MENOMENA - FRIEND AND FOE out January 23rd!

Listen to the new album : "Friend and Foe"

2007-01-18T23:36:00.001-08:00

Dear Menomenauts,

For your ears and eyes:
CLICK HERE to Listen to the new album

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,

- Brent / Menomena

Upcoming Tour Dates!

2007-01-18T23:09:00.000-08:00

Dear Menomenauts!

We've just added a few dates to our upcoming tour : PHOENIX, PITTSBURGH, BIRMINGHAM, and LITTLE ROCK!

Also

We head off for two dates this weekend!

02/02/07 [Friday Feb 2nd] SEATTLE, WA.
Crocodile Cafe. 21+
with S

02/03/07 [Saturday Feb 3rd] VANCOUVER, CANADA
Pat's Pub

____________

Our upcoming tour in March and April.

03/09/07 [Friday March 9th] SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Cafe du Nord

03/10/07 [Saturday March 10th] LOS ANGELES, CA
Echo

03/11/07 [Sunday March 11th] PHOENIX, AR
Rhythm Room

03/20/07 [Tuesday March 20th] CHICAGO, IL
Empty Bottle
with Field Music, Land of Talk

03/21/07 [Wednesday March 21st] CLEVELAND, OH
Beachland Ballroom
with Field Music, Land of Talk

03/22/07 [Thursday March 22nd] PITTSBURGH, PA
LV Moose
with Field Music, Land of Talk

03/23/07 [Friday March 23rd] TORONTO, CANADA
El Mocambo
with Field Music, Land of Talk

03/24/07 [Saturday March 24th] OTTAWA, CANADA
Zaphod Beeblebrox
with Land of Talk, Field Music

03/25/07 [Sunday March 25th] MONTREAL, CANADA
Main Hall
with Land of Talk, Field Music

03/27/07 [Tuesday March 27th] ALLSTON/BOSTON, MA
Great Scott
with Field Music, Land of Talk

03/28/07 [Wednesday March 28th] NEW YORK, NY
Bowery Ballroom
with Field Music, Land of Talk

03/29/07 [Thursday March 29th] PRINCETON, NJ
Princeton University - Private show for students only
with Land of Talk

03/30/07 [Friday March 30th] PHILADELPHIA, PA
Johnny Brenda's
with Field Music, Land of Talk

03/31/07 [Saturday March 31st] WASHINGTON, DC
Rock and Roll Hotel
with Field Music, Land of Talk

04/01/07 [Sunday April 1st] CHAPEL HILL, NC
Local 506

04/03/07 [Tuesday April 3rd] ATLANTA, GA
Drunken Unicorn

04/04/07 [Wednesday April 4th] BIRMINGHAM, AL
Bottletree

4/05/07 [Thursday April 5th] LITTLE ROCK, AR
Sticky Fingerz

04/07/07 [Saturday April 7th] DENVER, CO
High Dive

______

Thanks for listening!

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,

- Brent / Menomena

Thank You California!

2006-12-13T13:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Menomenauts,

With apologies for not being able to post much during this West Coast tour,
I would like to say,

SAN FRANCISCO : We had such a fun time playing at the Hemlock Tavern.
Thank you to :
- Julia for running sound for us — you were so nice and communicative!
- The Bad Hands for opening and rocking and being fantastically nice people!
- 31 knots for working the audience into a complete frenzy!
- Lisa and HRT for being absolutely wonderful!
- Katherine and Performer magazine for presenting the show!

LOS ANGELES : Things finally clicked for us onstage at Spaceland. We had an absolute blast!
Thank you to :
- Jonnie and Emily for helping us run the merch table, and for total general awesomeness!
- Julie, Alex, and Mikoko for telling us about your cool film projects over dinner!
- Kim for your encouragement!
- Molly, Jennifer, and Joe of Spaceland for making our experience go SO smoothly!
- Pink Mountaintops for letting us play with them!
- My sister for letting us crash at her cool apartment!

