The Minders (1996-2008)

My favorite band from Portland called it quits sometime back in April with this announcement on their myspace page:

"The Minders would like to thank all of our friends, families and fans for their love and support. While there will not be any more Minders records or performances, we will still be making music and new friends, which is what it’s all about!"

I saw them perform once in 2006 to begin their tour for their final studio release "It's a Bright & Guilty World." They played a killer version of "Everybody Knows this is Nowhere" and tore through a set of material spanning most of their catalog. However, since they completed that tour there has been no word for over a year about new music or live shows so this announcement did not come as a complete shock.

The Minders were part of the Elephant Six Collective because Martyn Leaper, founding member, recorded the first release Paper Plane EP with members of The Apples in Stereo. They were never as widely popular as other members of the collective, The Apples in Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Olivia Tremor Control or Of Montreal, but they were the best at crafting infectious pop rock melodies reminiscent of all those often-lauded bands from "back in the day."

Along with Leaper, the last incarnation of the band included Rebecca Cole, Jeff Almond, Marc Willhite, and Joel Burrows. Over the course of a decade a number of notable Portland musicians played with the band including Joanna Bolme (bass player for Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks), Rachel Blumberg (drummer for M. Ward & Norfolk & Western), and Hutch Harris (guitarist and lead vocals in The Thermals).

If you have the chance give them a listen. "Hand Me Downs" which can be found on their B-side compilation Cul-De-Sacs and Dead Ends is a one of my favorites. I will be playing a mini-tribute to the Minders on my radio show "The Half & Half Hour" on kpsu 1450 a.m. in Portland or at kpsu.org on Monday 6/9 at 9:00 p.m.

-johnson!