PHOTOS BY JOSHUA BAND

Despite the earnest, melodic rock of Minneapolis' Ela and the spirited avant hip-hop of Subtle -- who both impressed and confused the crowd with its eclectic arrangements and theatrical frontman Doseone, who moved back and forth across the stage like a sideshow street performer -- the audience at Detroit's St. Andrew's Hall last night (Sept. 27) was really just waiting for Minus the Bear, stomping and cheering its approval as the cerebral five-piece finally emerged from the shadows and launched immediately into a rousing version of "Burying Luck."

And the collective energy only continued, both on-stage and on the floor, as MTB powered through an hour-long set, hardly even stopping to breathe between songs. Instead, the breaks came with the stops and starts found in the songs themselves; the orchestrated pause, the raised arm, the chords held, both broken and warmly angular, bringing cuts like "Dr. L'Ling" and "Lotus" to their full emotive capabilities. Though the set focused primarily on the group's latest release, Planet of Ice, frontman Jake Snider and Co. responded to their fans' excitement and dedication, inserting favorites like "Spritz!!! Spritz!!!" and "Hooray" into the mix, too, and leaving the audience salivating for an encore -- one last song before the ride home. To which, of course, Minus the Bear happily obliged with a maddening thrush of "The Fix," "When We Escape," and "Pachuca Sunrise." 

We asked: Minus the Bear issued the They Make Beer Commercials Like This EP in 2004. What Minus the Bear song would fit in a beer commercial and why?

Name: Alex Fesili
Age: 17
Hometown: Canton, MI
Occupation: Student
"Well, I'm 17, so you know, I don't drink... to be honest, any song sounds good when you're drunk."

Name: Andrew Dicher
Age: 23
Hometown: Woodhaven, MI
Occupation: Unemployed
"'Rockin' in the Free World' because they're livin' the dream, man. I wish I was doing what they are doing."

Name: Katie Hesner
Age: 18
Hometown: Canton, MI
Occupation: Student
"To me it doesn't matter, I wouldn't usually pair beer and Minus the Bear together."

Name: Josh Fowler
Age: 18
Hometown: Canton, MI
Occupation: Student
"'The Game Needed Me' because it's crazy and less mellow."

Name: Chris Jeffers
Age: 18
Hometown: Plymouth, MI
Occupation: Crew at Wendy's
"'Knights' because it would be great music and the lyrics would be funny."

Name: Paul Szlaga
Age: 22
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Occupation: Environmental engineer
"I don't know the names. Sorry. The one where he says 'wine.'"

Name: Martin Vecchio
Age: 22
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Occupation: Photographer
"The one they talk about red wine with every meal."

Name: Jess Martin
Age: 23
Hometown: Royal Oak, MI
Occupation: Fashion designer
"'Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse' because it's phenomenal and they are musically brilliant!"

Vocalist/guitarist Jake Snider with drummer Erin Tate / Photo by Joshua Band

Guitarist Dave Knudson / Photo by Joshua Band

Snider takes the mic / Photo by Joshua Band

Minus the Bear / Photo by Joshua Band

Ela frontman Bill Caperton / Photo by Joshua Band

Subtle rhymeslayer Doseone / Photo by Joshua Band