One of the world’s most isolated land masses is home to one of the better venues I’ve visited. Next Door, nested in the heart of Honolulu's lounge district, offers a wide range of touring and local acts, attracting an equally diverse group of music fans. As one native told me, “Really amazing bands pass through here. I’ve been way too stoked to see Menomena.”
Opening the evening were two Hawaiian acts. Clones of the Queen enamored our ears with atonal electronic waves in the vein of Bjork. Stephen Augstin and the Fourth Wall perfectly complemented the headlining act with their experimental rock vibes. By the time the mainlanders took the stage, the night was already proverbially bumping.
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Menomena is now a duo of Justin Harris and Danny Seim (Brent Knopf left the band at the end of 2010), with a small rotating cast of tour support. Paul Alcott made the long trip to Honolulu, mastering Menomena's signature sound of fluttery keys that complement the duo's pounding, calculated bass and drums.
With words few and far between, Harris maintained a reserved on-stage demeanor. But from behind the drums, Seim--who spent much of his childhood in Hawaii--offered small jests and introductions. As this was my first Menomena show, I was struck by the subtly disorienting tone their music creates when performed live. Experimental yet accessible, the listener can get lost in the layers of pieced together sounds or sing along to the occasional catchy hook. Not satisfied by traditional song structures, these quirky compositions pair youthful eccentricity with lush tones, and evoke an odd mix of reactions from the crowd. Two fairly inebriated fellows moshed around slow dancing couples; some stood silently with their PBRs raised; other faithful fans passionately screamed the lyrics.
After the show, Harris was kind enough to greet me by name. I’ll omit all of my star-stuck, mushy feelings and wrap this up: with musical precision, humility, relevance, and innovation, Menomena is by far one of the best bands I’ve seen in the flesh. They are the poster act of the underrated.
