Ramona Falls (band)

Last updated
Ramona Falls
RamonaFalls Recording.jpg
Brent Knopf of Ramona Falls Recording Vocals in 2016
Background information
Origin Portland, Oregon, United States
Genres Indie rock Neofolk
Years active2009–present
Labels Barsuk Records
Souterrain Transmissions
MembersBrent Knopf
Past membersMatt Sheehy, Dave Lowensohn, Paul Alcott
Website RamonaFalls.com

Ramona Falls is an indie rock project founded by Brent Knopf and based in Portland, Oregon. The band name is taken from a waterfall located near Mount Hood, a place where Knopf used to hike as a child. [1] Brent Knopf co-founded Menomena before departing in 2011, and is also one-half of EL VY, a collaboration with The National's Matt Berninger.

Contents

History

Ramona Falls took shape after Menomena's recording process for their third album was delayed. [2] Knopf embarked on the project with songs that were not used for Menomena. [3]

Brent played a handful of his own material at shows around Portland, Oregon sometime in the years prior to the Ramona Falls project, including a performance October 24, 2008 in New York under the name "Dear Everything." Some of this material was further developed for the band's first album Intuit.

Recording Intuit gave Knopf the opportunity to work with 35 colleagues from the Portland and New York areas. [4] The album was recorded in Knopf's own studio and at the homes, practice rooms, churches, and other personal spaces of the featured guests. [5]

Intuit and its songs did not chart, but received positive reviews from Pitchfork [6] and Drowned In Sound [7] and generated a large enough following for Knopf to justify leaving Menomena and release another album.

Prophet was released on May 1, 2012, and reached #28 on Billboard 's Heatseaker Albums chart on May 19. [8] Knopf took a direction on Prophet that was less centered on the acoustic guitar and focused on expanding the band's sound. [9]

Prettymuchamazing chose Ramona Falls' drummer Paul Alcott as best drummer of SXSW 2012 for his "insane, massive fills" and stage antics, referencing times when Alcott would "come out from behind his kit, stand on bass amps and yell along, drum on the walls, play cymbals backwards, and shake around his giant red ‘fro." [10]

Other projects

Brent Knopf co-founded EL VY with Matt Berninger (lead singer of The National). The duo released their debut album Return to the Moon on October 30, 2015. [11]

Brent Knopf has been creating music since before his inclusion into Menomena. He initially approached Danny Seim and Justin Harris with a demo tape while the duo were in a different band. Knopf is frequently credited as the creator of the Digital Loop Recorder (sometimes referred to as DLR or Deeler) used to help compose creative ideas for inclusion into Menomena's music. The Menomena song "Rose" is believed to be most wholly contributed to by Knopf among other songs.

Knopf also works as an album producer. He is credited as producer of the first two albums by South African band Dear Reader (formally known as Harris Tweed), their debut Replace Why With Funny and sophomore effort Idealistic Animals. Knopf responded to Cherilyn MacNeil's request for a producer via Menomena's Myspace page. The two had not known each other prior but Cherilyn was a fan of Menomena and has since contributed to Intuit. Knopf also produced the first pair of albums by Lost Lander, (DRRT and Medallion), a band fronted by frequent collaborator Matt Sheehy.

Brent Knopf wrote the main theme for HBO's documentary miniseries Q Into the Storm, titled Catch 17.[ citation needed ] Knopf also writes music for Bob's Burgers and Central Park .[ citation needed ]

Personnel

Guest appearances on the album Intuit

Paul Alcott, Soren Anders, Bryan Arakelian, John Askew, Alva Bostick, Kelly Brickner, Friedrich Brückner, Eric Day, Sayard Egan, Larah Eksteen, Kai Gross, Bonnie Knopf, Sarah Lewis, Loch Lomond (Ritchie Young, Dave Depper, Amanda Lawrence, Jason Leonard, Laurel Simmons, Scott Magee, Jade Eckler), Cherilyn MacNeil, Lisa Molinaro, Stefan Nadelman, Kevin O'Connor, Liam Palmer, Michael Papillo, Mark Shirazi, Colleen Sovory, Matt Sheehy, Amy Smidebush, Mike Visser, Benjamin Weikel, Janet Weiss, Jay Winebrenner, Mirah Y.T. Zeitlyn

