I'm loving that you are using the transducer from the speaker as a mic... but i have to ask (your sound engineer) why there isn't a casing on the back of the speaker diaphragm to get those low ends to bein???

Joe says: It helps capture the sub-atomic earth shattering low tones of "thunderfoot."

When are you guys hitting the UK

Hopefully by the end of the year!

The photos don't look like the Red Room... are you not recording with Matt?

Well, for one, Matt records at many other places besides Red Room. We recorded basic tracks for Planet of Ice with him at Robert Lang Studios. Since Matt has recorded nearly everything band has done, we decided it was time for a change of pace for the new record. We are currently working with Joe Chiccarelli.

When will you guys be touring again?

We'll be working on the record for the next couple months, with a short break after that. Touring will commence Fall 2009.

Which of the troupe updates the twitter?

We all can and do.

What studio are you at for this one?

Can't tell you just yet.

Whatever happened to the These Arms Are Snakes cover you guys were gonna release?

Both bands are planning to record cover songs (not eachother's) for a split 7" .... hmmm, gotta make that happen soon. 

Question. :) My boyfriend wants to know if there is any common theme to the upcoming album. :D Love you guys.

Are there going to be any new acoustic oriented songs like "guns & ammo"?

Nothing planned out yet, but we've been kicking around a tune called "chicken man" that is decidedly the new Kumbaya. 

is Grandpa Murchy single? and may I take him on a date please?

Sorry sister, he's taken!

I was just wondering how long the album is going to be and how many songs are going to be featured on it.

Too early to tell, but it's looking like we will have quite the collection to choose from.

I would like to know how you make so many notes out of only 2 DL-4s on "White Mystery"? Please answer!

First there's the magic, then there's the mystery. It's two samples, played back double speed and backwards.

Which do you prefer venue-wise? Big festivals like Bumbershoot or smaller places like the Showbox?

Festivals are totally great because you get to play for lots of people and see other bands and sunbathe in coconut oil. However, on a daily basis, it's hard to beat the intimacy, comfort and "proper soundcheck" that a good club/theater show provides.

Are you guys doing anything unusual for your songwriting or recording process this time around?

So far, we have been recording everyone playing at once with the intention of keeping the live tracks as opposed to the usual method of replacing everything after getting the drum tracks. We're also recording with an outside producer for the first time since the first LP.

I know this is sorta unrelated, but how come Sharks Keep Moving split quietly? 

We've been working on the new record for the past 10 years. We never really did a lot of moving to begin with. 

Exactly what gets you guys in the zone? is it the wine!? 

Nope. 

Which of your own album art is your favorite? Your album art always seems to greatly compliment your music.

The album art is very important to us.... glad you noticed!

Erin: Planet of Ice
Jake: They Make Beer Commercials Like This
Dave: Menos el Oso
Cory: Acoustics
Alex: Ice / Acoustics

how many DL4s are you typically using at once? Also, any cool new pedals for this album?

Typically 0-4. New pedals: pitch pirate, mu-tron phasor, line 6 m-13

If you had to compare the overall sound of this album to 1 previously released song - which best encapsulates the new LP?

Oh, you know... just pick your favorite. It’s gonna be like that one.

in ur past wrk there is a distinct/clear progression in terms of style/mood/tempo from album 2 album, what can we expect next?

How is this album progressing from Planet of Ice? In what ways is it different or in the same vein?

How would you describe the overall direction the band is taking with this new record

It’s hard for us to answer questions like these, because. In general, we’re going for a more live feel. Everyone is playing together and we’re trying to keep the live performance as intact as possible. Stylistically, it's all over the map ... and we aren’t even sure which songs are going to make the record yet. EXCITING!

The more recent the stuff, the more jazz inspired it sounds, whats influencing you guys these days?

Well, influenced or not, we’ve been listening to Funk, Jazz, Classic Rock, Yacht Rock, R&B, Dub, etc. etc.

What studio are you guys recording at, is joe going to mix it too?

Yes, Joe's going to be mixing it... we're working at a temporarily secret location.

When can we expect the first single to be released?
When is the new album gonna be out and what's it gonna be called?

