Sometime in the twilight of the night two years ago in my studio, bleary eyed and into probably my fourth pot of coffee on the day I took a break from an ongoing painting. During that break while scavenging on the Internet I stumbled upon a band that’s name seemed familiar to me from my childhood. Muppets danced in my head as I uttered the band’s name, Menomena. To my surprise a band with such name, actually was pretty rocking. Apparently at the time, Friend or Foe had just released. Their music had such a different sound to me and at the same time the lyrics had something that I could hold onto visually which is a huge plus for me. By far it was instant love and that album turned out on my best for that year. Fast-forward to 2009, an update comes through my email announcing the release of Ramona Falls in August, a side project of one of Menomena’s band members Brent Knopf. Along with this exciting, I learned Menomena would be playing two shows in Chicago. Only being able to enjoy the band from the confines of my Ipod, I was ecstatic to get to finally see them live. With all this said, the following is an intimate recounting of the last weekend in May seeing Menomena at Do Division Fest 2009 and the following evening at the sold out show at the Empty Bottle.
I arrived while the band was still preparing the stage and set up their equipment. Stepping on the pavement, my foot stuck to it instantly making it evident exactly how much beer and alcohol had been consumed in that weekend’s time. The weather was nice and the crowd rowdy, the band had a positive reception given at this point the fest had lasted two full day and I was unsure how many people either A: paid attention to the music or B: were too drunk to realize this wasn’t a Cubs game. The set list only slightly differed on both nights. What lacked on Sunday’s show was not by the band but the slight flaw by the sound board, but all in all an enjoyable evening and a perfect taste of what I could expect the following night. Admittedly this being my first show at the Empty Bottle, I was instantly comfortable in the cavern like venue plastered with upcoming show posters and a Pac Man machine next to the free water. The opening band this evening were the teenage looking Pomegranates, who played a strong set, bringing to mind sounds similar to old school Built to Spill and Modest Mouse. Thax, the old poem man, who seemed to maybe be a mascot for the venue to read us the Menomena inspired poem. Danny arrives on stage announcing Brent’s 32nd Birthday, what happened after that was a heart thumping, head banging set of songs from their two major LPs and a sweet hint of the next chapter of Menomena, with a new tune jokingly titled…Killamall. I am astonished by the amount of energy Justin puts into his drum playing it’s Amazing!!! Brent at times resembled an Schroederesque character hunched over his keyboard of endless sounds. Having to keep an eye on him though if you looked elsewhere for a moment’s time you may find him shredding through notes on his guitar strapped to his back. Danny, the saxophone dancing, mulitinstrumentalist, and comedian completed this trio of controlled sound makers all true composers in their own rights.
The band broke to share a story of a frustrating day (towed car) that was quickly improving. Band and crowd broke into a nice warm and hearty Happy Birthday Brent, which at this point Kelly, Brent’s girlfriend brings out of course a chocolate cake (see Brent interview). Danny then mentions how much Brent wanted this to stay a secret and offers him the consolation of either 32 spanks or 32 hands on his ass whichever were to arrive first. Bands always seem to differ from show to show, it’s never known who likes to converse and who likes to just play music. Danny likes to joke as he mentions his love to spank himself. These guys have such a graceful control of their music and sound, knowing that when recording they use the Brent invented DLR (pronounced deeler) a digital looping recorder that allow the band to record impromptu material that can later be mixed into the tracks we here on the album. But to see the recreation of the digital age in music live with numerous instruments demands for more respect for them (and that’s tough because mine is already high). There are so many subtle nuances from song to song as each bring their own thread into this woven thing of masculinity and beauty in one. Danny admits that The Empty Bottle is their favorite venue in the world and has played a big part in big start 5 years ago. They return for an encore of what was at least a ten-minute rendition of The Monkey’s Back. I am left excited to see what these years have flourished in what they’ll produce as the band returns to the studio this month to begin recording their next LP.
The band broke to share a story of a frustrating day (towed car) that was quickly improving. Band and crowd broke into a nice warm and hearty Happy Birthday Brent, which at this point Kelly, Brent’s girlfriend brings out of course a chocolate cake (see Brent interview). Danny then mentions how much Brent wanted this to stay a secret and offers him the consolation of either 32 spanks or 32 hands on his ass whichever were to arrive first. Bands always seem to differ from show to show, it’s never known who likes to converse and who likes to just play music. Danny likes to joke as he mentions his love to spank himself. These guys have such a graceful control of their music and sound, knowing that when recording they use the Brent invented DLR (pronounced deeler) a digital looping recorder that allow the band to record impromptu material that can later be mixed into the tracks we here on the album. But to see the recreation of the digital age in music live with numerous instruments demands for more respect for them (and that’s tough because mine is already high). There are so many subtle nuances from song to song as each bring their own thread into this woven thing of masculinity and beauty in one. Danny admits that The Empty Bottle is their favorite venue in the world and has played a big part in big start 5 years ago. They return for an encore of what was at least a ten-minute rendition of The Monkey’s Back. I am left excited to see what these years have flourished in what they’ll produce as the band returns to the studio this month to begin recording their next LP.
"Muscle‘n Flo" is the opening track from Friend or Foe, it is sung in the first person and describes from what I interpret as man’s uneasiness and lack of stimulation in his present life. The theme is presented in a very ambiguous way so that any listener male or female are able to relate to the situation. Sometimes in our lives we create goals that were never ours but those who raised us, this song reminds me of many of the messages that Chuck Palahniuk spoke about in Fight Club. What happens when we wake up one morning and have realized we chose the wrong path?
Subscribe
Really enjoyed this review and the Brent Knopf piece. One minor correction however, Danny plays drums and Justin plays sax. Check out Danny's project called Lackthereof which is also on Barsuk.
ReplyDelete