MP3: “Stranger In The Window” by Elf Power
Elf Power follow up 2008’s In A Cave, one of my favorite albums in recent memory, with their tenth (and self-titled) album. Their Dark Developments collaboration with recently deceased Vic Chestnutt has obvious influences here. A new Orange Twin release always holds out hope for a Jeff Mangum contribution as well. The album is due in September. You can download “Stranger In the Window” by Elf Power here or stream it below:
Jeff Mangum @ Le Poisson Rouge
May 7, 2010 by Mark and Peter
Filed under Featured, Shows
Woke up today and remembered this incredible dream from last night. Jeff Mangum came out of 9+ years of hiding to perform five songs at a benefit show to a small crowd in NYC for his close friend and stroke victim, Chris Knox. He even opened up with “Oh Comely.” Amazingly, for the 500+ in attendance last night, that show did take place. It was real! It happened! So many were worried that Mangum wouldn’t show up. If he did, we would have been more than satisfied with his playing of the two songs that most knowledgeable fans expected, the Chris Knox cover “Sign The Dotted Line” and Neutral Milk Hotel rarity “Engine.” Instead, he did what no one would have ever fathomed by opening up with an extraordinary performance of the eight-minute epic, “Oh Comely”!
We were surrounded by fans in tears and hysterics. He played the song flawlessly, and his voice sounded identical to the incantations we remember from years past. The moment the song ended, the crowd erupted to give Mangum the loudest ovation we’ve ever heard at a live show. Keep in mind this was only the end of the first song in his set. To selfishly attempt to decipher the meaning of “Oh Comely,” my favorite Neutral Milk Hotel track, is to disrespect Jeff’s wishes to leave the meaning ambiguous. Around the time NMH began to get noticed by mainstream audiences in the late 90s, Mangum slowly began to separate himself from impending fame. He shrugged off interview after interview and refused to answer questions mostly concerned with the meanings of his songs. Mangum has previously revealed that In An Aeroplane Over The Sea deals with his obsession with Anne Frank. And lines from “Oh Comely” hint at that fixation. His live version of the track was mesmerizing, and fans struggled to compose themselves.
As the thunderous applause finally subsided, Mangum went right into “A Baby For Pree/Where You’ll Find Me Now” off of NMH’s 1996 debut On Avery Island followed by “Two-Headed Boy Pt. 2.” As the sincerity of Jeff ’s grin grew wider with the crowd’s deafening clamor of adoration, he looked more comfortable as he adjusted his posture and took a sip of water. Already feeling more fulfilled than I could ever of imagined, without the slightest sign of hesitation he strummed the opening jittery chord that I have heard hundreds of times in my car, in my apartment, and in my dreams, becoming more familiar than any nursery rhyme long forgotten. As he began to sing “Daddy please hear this song that I sing,” my heart sank with disbelief. I asked myself, “Is he really playing ‘Two-Headed Boy Part Two’”? Still punch-drunk after hearing my favorite song off Aeroplane, I looked around to make sure I was not living in some silly dream fantasy. I quickly recovered from the initial shock to avoid missing one second of a song filled with words and sounds almost impossible to describe.
I rarely use the word “flawless” to describe any piece of music, as nothing is perfect. Yet Mangum’s voice, which has grown inconceivable stronger with the passage of time, was indeed flawless. His vocals, ripe with imperfections and subtle moments that drift off key create an irreproachable style no one has or will likely ever surpass in my lifetime. The passion bleeds from each word he belts from some inner sanctum no one will ever find. My legs trembled, and my eyes stared with adoration as he fittingly sang “In my dreams you’re alive and you’re crying.” While many eyes welled with tears, thankfully we were not dreaming.
The song slowed down and concluded with the final line “but don’t hate her when she gets up to leave,” I would of walked away more than fulfilled to have heard these three songs. After all, “Two-Headed Boy Part 2″ was the last song on Aeroplane, and as the song concludes you can literally hear Jeff put down his guitar and walk away from a creaking stool in the final moments of studio silence on the record. As the crowd screamed and the applause exploded, we all waited to see if he was going to stand up and walk back into his private world, perhaps never to be heard from again. He raised his hand slightly with a half wave and said a quiet “thank you,” but he did not get up. This could not possibility get any better, could it? Oh, yes it could, and it did. The next song was another moment, which was becoming the theme of the night, when I thought, “Are you fucking serious!?”
