SXSW No. 2 Part 2: Menomena

Something felt off from the beginning last night—or early morning I should say, it was 1 a.m.—at Buffalo Billiards. There was a thickness in the air that warns when something might go wrong.Poor Menomena—my favorite Portland group—they didn’t look happy. They were plagued from the start by a sound check gone awry, which consequently turned the hungry audience into a starving one. One member shouted: “Play already!” But the threesome were struggling. After 45 minutes adjusting chords and testing mics, they began. It was Menomena. And it was great and fiery and emotionally loaded and brimming with interesting, often complex, instrumental arrangements. Playing songs from both I Am The Fun Blame Monster and their new Friend And Foe, the trio shared expressions that appeared frustrated and slightly sad. Matters worsened when a few plastered frat boys thought it clever to start moshing and annoying anyone within arm’s reach. Even multi-instrumentalist Brent Knopf pleaded for certain people in the crowd to cool down and show respect to one another. But it was obvious that the liquor-fueled tension permeating the room could not dissipate and instead left the show feeling as one Menomena didn’t want but had to hurry through. It wasn't their fault, at 2 a.m. on the second night of SXSW, people just plain weren't pleasant.Still, I love this group. Whenever I think about them I want give them a big group bear hug. KnopfBrent HarrisRead SXSW Report No.1: http://mog.com/Jenny_Tatone/blog_post/51957and Report No.2: http://mog.com/Jenny_Tatone/blog_post/52281