With new album, band aims for a more sensual vibe

Wiltern attendees were ready for the weekend.

At least, that’s how it seemed during the energetic performance of Minus the Bear on Friday. The band enjoyed a receptive crowd, ready to celebrate the end of a long workweek with music from an audience-appreciative musical group.

“Yeah, it sounds like a Friday night, doesn’t it?” Minus the Bear’s singer/guitarist Jake Snider said to the crowd.

The concert was a chance for the band to show off its new sound. Its previous three albums with Suicide Squeeze Records were a mix of raw energy, quirky-yet-pensive lyrics and unpredictable arrangements. Now with Dangerbird Records, the band has set out to create more soulful and sensual compilations, while maintaining its previous pace.

Minus the Bear’s sound on its new album, Omni, is a mix of funk-inspired electronic rock, well-placed harmonies and instrumental layering.

Peculiar song titles, thought-provoking lyrics and first-rate recordings were not the only features of the band on display at the show. It quickly became evident that Minus the Bear places intense focus on creating a successful and engaging live performance — a trait that makes it a stand out among bands claiming a unique sound and mixed style.

“We feel like the live show is really where you get to see what we’re doing,” guitarist David Knudson said.

Such dedication to establishing a personal connection with audiences is part of what makes Minus the Bear performances so loved — and why the band works so hard to be precise in its timing.

That isn’t to say, however, that the band does not have fun — on the contrary. Minus the Bear’s proclaimed live dedication translates to a joyful — and somewhat edgy — feel during shows.

The set opened with “Secret Country,” a track from the band’s new album. After encouraging attendees to come down from the balcony area in the theater and further fill the already-packed first floor, Snider and the rest of the band launched into an energy-driven show that never slowed down.

Minus the Bear followed “Secret Country” with “Memphis & 53rd” and “Thanks for the Killer Game of Crisco Twister,” tracks from previous albums Menos el Oso and Highly Refined Pirates, respectively. Fans joined in, clapping along with the beat and swaying back and forth. The crowed eventually started singing along, revealing a deep knowledge of the band’s lyrics.

One of the standout numbers of the night came from a song off the band’s 2007 album, Planet of Ice. Played with passion in addition to its characteristic energy, “Burying Luck” allowed the band members to demonstrate their tight-knit relationship. Without a missed note or flustered strum, the band put its musical knowledge on display in a flawless rendition of the song — a sure sign of a solid group that translates well from studio recordings to live performances.

“Prepare yourselves,” Snider said as the band transitioned into “My Time,” a recent release off of its latest album. If the shouts and happy screams from the crowd were any indication, the Omni track was one of the night’s favorites.

The 15-song set might have ended too soon for the enthusiastic audience members, who, at the end of “Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse,” demonstrated with hoarse voices their desire to hear more Minus the Bear.

The two-song encore opened with “Knights” and ended with fan favorite “Pachuca Sunrise,” both from albums released prior to Omni. The serene opening notes and extended instrumental ending of “Pachuca Sunrise” rocked The Wiltern and gave longing fans more time with their beloved, quirky and insightful lyricists and musicians.

Minus the Bear, as a group, knows how to bring joy to live listeners. If it hadn’t felt like a Friday night before the band stepped onstage, Minus the Bear left The Wiltern with a happy audience who felt like the party had just begun.