Menomena and the Muppets
Menomena, celebrated the release of their latest album, Friend and Foe, on Sunday. The band has released an EP/single and an LP via Film Guerrero before inking a deal with Barsuk Records. Film Guerrero, a label based in Portland, will continue to release their EPs, vinyl, and merchandise, while future full-lengths will be distributed via Barsuk, which is based in Seattle. Friend and Foe is streamed here.
Menomena will begin a 22 gig tour on February 02 of 2007, taking them throughout the US and Canada. Anyone attending South by Southwest will have two opportunities to catch Menomena, as they perform at Buffalo Billiards on March 15 with other Barsuk bands and the following night at the Pitchfork Music Festival at Emo's. Information for the shows can be found on the band's tour blog at funblame.blogspot.com.
Barsuk mentions, "The upcoming release, friend and foe, returns to the more pop-influenced stylings of Fun Blame Monster, shining Northwest indie songcraft through a Chicago post-rock lens, illuminating the quiet recesses with an unpredictable, experimental light."
The three-piece experimental band met in high school and later formed Menomena in 2000 while they were in college. According to Last.fm, Menomena take their name from "a classic muppetshow act". Though the band remains a "mystery", as described by Barsuk, they recorded their first albums on a program called Deeler (Digital Looping Recorder) that pianist Brent Knopf programmed. Song writing efforts are approached mutually, with each member adding layers. (Wikipedia)
Menomena – Wet and Rusting
Menomena – Cough Coughing
Menomena on:
iTunes | Insound | Amazon | Hype Machine | Elbo.ws | SeeqPod | Last.fm | YouTube | Flickr
Menomena tour dates:
02 Feb 2007 – SEATTLE, WA [ Crocodile Cafe ] with S, Siberian
03 Feb 2007 – VANCOUVER, CANADA [ Pat's Pub ]
09 Mar 2007 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA [ Cafe du Nord ]
10 Mar 2007 – LOS ANGELES, CA [ Echo ]
15 Mar 2007 – AUSTIN, TX [ Buffalo Billiards ] with Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Rocky Votolato Aqueduct, Viva Voce
Barsuk SXSW showcase
16 Mar 2007 – AUSTIN, TX [ Emo's ] with Girl Talk, RJD2, The Ponys, Pipettes, Do Make Say Think + more
SXSW Pitchfork Music Festival
Menomena tour dates with Field Music, and Land of Talk
20 Mar 2007 – CHICAGO, IL[ Empty Bottle ]
21 Mar 2007 – CLEVELAND, OH [ Beachland Ballroom ]
22 Mar 2007 – PITTSBURGH, PA [ Lawrenceville Moose ]
23 Mar 2007 – TORONTO, CANADA [ El Mocambo ]
24 Mar 2007 – OTTAWA, CANADA [ Zaphod Beeblebrox ]
25 Mar 2007 – MONTREAL, CANADA [ Main Hall ]
27 Mar 2007 – ALLSTON, MA [ Great Scott ]
28 Mar 2007 – NEW YORK, NY [ Bowery Ballroom ]
29 Mar 2007 – PRINCETON, NJ [ Princeton University ] Private show for students only
30 Mar 2007 – PHILADELPHIA, PA [ Johnny Brenda's ]
31 Mar 2007 – WASHINGTON, DC [ Rock and Roll Hotel ] with Film School
Menomena tour dates:
01 Apr 2007 – CARRBORO, NC [ Local 506 ]
03 Apr 2007 – ATLANTA, GA [ Drunken Unicorn ]
04 Apr 2007 – BIRMINGHAM, AL [ Bottle Tree ]
05 Apr 2007 – LITTLE ROCK, AR [ Sticky Fingerz ]
07 Apr 2007 – DENVER, CO [ High Dive ]