Menomena, Say Hi, and Suckers @ the Showbox Tonight!
photo courtesy menomena.com
Suckers are a Brooklyn based band that has an odd mixture of synth keyboard, 80's rock, electronica, and a dash of Modest Mouse. From what we've heard, we're looking forward to catching their live show. It promises to be interesting at worst, and wiggle-your-butt fun at best. They toured with Local Natives this summer and have started a modest, but growing, fanbase. It's almost as if Brent Knopf misses his other band, Ramona Falls, so much he's filling the void with Suckers. We're ok with it... for now.
photo courtesy http://www.myspace.com/sayhitoyourmom
Apparently he's asked a lot of dumb questions as there's an entire page dedicated to the responses he's given to those frequently asked questions. We liked them so much, we decided to list the best ones (p.s. Eric, change your site url if you don't want people asking about the name change):
1. Please do not ask about the name change, it's been more than three years.
2. Any messages or emails employing LOL-speak or lazy spellings will not be answered.
4. Referring to the band as "them" or "you guys" is incorrect, there is only me.
9. Words like 'inspiration' do not apply here. 'Imagination' is far more interesting.
11. Enjoy, and please know that I appreciate you listening.
12. Please do not ask about the name change, it's been more than three years.
Menomena is a trio out of our friendly musical city to the south, Portland. You could say these guys do things a little differently. Here's an example... they self-released their debut album, I Am the Fun Blame Monster!, with an elaborately packaged 80-page flipbook that Danny Seim (percussion) designed and individually hand-assembled. Oh, and Brent Knopf, the keyboardist, developed the software on which the band loops and configures their out-of-the-ordinary backing music when he was in college. Yea, a little differently.
There's music out there that's easy to listen to and makes you smile and sing, then there's music that you have to concentrate on with complex combos that shouldn't sound as beautiful as they do, but somehow make it work. Menomena falls into the latter category in a fantastic way. The combination of twinkling keyboard riffs, off-beat drum rhythms, and gorgeous belting bass sax lines you really have no other choice but to keep listening. Mostly because you're wondering where they'll go next.
The new album, Mines, definitely has a more refined feel to it than their previous Friend and Foe. It's a little easier on the musical brain, but still has moments of complexity that keep bringing us back. The band has been on a bit of a hiatus for the past two years. Knopf headed off to start his own side project Ramona Falls (also a band you should be listening to if you aren't already), but now they're back in full-swing. This is a long-awaited reunion that we think will be worth the wait.
Showbox at the Market // 8pm doors // Tickets $16.00 ADV-$18.00 DOS