SAN DIEGO : This was our very first time playing in San Diego. Thank you for having us at the Casbah!
Thank you to:
- Ben [and Brad] for the place to sleep, and the fun company!
- Andi, Greg, and Gordon for coming out to support us, it was so great to see you!
- Holly for giving us your extra polaroids!

and
IN GENERAL
We would like to :
- say how wonderful it was to play with 31 knots during this tour. You three gentlemen are such fantastic humans, and together you constitute an incredible band. Also : Annette : Viel Gluck! Ich hoffe das Menomena Deutschland besuchen konnen!
- [and] apologize to California for bringing the Oregon rain-storms down to SF, LA, and SD along with us! That's what life is like in Portland EVERY DAY.

Rain rain rain!
Rock rock rock!
Love love love!
- Brent / Menomena

San Francisco this FRIDAY at the Hemlock Tavern!

2006-12-04T14:08:00.000-08:00

Dear Menomenauts of San Francisco,

We are excited to play this Friday, December 8th, at the Hemlock Tavern.
Looks like the Hemlock website says the show

starts at 9:30pm
costs $10 bucks
includes : Openers — The Bad Hand, and Main Support — 31knots

also : thank you to Performer Magazine for presenting this show!

Rock rock rock!
Love love love,

- Brent / Menomena

Tomorrow in Seattle at the Paradox!

2006-12-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Tomorrow, Saturday Dec 2nd, we play at the Paradox in Seattle:
1401 NW Leary Way
http://www.theparadox.org/

Thanks to all in Portland who came out (and stayed late) for the show! We're sorry our sampler crashed in the middle of the set! We're still working out the kinks.

Rock rock rock,
Love love love,
- Brent / Menomena

Tonight We Play Portlandia, Oregonia

2006-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Menomenauts of Portland,

Tonight, Thursday November 30th, we will play at Disjecta!

We will be playing with 31Knots & Leti Angel

We will try to unveil two [more] of our new songs.

Thank you for listening,

Love love love,
Rock rock rock

- Brent / Menomena

________
Where: Disjecta, 230 E. Burnside
(enter on the Burnside Bridge)
What Time: Doors at 8:00, Show at 9:00 PM
How Much: $10 in advance

West Coast Tour Starting Soon!

2006-11-22T11:55:00.000-08:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Menomena will be rocking the West Coast quite soon.

PORTLAND : Thu Nov 30 : Disjecta
SEATTLE : Sat Dec 2 : Paradox

SAN FRANCISCO : Fri Dec 8 : Hemlock Tavern
LOS ANGELES : Sat Dec 9 : Spaceland
SAN DIEGO : Sun Dec 10 : The Casbah

Rock rock rock,
Love love love,

- Brent / Menomena

Minneapolis, the last show on this tour!

2006-10-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Thanks to everyone at the Triple Rock for your incredible hospitality.

This is Michael from What Made Milwaukee Famous and Justin posing with the Triple Rock Bouncer as he bounced away some lingerers :

This was the last stop on our tour, and we really enjoyed being able to hang out with The Long Winters and What Made Milwaukee Famous one last time:

Much love to Nandita and Zaied for being so very nice to us (+ the place to crash), and to Jimmy and Quanah for joining us all for breakfast the next day.

Thanks to everyone who came out to see these shows.

We hope to tour the West Coast this December.

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,
- Brent / Menomena

Chicago at Subterranean

2006-10-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

We always look forward to playing in Chicago. Thanks everyone at Subterranean for being so nice to us (and for helping us lug our equipment down all those stairs!)

Jonathan from The Long Winters and Justin give Chicago a hearty, proud, bearded salute :

Jim + Natasha, it was so kind of you to have us crash at your place. Thanks especially for the 4am kosher pickles! Jimmy & Beatrice, thanks for joining us all for breakfast the next morning.

