The crowd poured into the door as soon as they were open, grabbing snacks and beverages to enjoy during the show. This was a crowd full of college students ready to see a music not readily offered in State College.
The crowd was buzzing with anticipation for the indie-rock band from Seattle: Minus the Bear. Alongside Minus the Bear, Maps & Atlases and Phantogram filled the stage with electric sound and presence.
Maps & Atlases hopped onto stage around 8 p.m. to set the mood for the night. The group played for about 45 minutes, capturing the audience with its blend of unique sound and lyrical images.
The lead singer Dave Davison announced to the crowd that he bought a Penn State Snuggie from next door and wanted to wear it on stage.
“I am going to give it to my dad for his birthday though,” Davison said. “Don’t tell him.”
As Maps & Atlases left the stage Phantogram took charge. The electric rock duo from New York City performed next. Their music turned The State Theatre into a dance club, having audience members dancing in the seats. The exciting light display and combination of dance beats really turned the mood into something else.
The lead singer record her voice and than loop it through her system laying down beats and danceable melodies. The set ended around 9:30, and it was obvious the crowd was ready for Minus the Bear.
Minus the Bear took the stage, and the entire theatre stood. Not a single person was sitting, and that is how it remained for the rest of the set. The band started with its newest single, “Into the Mirror,” released in October.
After the first song, lead singer and guitarist Jake Snider addressed the audience saying, “This seating is interesting, I hope you like the person you are assigned to sit next to. Just try to ignore the chairs.”
Minus the Bear was not used to playing a venue that had assigned seating, compared to normal concert halls they usually play in.
The State Theatre’s intimate atmosphere allowed for interaction between the band and the audience. Dave Knudson noticed one audience member’s interesting shirt, which had a light pulsating in time.
“I feel like I have my own personal light show over here,” Knudson said. “Does that thing go to the beat of my music?”
Some of the band members had interesting ways of playing their music. Instead of using their feet to change the distortion and loop pedals, they would get on the ground and pound them with their hands.
Minus the Bear played for more than an hour and ended the set with “Absinthe at the Party Warehouse,” an obvious crowd favorite. Everyone swayed, danced and sang all the words even in their assigned seats. Minus the Bear was not done there though and came out to play two more fan favorites before calling it a night.
Attendees were able to see a band not usually offered in State College and the crowd seemed pleased with the performance.