It was the title track off In An Aeroplane Over The Sea, which is easily our collective favorite album of all-time. The song was definitely a crowd favorite, and probably the most popular song the band ever released. Mangum looked nervous throughout but seemed appreciative of the enthusiastic reaction. At one point he responded to a “we missed you” shouted from the crowd, reciprocating the love with a heartfelt “I’ve missed you, too. Don’t think I haven’t.” One got the sense that Jeff really does want to write and play more music but just isn’t capable of doing so anymore due to the emotional strain. Some from the front reported that he was physically shaking on stage before his performance but calmed once he began strumming his guitar.
“In An Aeroplane Over The Sea” ended the set, and Jeff exited stage right. The crowd applause that would follow was deafening and shifted into a call for an encore. I’ve never heard anything like it and worried that the next band would be drowned out by the crowd or even booed off the stage if Mangum didn’t respond to the audience, who begged for one more song. And that’s what we got! Jeff walked back to center stage, sat back down on his chair and concluded an amazing performance with “Engine.” Watching YouTube videos of his surprise performances of “Engine” during the Elephant Six Holiday Surprise Tour was a painful tease. To see him in the flesh was a revelation that we will brag to our grandchildren about.
Friends of Mangum say he’s been gradually getting better since the days of his night terrors and nervous breakdown around the turn of century that transformed him into the recluse he is today. For at least one night Jeff was able to find the strength to present the music that has haunted him for all these years. And the crowd was beyond appreciative, as you could hear the non-stop muttering of “thank you” after and even during each song he played. We all knew what a special opportunity this was and that it may never happen again. Something we’ve dreamt about for so long came to fruition, and we were happy to just be a part of it.
Jeff Mangum To Play Benefit Show In NYC!
I was originally not going to post this in a selfish attempt to preserve as many tickets for the sale date as possible. I can only assume this May 6th Chris Knox benefit show at Le Poisson Rouge will sell out with the news that Jeff Mangum is making an unheard of appearance. The word is that Mangum will play a short acoustic set. Many of us have conceded that we would continue on with our lives never being able to see Jeff perform live, as the not-even-40-year-old indie rock icon remained a recluse. I guess the only question left to ask is: how much will I pay to see my all-time favorite musician for the first (and probably the last) time ever? Tix go on sale March 30 at Kickstarter.com.
UPDATE (03.30.10): The show sold out in 20 minutes. Fishpork will be there!
Video: More Unreleased Jeff Mangum
As the week started with the digital release of a new Jeff Mangum track on the Chris Knox tribute record, why not end the week with more unreleased video of Jeff playing in April 1998. This time he treats the audience to one of my favorite bootleg tracks “Sailing Through” from the cassette tape dubbed Beauty that is still available on most of the bittorrent sites that are still up and running.
Like the other videos that have been popping up, Jeff hold back no emotion on this live version of “Sailing Though” that then goes directly into “Two-Headed Boy Part 2″ in this 9+ minutes of musical ecstasy. This might be one of the only videos of him performing rarely-played song at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, CA. Thanks goes out to defgav for the post. Its been a good week.
New Jeff Mangum on Tribute Compilation!
A few months ago it was announced that Neutral Milk Hotel mastermind and current recluse Jeff Mangum would perform a cover song for the upcoming CD for recent stroke victim, Chris Knox. Knox is known for bringing the punk and alternative music scenes to New Zealand. The compilation is a double-CD release, and Mangum is featured on disc 2. Stroke: Songs For Chris Knox will be released in various formats on February 23.
The even better news is that you can hear a 30-second clip of the song here!
MP3: “Round Again (featuring Jeff Mangum)” by Circulatory System
The Earth stops spinning when news of new music by Jeff Mangum hits the indie music blogosphere. As promised by Circulatory System frontman Will Cullen Hart, their new album features contributions from the Neutral Milk Hotel mastermind. He plays drums on this. No, we don’t get to hear his voice, but this does hint that he’s putting his reclusive past behind him and digging in with his creative heals. And let me say that the new track is repeat-worthy. You can download “Round Again (featuring Jeff Mangum)” by Circulatory System here or stream it below:
Did you know you can stream Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, in its entirely, on LaLa?