To our friends Pit Er Pat : Congrats on the release of your new album, and I'm sorry we couldn't make it to your show that same night!

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,
- Brent / Menomena

Detroit

2006-10-12T11:56:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts of the Michican/Detroit/Windsor Area:

I was a bit taken aback to have some of you requesting such obscure Menomena tracks as "Let's All Unite," "Nebali," and "the Ladder." I think you know more about Menomena than I do! Thank you for being so kind and enthusiastic, it was really a pleasure playing for you. You have the proud distinction of being the audience which requested more autographs per capita than any other city we've ever played! You made me blush!

Thank you to everyone at the Magic Stick for treating us so well. The bowling alley below the venue was fantastic — thanks for giving us a free game. I think I bowled a 72.

Quick story : we were in Windsor, trying to find the tunnel to Detroit. We asked directions from a kind young man, and ended up handing him a copy of our new Wet and Rusting "single." Well, it turns out, he played the song on the radio soon after we met him. If anyone knows his name or how to contact him, would you please post it as a comment below? We'd love to offer him our gratitude.

Love also to Zoe for driving down with her beau from Ann Arbor to see us play. It was great seeing you again!

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,
- Brent / Menomena

p.s. Many thanks to the U.S. Border Patrol for the thorough colonic cleanse. USA : Love it or leave it!

Toron(t)o

2006-10-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts of Toronto,

Thank you for having us in your amazing city. You were one of our favorite crowds. This was our first time playing in Toronto, and y'all made it a very pleasurable experience.

I don't know what John Farmer from What Made Milwaukee Famous agreed to do to (for?) Justin for $10 Canadian, but clearly there is much to be excited aboot:

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,
Eh eh eh?

- Brent / Menomena

Only 4 Shows Left!

2006-10-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

There remain only four dates left on this fall 2006 tour :

10/4 - Toronto at Lee's Palace
10/5 - Detroit at Magic Stick
10/6 - Chicago at Subterranean
10/7 - Minneapolis at Triple Rock Social Club

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,
- Brent / Menomena

Montreal Ohh Lah-Lah

2006-10-04T16:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Thanks to La Sala Rosa for being such an awesome venue, to Remy for being such an awesome promoter, and to the small but awesome audience for listening to us play.

Gabe, and then Jamie : very nice to meet you, thank you for your kind words and support.

Thanks to the Montreal hotel for giving us a discount rate on this cozy room with three separate beds. Justin displays his excitement:

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,
- Brent / Menomena

And the Granite of New Hampshire

2006-10-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Alex & Kristi for two very restful days in New Hampshire.

We had so much fun setting so many crazy fireworks:

And here's me wrasslin' some cattle from the neighbor's field :

Love,
- Brent / Menomena

The Boston Teed-Off Party

2006-10-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Upon arriving at Harpers Ferry, it became clear that it would be a rough night. I won't go into the gossipy details. Long story short : we began to suspect that there was not adequate time for us to set up and play a normal set.

For a while, Danny and I discussed the idea of turning our limited time onstage into a super-advance listening party of our upcoming LP, "Friend and Foe," while giving shoulder massages to audience members. We gave up on this idea.

Sure enough, Menomena was cut off after performing 4 songs (15 minutes or so). We apologize to folks who came out to see us for such a short set. If there was anything we could have done to prevent it, we would have. Here is a picture of Justin destroying the Harpers Ferry Green Room :

Kevin & Megan : I can't believe you drove all the way out to Boston from Rochester. Amazing! Meredith (& Alyssa) : thank you so much for the Halls Cold Remedy. I really needed it, you guys are awesome. Jordan : it was great seeing you again. Marty : thanks for cooking us pancakes and for letting us crash at your place. The Pug Cleo provided ample entertainment :

We love playing for Boston audiences, so we won't let this negative experience deter us from coming back. We promise the next show will be better.

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,

- Brent / Menomena

New York New York New York New York

2006-10-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Menomena had a busy day — we posed all angst-ridden looking for some photographs. On one of the shoots, we met this squirrel who was planning something devious.

