Events

[INDIE] When Minus the Bear released their third full length, Planet of Ice, in 2007, reactions were mixed – as they have been, pretty much, with everything they’ve released since turning the corner from their prog-absurdist early work to something a bit moodier and more personal. Now a decade later, Ice has sold out four vinyl pressings and continues to be regarded as a career high point for MTB, who just finished touring last year’s ambitious Voids, their first album without drummer Erin Tate. To celebrate the album’s 10 year anniversary, the Seattle-based quartet is playing it in its entirety on a tour that stops at Town Ballroom on Tuesday, May 1. Looking at the full length records they’ve made made since, Planet of Ice remains the best hybrid of what MTB was, in its early years, and what it’s become since, which is probably why it resonates so heavily with longtime fans. With Omni and Infinity Overhead, (Dangerbird, 2010 and 2012, respectively) MTB became a slick outfit built on impressive musicanly chops, with a live sound mix so clean you could eat off of it. Overall, these are good qualities. But the tone of the songs is no longer “fun” in the collegiate-silliness sense of the word. When MTB started, the members were in their mid-20’s. Suffice to say, life gets more serious as you get older. At 42, it’s probably difficult for Jake Snider to stand by a tune like “Thanks for the Killer Game of Crisco Twister.” But MTB stands by Planet of Ice, and with memorable melodies like “Knights” and “Throwin’ Shapes,” as well they should. Joining them on Tuesday are fellow Suicide Squeeze label-mates, The Coathangers, a fem-trio from Atlanta with plenty of hyper new wave energy and punky sneer, plus Santa Rosa’s The New Trust.