Musicians who have performed in Ramona Falls

Brent Knopf (keys/guitar), Dave Lowensohn (bass), Paul Alcott (drums), Matt Sheehy (guitar), Brandon Laws (guitar/bass), Danny Seim (bass), Cheri MacNiel (guitar), Darryl Torr (bass), Michael Wright (drums), Jean-Louise Nel (viola and guitar), Lauren Jacobson (violin), Jerry Joiner (drums), Sean Flinn (guitar), and Patrick Hughes (drums).

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

YearSongAlbum
2009"I Say Fever" [15] Intuit
2012"Spore"Prophet
"Sqworm"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Built to Spill</span> American indie rock band

Built to Spill is an American indie rock band that formed in Boise, Idaho, in 1992. Centered on lead vocalist and guitarist Doug Martsch, the only permanent member, Built to Spill has released nine full-length albums since its inception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menomena</span> American indie rock band

Menomena is an indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, made up of Justin Harris and Danny Seim. Both members of the band share singing duties and frequently swap instruments while recording. In concert, Seim plays drums, while Harris swaps between a number of instruments.

<i>I Am the Fun Blame Monster!</i> 2003 studio album by Menomena

I Am the Fun Blame Monster! is the debut album of the band Menomena. It was self-released on May 20, 2003 and made available exclusively through online retailer CD Baby. The CD was re-released by FILMguerrero in 2004, and then again by Barsuk/FILMguerrero in 2007. A white vinyl LP was released by FILMguerrero in 2005 that featured an origami design by band member Brent Knopf and hand screen printing/assembly by band member Danny Seim. The original run was limited to 500 copies, which sold out. FILMguerrero re-released the LP in 2007 on 180 gram vinyl, but without the intricate packaging. The title is an anagram for "The First Menomena Album."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The National (band)</span> American indie rock band

The National is an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in Brooklyn, New York City in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), twin brothers Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner, as well as brothers Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). During live performances, the band are joined by longtime touring members, Ben Lanz and Kyle Resnick. Carin Besser, the wife of Berninger, is not a band member but has written lyrics for the band alongside her husband since its 2007 album Boxer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Allen (English musician)</span> British bassist

David Geoffrey Allen is an English musician, formerly the bass guitarist for the post-punk band Gang of Four. In 1981, he left Gang of Four to form Shriekback.

<i>The National</i> (album) 2001 studio album by The National

The National is the debut studio album by American indie rock band the National, released on October 30, 2001, on Brassland Records. Recorded prior to guitarist Bryce Dessner's full arrival into the band, The National was produced by both Nick Lloyd and the band itself. Now-bass guitarist Scott Devendorf performs both guitar and backing vocals on this album, with guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Dessner on bass guitar and guitar duties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Helio Sequence</span> American indie rock duo

The Helio Sequence is an American indie rock duo from Beaverton, Oregon, signed to Sub Pop. The band consists of Brandon Summers on vocals and guitars and Benjamin Weikel on drums and keyboards.

<i>Friend and Foe</i> 2007 studio album by Menomena

Friend and Foe is the third release from the Portland, Oregon-based band Menomena. It was released January 23, 2007 by Barsuk Records. The cover art is designed by Craig Thompson, writer and illustrator of the award-winning graphic novel Blankets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dear Reader</span> South African alternative pop act

Dear Reader is an alternative/pop band from Johannesburg, South Africa. The band was founded in 2008 by singer-songwriter Cherilyn MacNeil and producer/bass player, Darryl Torr. Dear Reader is now the solo project of Cherilyn MacNeil and is based in Berlin, Germany.