Later, loading into the venue, we met a man named Justin Roderick.

Thank you to Tony of the Bowery Ballroom for being perhaps the best person ever.

Thanks to all who came out to the Bowery to listen to us Rock.

Thank you as well to Michael and Sarah for having us crash at their Manhattan apartment. It was so fun to see you, and to meet your dog Bella.

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,

- Brent / Menomena

Philadelphia

2006-10-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Thanks you for listening to us at World Cafe Live. We had a fantastic time.

Check out this super-artsy picture that Danny took from the overpass above the venue.

Andee and Liberty — it was great to see you.

Arye of NYC, thanks for letting us crash at your apartment that night.

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,

- Brent / Menomena

Baltimore @ Sonar

2006-09-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Lovely Peoples of Baltimore,

First things first : thank you to Bridget of Sonar for helping us navigate around the traffic for the filming of Die-Hard 4. It took us 25 minutes to travel 4 blocks. We finally arrived and had a fantastic time playing for you all.

We were also honored to share the evening with Unearth , who played in the bigger room of Sonar.

I can honestly say that this was the first show where we felt like things were feeling "right" onstage.

Thanks also to Gideon, Rita, Emma, and Ren for making the trek out to see us.

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,
- Brent / Menomena

Charlottesville — Won't get Foosed again

2006-09-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Much love to those of you who came out to see us at the Satellite Ballroom. We had a delightful time playing for you. Thank you for listening.

The highlight of our night was playing Foosball with Liz. She is a formidible and agile opponent. Thank you so much for the place to crash! I hope you made it to your speech on time, and if not, I'm sorry if we made you late!

Love love love,
Spin spin spin,

- Brent

Energy to Blog = Energy to Rock divided by Common Cold

2006-09-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

I apologize for my lapse in communication.

You see, I caught a case of the sniffles, and wanted to make sure that my precious life-energy was not diverted away from bringing the Rock.

I will try now to bring you* up to speed.

Love love love,
Cough cough cough,

- Brent / Menomena

* = upwards, now, of 5 visitors per day

Adventure Land

2006-09-25T17:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Rock hard. Play hard.

Welcome to Adventure Land.

Go-Carts. No Bumping? Yeah Right.

And batting cages, balls pitched "VERY fast."

And Laser Tag.

I wonder if I was at any disadvantage under the black lights?

And arcades!

That is Menomena's day off.

Love love love,
Play play play,

- Brent / Menomena

1/3 done already

2006-09-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

I can't believe we're already done with 1/3 of our shows on this tour.

Here's the remaining dates :

9/26 - Charlottesville at Satellite Ballroom (Tomorrow)
9/27 - Baltimore at Sonar
9/28 - Philadelphia at World Café Live
9/29 - NYC at Bowery Ballroom
9/30 - Boston at Harper's Ferry
10/3 - Montreal at La Sala Rossa
10/4 - Toronto at Lee's Palace
10/5 - Detroit at Magic Stick
10/6 - Chicago at Subterranean
10/7 - Minneapolis at Triple Rock Social Club

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,
- Brent / Menomena

Kumback Restaurant

2006-09-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

Belated thanks to the nice folks at Kumback Restaurant for delicious strawberry pie. Gotta burn it off, though:
Is there anything more masculine than jump-roping outside the ladies washroom at a truck-stop while wearing flip-flops and a Motorhead T-shirt?
No.
There is not.
But, that's how we roll.

Love love love,
Jump jump jump,

- Brent / Menomena

Raleigh, Raleigh Awesome

2006-09-25T00:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Thank you for staying up so late on a Sunday to see us play at King's.
Please have us back soon.
We LOVE your venue.
We LOVE "Megafaun."
We LOVE Raleigh.
You are all awesome.

Rock, rock, rock,
- Brent / Menomena

Chapel Hill, My! what an eventful night.