We are recording this one without the assistance of a label, so there is no release schedule yet. Rest assured that as the album progresses we'll also be working on the game plan for a release. Right now we're enjoying having complete control and making music that's exciting to us.

favorite soft drink?

Japanese or Mexican Coca-cola. Dave says: No Pepsi!

Hows about Dave gives us an update on his rig and slip some details on Hog settings to get that fit Burying Luck sound?

Use the gliss function and put your expression pedal about half way up. 

since ur from seattle- whats your fave nw venue to play? What about worldwide?

Can't really mess with a homecoming show at the Showbox. Grand Rokk in Reykjavik, Iceland comes to mind worldwide. They let Cory and Erin bartend. Let's just leave it at that.

Why're you so awesome?

A myrriad of reasons... 

Hey guys I have one. How does your creative writing process go?

Generally Dave comes up with a few riffs and brings them to practice, either from a demo or by playing them. From there, anything can happen. We'll generally play around with song structures for as long as it takes to get something we're happy with. Things tend to continue evolving until they end up on the album.

Here's one nobody asked:

About 1 in 23,000 women is named David,  0.0043% of the population. 10,000 women and 3.1 million men named David.

What is the smaller verellen box on top of the bass amps?

It's a moveable reverb unit Cory can shake around. He had it made (by Verellen) for a dub freakout here and there.Thank you Mr Verellen!

will you please blow my mind again?

Sure, why not?

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Hey all, here's the press release that went out last week... Can't wait to finish this thing up for all of you... more studio updates soon... 

Follow us in the studio on flickr and twitter:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/minusthebear/

http://twitter.com/minusthebear

========================================

Seattle-based quintet Minus the Bear are currently hard at work on their highly anticipated fourth studio album, still untitled. Excited to expand on their inimitable brand of rock n roll songwriting and explore their existing love of audio ingenuity, the band teamed up with Grammy Award winning producer Joe Chicarelli (My Morning Jacket, The White Stripes) to lend a helping hand. Loved for their brilliant countermelodies and progressive arrangements by legions of fans, the band plans on taking their endless creativity and craft, which has been praised by the likes of Spin, Alternative Press, Paste and others, to new heights on this new album.

Minus the Bear will take the opportunity to self finance their new album, giving them full control in an evolving industry. The band plans on releasing their new album on a yet to be announced record label.

Minus The Bear will release their new album this fall.

Minus The Bear on iLike - Add iLike to your MySpace

gonna be doing some Q&A via our twitter page today...

got a question for us? we'll try to answer as many as we can, and post the answers up on this myspace blog thing later this week....

recording is going great, and we're all super excited about the sounds!!!

e

We enter the studio today!

twitter.com/minusthebear if you'd like to be "in the loop"

sorry anti-twitter people.

added some new pictures to flickr.
ill post more soon...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/minusthebear/



ADDED MORE, MORE COMING SOON TOO!

Any of you folks using Twitter?

twitter.com/minusthebear

MTB plans to begin recording LP#4 next month.

-A

©Robin Laananen

Minus The Bear on iLike - Add iLike to your MySpace

We know a lot of you have expressed interest in getting the Acoustics EP on vinyl.... well guess what, people?

Thanks to our fantastic friends at Suicide Squeeze, it is now a REALITY!!! Limited to 5,000 copies, these Baby Blue w/ Creme Haze 12" records will make a lovely addition to your collection. All pre-orders will be entered to win an autographed test pressing, so get on that ASAP before "pre-ordering" becomes simply "ordering."

Order Here: http://www.suicidesqueeze.net/index.php?section=store&ID=74
Check out the Suicide Squeeze blog here: http://suicidesqueezerecords.blogspot.com

Happy 2009, everyone.
MTB

Tickets for EMPIRE will be honored at Harlow's. Period. It was part of the deal with switching venues. See you tonight!!!

Hey Everyone-

We're excited to announce that Minus the Bear's new track "Guns & Ammo", from the forthcoming Acoustics EP, is now available at Spin.com as an exclusive download.

Check it out

The full EP will be available to purchase through iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, and other online distributors starting tomorrow, Tuesday October 7th. Copies of the CD will be available exclusively at Minus the Bear shows this fall.