Minus the Bear Celebrate Menos el Oso at Newport Music Hall

5 days ago

3 min read

Minus the Bear returned to Columbus on September 4 for a triumphant performance at Newport Music Hall, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their landmark album Menos el Oso. It was an evening fueled by nostalgia, technical precision and the warm connection between a beloved band and the listeners who never stopped carrying these songs with them.

After an opening set from Keep, Minus the Bear entered to “What a Fool Believes,” immediately establishing the playful spirit surrounding the reunion. Once the band began “The Game Needed Me,” however, the room shifted into full attention.

The opening guitar pattern shimmered across the venue before the full band settled into the song’s intricate groove. From there, Minus the Bear performed Menos el Oso in sequence, allowing the album to unfold with the same carefully constructed momentum that made it so influential.

“Memphis & 53rd” sounded especially muscular live, its interlocking guitars cutting cleanly through the mix. “Drilling” followed with an easy sense of motion, balancing technical complexity with the relaxed confidence that has always separated Minus the Bear from countless bands influenced by them.

Guitarist and vocalist Jake Snider delivered the material with a calm but commanding presence. His understated vocal style remained an effective contrast to the constantly moving instrumentation around him. Guitarist Dave Knudson brought the unmistakable tapping patterns, layered effects and rhythmic precision that helped define the band’s sound, while bassist Cory Murchy anchored the arrangements with an agile, powerful low end.

The middle of the album produced some of the night’s most memorable moments. “The Fix” carried a darker pulse, while “El Torrente” gave the musicians room to stretch out and build atmosphere. The crowd’s response grew considerably when the opening notes of “Pachuca Sunrise” filled Newport Music Hall.

The song remains one of Minus the Bear’s defining compositions, and its arrival felt less like a predictable fan-service moment than a genuine communal release. Voices rose throughout the room as the band moved through its dreamy verses and beautifully layered guitar lines.

“Michio’s Death Drive” brought the energy back up with its sharp rhythmic attack, followed by lively performances of “Hooray” and “Fulfill the Dream.” Behind the band, the colorful lighting shifted between glowing greens, intense reds, amber beams and deep purple washes, reinforcing the movement and texture built into the music.

“The Pig War” and “This Ain’t a Surfin’ Movie” completed the anniversary portion of the performance. Hearing the entire album played in sequence highlighted just how cohesive Menos el Oso remains. Twenty years later, its mixture of math-rock precision, indie-rock melody, electronic textures and late-night atmosphere still sounds remarkably fresh.

The celebration did not end with the album.

“Spritz!!! Spritz!!!” reached back to Highly Refined Pirates, while “Throwin’ Shapes” and “Knights” represented the expansive sound of Planet of Ice. “Get Me Naked 2: Electric Boogaloo,” “Let’s Play Clowns” and “Lemurs, Man, Lemurs” gave longtime fans an energetic tour through different corners of the band’s catalog.

“Knights” was a late-set highlight. Its heavy opening riff and explosive rhythmic turns filled the historic venue, demonstrating that Minus the Bear could still move effortlessly from delicate, atmospheric passages into something forceful and immediate.

The band returned for an encore featuring “Into the Mirror” and “Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse.” The latter provided an ideal conclusion, sending the audience home with one of the group’s most enduring songs.

An outro of “Thank You for Being a Friend” closed the evening with humor and affection, but the sentiment also felt completely appropriate. This was more than an anniversary performance. It was a celebration of an album, a reunion between old friends and a reminder of how distinctive Minus the Bear remains.