2006-09-24T23:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Thank you to everyone who came out to see us at the Local 506 in Chapel Hill. We had a great time playing for you. You were a wonderful audience.

It was an eventful night:

- Walking back from dinner, I noticed a huge U-Haul driving down a narrow alley behind the venue. As it turned onto the road, it scraped The Long Winters' van, leaving a huge dent. The police came. I was the star witness. Fun!

- Thank you to Duane and Seamus for letting us crash at your place. While trying to find it at 3am, I knocked at the wrong house (I had the right house number — but I was on SOUTH instead of the north region of the road). Nobody answered. So, I began walking back to the van, where I had left Duane's cell number. A man sitting on his porch, across the street, asked me what I was up to.
HIM : My man's not home. What 'cha looking for?
ME : Oh, uh, nothing. I'm just gonna call him on his cell.
HIM : No seriously. What you need?
ME : Just a place to crash. He's a friend of mine.
HIM : Well, my man's out. [he walks from his porch to stand next to me in the shadows] I just want you to know that if you need, some, uh weed or anything, that you know where you can get some.
ME : Oh, well, hey thanks, but I just need to talk to my friend.
HIM : So you don't need any weed?
ME : Not tonight, no thanks.
HIM : Hm.
ME : Well, have a nice nigh——
HIM : Say. Can you spare 2 dollars?
ME : Sorry, I don't have any cash on me. Only plastic.
HIM : You don't have no cash?
ME : Sorry. Just the card.
HIM : Word?
ME : Uh, word.
HIM : Any chance you could draw from it? [implying I should go to an ATM]
ME : Oh, uh, no, it's a credit-card, and it won't let me do cash-advances.
HIM : No?
ME : Yeah, sorry. Well have a nice night! I gotta go.

My advice to fellow travelers : if you meet a stranger at 3am who offers you drugs, then asks for money, then asks you to go to an ATM to withdraw cash, by all means, do hang out with him alone in the shadows. Because sooner or later the conversation will turn to the Open-Source paradigm and its' implications for social justice.

So, I finally called Duane, and found the correct house. Meet their sweet dog Ajax!
AJAX : Woof.
ME : Uh, Woof?
AJAX : [wags his tail] Woof.

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,
- Brent / Menomena

Thank you Atlanta, Hello Chapel Hill

2006-09-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts of Atlanta,

Thank you for listening to us and for dancing! We had a great time playing for you last night. We're thrilled to join up with "The Long Winters" and "What Made Milwaukee Famous" — two excellent bands, (and labelmates to boot)! We'll be touring with them for the majority of the next two weeks as we work our way up the East Coast, into Canada, and over to Detroit and Chicago.

I had the pleasure of meeting Courtney and Kasci last night at the show— they were running the Music For America table next to where we were selling T-shirts and CD-Singles. Quick link to MFA : Music For America
We wish you both the best with everything, and thank you heartily for the grub and place to crash. Your dog Joey brightened our night:

To the nice peoples of Paste Culture-Club, we apologize for our horrendous video interview. I now realize that the only things Menomena take seriously are 1. Rocking, and B. Immigration Reform. In addition, we were high on cough syrup and rubber-cement vapors, so please forgive us for being a little distracted.

Thank you as well to the sound-person for teaching us that the most efficient way to mic a glockenspiel is with equal doses of sarcasm and hostility. We apologize for being a band that plays instruments. Stairs to "heaven" = twenty-seven :

And now, to Chapel Hill, North Carolina!
We play tonight, at the Local 506. (with the Long Winters and What Made Milwaukee Famous)

And then tomorrow, to Raleigh!
We will play (headline, I think) at King's Barcade (with Megafun and Black Socks).

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,
- Brent / Menomena

It's Official

2006-09-22T06:34:00.000-07:00

I miss my sweethearts.

