popwreckoning

Photo by Abby Williamson

In case you hadn’t heard, Brent Knopf has left Menomena. No, he hasn’t announced that he’ll be leaving after this next tour – the original Menomena lineup is no more as of last week. Pitchfork was the first to report it last Friday, and I have to say – I was more than just a little bit upset.

While the news is heartbreaking to those of us who were planning on seeing them in Austin in March for SXSW, the remaining members will still be going on with this tour. Whether you still want to see them is still questionable, but I do have some good news for you.

Knopf’s announcement was not his retirement announcement, more like “I’ve left the band to pursue other things.” Knopf will now be exclusively working on Ramona Falls music, which is good news in itself, but quite bittersweet.

Being a big fan of Menomena, and the last record in particular, I’m still holding out hope that Knopf will one day return to Danny Seim and Justin Harris to rekindle the odd and amazing genius that they’ve created over the last ten years, but I’m not counting on it.

So while we mourn the loss of one of Portland’s finest, take a gander at some of their most memorable videos, live performances, and some stuff you may not have seen.

“Five Little Rooms” (live on KEXP)

“Cough Coughing”

“Intil” live at OPB

RealcookN.tv Episode 10 – Potato and Cheddar Pierogies from Dave Curlee on Vimeo.

“Evil Bee”

“Wet and Rusting” – A Takeaway Show

And if you haven’t heard any of Knopf’s Ramona Falls stuff, take a gander.

Ramona Falls – “Russia”

If you still would like to see what remains of the band on their upcoming tour, dates are below. But I know I’m glad I had the chance to see them play in their hometown back in September, at perhaps one of the best shows I saw in 2010, maybe ever.

The tour will feature Paul Alcott on keyboards, rounding out the quartet.

• 03/03/11 Menom­ena in Min­neapo­lis, MN at U of M Buy tick­ets
• 03/05/11 Menom­ena in Ames, IA at The Main­te­nance Shop Buy tick­ets
• 03/06/11 Menom­ena in Iowa City, IA at The Mill Buy tick­ets
• 03/09/11 Menom­ena in Colum­bia, MO at Blue Note Buy tick­ets
• 03/10/11 Menom­ena in St Louis, MO at The Gargoyle
• 03/11/11 Menom­ena in Louisville, KY at Head­lin­ers Music Ball Buy tick­ets
• 03/12/11 Menom­ena in Ashville, NC at The Orange Peel Buy tick­ets
• 03/15/11 Menom­ena in New Orleans, LA at Repub­lic Buy tick­ets
• 03/16/11 Menom­ena in Hous­ton, TX at Ware­house Live Buy tick­ets

It’s never fun to tell people news they don’t want to hear so I’ll get right to it: The New Frontiers are quitting. It’s been a priceless experience, writing music together and sharing it with all of you in our travels across America, but the time has come for us to move on to other things. There are so many people out there that we couldn’t possibly thank you all for the support you’ve given us through the years. Giving us a place to stay on tours, making care packages for us, coming out to shows, buying records, feeding us, the list really does go on and on… We could not have done it for as long as we did without you. We’ll be playing a couple final shows here on the home front in Dallas and we would love to see any and all of you who can make it out. Thanks for taking part in the life of our band. We will miss you all…

Love,

The New Frontiers