced him the most out of any Seattle band. “They were definitely the first band that made you realize that you can probably make music and do it too,” Murchy said. “They were pretty inspiring to a lot of kids in my generation for sure.”

Now, the ever-evolving Minus the Bear will come to Fort Lauderdale. And while South Florida may be the environmental antithesis of the guys’ home state, the cozy crowd at Culture Room is sure to welcome the 14-year-old band with warm, open arms.

The indie band’s most recent album, Lost Loves, is different from previous albums for a few reasons, according to Murchy. “It’s kind of an oddball of an album because it comprises a lot of songs from past recording sessions, so it’s a collection of songs from several years going back,” explains Murchy. “They were songs we never finished or for whatever reason decided not to put on the records we recorded them for. So it’s kind of a cool little snapshot of where we were through the years.”
Fans need not be discouraged, however. Just because the band has made a remastered album does not mean all members will soon be hanging up their instruments as they ease into early music retirement. In fact, it is quite the opposite. “We are in the middle of writing now,” Murchy says. “We’ve actually been really busy writing this stuff and getting ready for a new record that we’re hoping to record this summer.”

Minus the Bear has managed to carve a unique and complex sound for itself since it was born in 2001. When asked about any major changes that have occurred over a decade’s time, Murchy remarked, “I think the biggest thing is that we’ve just remained friends and continued to grow. We’ve never been complacent with just writing the same record over again. So I think the desire to keep going has made a difference.”

Clearly, the band is doing something right. Fans still flock to shows, and Minus the Bear continues to find ways to invigorate its sound. “I think we’re just really focused on writing a record that we all love, and if we can do that, then I think all the other stuff is gravy,” Murchy says.


Minus the Bear with Into It. Over It. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-564-1074, or visit cultureroom.net. Tickets cost $25 plus fees via ticketmaster.com.