Menomena, Phenomena
When I arrived at Webster Hall, there was a short line of people waiting to go in, even though doors were supposed to be open slightly earlier. Apparently Portland, OR trio Menomena were unhappy with their sound check, and were working to get it right. The sound was never quite right that night (the bass was too heavy), but both bands performed well enough for most people to be able to look past that.
Illinois, a band that is actually from Bucks County, PA, opened the show, immediately launching into their best song. The raucous, banjo-strumming anthem got their set off on the right path, with the band doing no wrong for the entirety of their set. Seeing them for the third time this year, its no surprise that Illinois combination of fun-loving attitude and well-crafted songwriting has them quickly winning over critics and fans. Menomenas Justin Harris joined Illinois on stage for a couple of songs, playing sax.
Menomena has generated a lot of buzz this year, after releasing what Pitchfork called the first great album of the year. Since the release of Friend and Foe, they have toured nonstop, hitting New York City multiple times, including a free performance at South Street Seaport. Playing Webster Hall was another step up for the band, and they proved that they could handle the larger space. The trio was impressive to watch as they did their best to recreate the dense sounds found on their records. Each band member played multiple roles, but most impressive was Justin Harris, who at times managed to play rhythms on a moog foot synthesizer, while playing guitar, while singing. The relatively short set ended brilliantly with the band bringing out an 8-piece choir for their final three songs. The set closed with a phenomenal rendition of Rotten Hell.
Photos courtesy of [Jonny-Leather]