<i>Boxer</i> (The National album) 2007 studio album by The National

Boxer is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band the National, released on May 22, 2007, on Beggars Banquet Records. Following its release, the album debuted at number 68 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 9,500 copies in its first week.

Lackthereof is the solo project of Danny Seim, a founding member of the Portland, Oregon-based band Menomena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fake Empire</span> 2008 single by The National

"Fake Empire" is a song by Brooklyn-based indie rock band The National from their fourth studio album, Boxer. The song was released in June 2008 as the album's third and final single.

<i>Intuit</i> (Ramona Falls album) 2009 studio album by Ramona Falls

Intuit is the debut studio album by Ramona Falls, the moniker of Brent Knopf, better known for being one third of the band Menomena. It was released on August 18, 2009, on Barsuk Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Berninger</span> American singer

Matthew Donald Berninger is an American singer, primarily known as the frontman and lyricist of indie rock band The National. In 2014, he also formed the EL VY project with Brent Knopf of Ramona Falls and Menomena. They released the album Return to the Moon in November 2015. In May 2020, Berninger issued the title track from his solo debut album, Serpentine Prison, released in October 2020.

<i>Moms</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Menomena

Moms is the fifth studio album from the band Menomena. It was released on September 18, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EL VY</span> American indie rock duo

EL VY is an American indie rock duo that consists of Matt Berninger and Brent Knopf. The duo released their debut album, Return to the Moon, in October 2015.

<i>Return to the Moon</i> 2015 studio album by EL VY

Return to the Moon is the debut studio album by American indie rock band EL VY, released on October 30, 2015 on 4AD. A collaboration between Matt Berninger and Brent Knopf, the two musicians had befriended one another on tour and exchanged sketches of music and lyrics for years, before getting together in the winter of 2014 to formally record an album.

"Sea of Love" is a song by American indie rock band The National. Written by band members Matt Berninger and Aaron Dessner, it appears as the fifth track on the band's sixth studio album Trouble Will Find Me. "Sea of Love" was released as the album's fourth single on September 2, 2013. The music video for the song, which preceded its release as a radio single, debuted on May 8, 2013.

<i>Prophet</i> (Ramona Falls album) 2012 studio album by Ramona Falls

Prophet is the second album by Ramona Falls, the moniker of Brent Knopf, better known for being one third of the band Menomena.

"Coney Island" is a song by Taylor Swift featuring the National, taken from Swift's ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). Swift, Joe Alwyn, and the National's Aaron and Bryce Dessner wrote the song, with the latter two producing it. Matt Berninger contributed guest vocals. Republic Records sent "Coney Island" to US adult album alternative radio as a single on January 18, 2021.

References

  1. "Ramona Falls - Biography | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  2. "Interview: Ramona Falls". The Voice of Energy. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  3. "Menomena's Brent Knopf Is Ramona Falls | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  4. "Brent Knopf of Ramon Falls and Menomena". Seattle Weekly Q&A. Archived from the original on 2010-07-29. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  5. Schaaf, Alex (27 May 2009). "Come On Chemicals: [INTERVIEW] Brent Knopf of Menomena/Ramona Falls". comeonchemicalsblog.blogspot.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  6. "Ramona Falls: Intuit Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  7. "Intuit by Ramona Falls". metacritic.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  8. "Ramona Falls - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  9. "Interview with Brent Knopf of Ramona Falls - Arts & Culture - Portland Monthly". portlandmonthlymag.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  10. "SXSW 2 A Lot Like High School". prettymuchamazing.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  11. "The official website for independent record label 4AD". 4AD. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  12. "Trekking at Ramona Falls -- Obscure Sound". 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  13. "Ramona Falls: Prophet Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  14. "I'm excited to announce - the new Ramona Falls album "Coils" is now available as a digital download in its entirety". 2017-08-04. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  15. "Ramona Falls - I Say Fever". discogs.com. Retrieved 7 December 2016.