Love love love,
Meow meow meow,

- Brent / Menomena

Stormin' Norman

2006-09-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Da Opolis & Norman Oklahoma,

Thank you to everyone who came out to hear us last night at Da Opolis in Norman, Oklahoma. We had a fantastic time meeting you all. I can't believe that Erin and Dillon (Dylan?) drove all the way from Tulsa AND joined us for a deliriously sleepy 3am meal (with Madison). Thanks also to Travis, Da Opolis, and the Starlight Mints for having us at such a cool venue.

Now we drive to Atlanta Georgia, where we will play tomorrow night.

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,

- Brent / Menomena

Molly's Cafe in Snowville, Utah

2006-09-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

Belated thanks to Molly for a delicious breakfast in Snowville, Utah, and for autographing three "Mollie's Cafe" bumper stickers.

Musical Influenza

2006-09-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

This Ukulele solo by the frontman of "the Inactivists" in Denver blew my mind.
All music is changed forever.

Jump-rope. Exercize gizmo? Or concealed nun-chuck weaponry? YOU DECIDE!

This is how Danny smiles at you when he's washing dishes.

Tonight we will play at Da Opolis in Norman Oklahoma. I'm so excited to play an all-ages show (finally).
I gotta go load-in. I can't believe CJ & Jennifer are coming to see us all the way from Dallas. We're thrilled to see them.

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,

- Brent / Menomena

Emergency Appendectomy

2006-09-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

Many people acknowledge that Justin Harris is a talented bassist. What few realize, however, is how expertly he can perform an emergency appendectomy with his bare hands.

Thank You Denver, on to Da Opolis in Norman, Oklahoma

2006-09-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts of the Larimer Lounge in Denver,

Thank you so much for listening to us until 1am in the morning on a monday night. We had a great time.

For those of you who shared last night's experience with us, here is a picture to remember the night by.

Next up:
Tomorrow night at Da Opolis in Norman, Oklahoma.
Then on to Atlanta Georgia at Smith's Olde Bar two days later.

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,

- Brent / Menomena

p.s. Brian — you are awesome, thanks for letting us crash at your apartment, have fun in Germany.

Visit from the Future

2006-09-18T15:52:00.001-07:00

This is me, age 83, from the future, come back in time to give Menomena my good tidings. Notice how the jumproping has paid off— still cruisin', still rockin', still wearin' the flag with pride.

Love love love
Rock rock rock

- Brent / Menomena

Denver, Here we come!

2006-09-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

I have heard reports that this website receives upwards of four (4) hits every single day. Incredible.

The road can take it's toll. It's important to stay fit. Here's the equation, for those in the know.

12 hours driving + 2 minutes jump-roping = 1 picture of perfect health.

Tonight we will rock the city of Denver at the Larimer Lounge.
In two days we will descend on the city of Norman Oklahoma, and play our hearts out at Da Opolis.

Love love love,
Rock rock rock,

- Brent

September / October 2006 TOUR

2006-09-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Menomenauts,

Yes, Menomena will be touring for the majority of the next month. Here are the dates, cities and venues:

9/18 - Denver at Larimer Lounge #
9/20 - Norman at Opolis #
9/22 - Atlanta at Smith's Olde Bar
9/23 - Chapel Hill at Local 506
9/24 - Raleigh at King's Barcade #
9/26 - Charlottesville at Satellite Ballroom
9/27 - Baltimore at Sonar
9/28 - Philadelphia at World Café Live
9/29 - NYC at Bowery Ballroom
9/30 - Boston at Harper's Ferry
10/3 - Montreal at La Sala Rossa
10/4 - Toronto at Lee's Palace
10/5 - Detroit at Magic Stick
10/6 - Chicago at Subterranean
10/7 - Minneapolis at Triple Rock Social Club

# All of the above shows will be with our esteemed labelmates The Long Winters and What Made Milwaukee Famous, except for these three: Denver, Norman, and Raleigh

We would love to see you there.

Thanks for listening,
- Brent / Menomena