Fishpork’s Ten Favorite Shows of 2008
As a collective, Fishpork attended 15 live shows this year (and there are still two more: Of Montreal tomorrow and Crystal Castles on New Year’s Eve, both at the Music Hall of Williamsburg). Unfortunately, a band does not have complete control over how well received their live performance can be. This was the case with all bands that played in our least favorite venue of 2008: The Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Although Animal Collective managed to overcome the venue’s sound limitations the best, others were not so lucky (The Mars Volta, TV on the Radio, Of Montreal). Unless Jeff Mangum announces a show here, Fishpork will avoid it at all costs in 2009. Highlights of the year included an intoxicating performance by Deerhunter, a sweaty dance party curated by Girl Talk, and a 3am secret show by Modest Mouse. These were our favorite shows of 2008:
- Deerhunter @ The Music Hall of Wiiliamsburg
- Girl Talk @ Starlight Ballroom
- Enon @ Hiro Ballroom
- Modest Mouse @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
- Built to Spill @ Terminal 5
- Animal Collective @ Electric Factory
- Nine Inch Nails @ Wachovia Center
- Radiohead @ APW Festival
- Saul Williams @ The Trocadero
- Battles @ Johnny Brendas
Honorable Mention:
Holy Fuck @ Johnny Brendas
Crystal Castles @ Webster Hall
Health @ House of Blues
TV on the Radio @ Electric Factory
Of Montreal @ Electric Factory
Least Favorite Show of 2008
The Mars Volta @ Electric Factory
Favorite Live Venue of 2008
Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA
Least Favorite Venue of 2008
Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
Of Montreal @ The Electric Factory
Most indie rock fans and critics agree on one thing: Kevin Barnes has lost his fucking mind. He has transformed himself into the lovechild of David Bowie and Prince. The problem is that some embrace the path he has chosen to move in (heavy on the dance and soul with stage persona Georgie Fruit, a black transvestite), while others long for the days of Cherry Peel (acoustic, lo-fi diddies). Although I appreciate both phases of Barnes musical career, I must admit the new Barnes has made a much bigger fan out of me. And, for the record, I do think he’s more talented than both Bowie and Prince. I love Bowie, but his most recent solo tour is marred at the bottom of my list (and my list is long) as painfully boring. Of Montreal is currently on tour supporting their dance-heavy, sex-oriented ninth studio album, Skeletal Lamping. I was lucky enough to score tickets for the Electric Factory in Philly on Halloween!
Several web sites have posted pictures of shows from this tour. And the extravagant stage production really peaked my interest. There was no excuse for a live show performed by the band of one of our favorite albums of the year to come and go without our attention. For the most part, the excitement of Skeletal Lamping transferred well to the stage. However, the sound at the Electric Factory is as bad as it gets and has been almost inaudible during many shows I’ve attended there. This night was no different. The opening band, Gang Gang Dance was mixed as poorly as I’ve ever heard. From what I did hear, I enjoyed their tribal dance arrangements. I did feel bad for singer Liz Bougatsos who’s experimental chanting vocals were completely drowned out by the venue.
Of Montreal took the stage about 30-45 minutes after Gang Gang Dance’s set. The crowd responded well to the dimming lights, as the band members took the stage wearing superman costumes. Barnes was the last to enter, as he was escorted onto stage Egyptian style, within a small carriage covered by curtains and lifted by several of his “slaves.” To the crowd’s surprise (and delight) Barnes crawled out also dressed in Superman attire, although his suit contained (fake) muscles. Even before he exited his royal carriage, the opening howls of the band’s latest single, “Id Engager,” could be heard. The crowd immediately recognized the track, and all hell broke loose.
The show, much like Skeletal Lamping, headed right into schizophrenia. Barnes’ latest compositions are rather disjointed, with many comparing the structure to that of a Girl Talk record. You never know when one song ends, and the next begins. This works better on an album than it does live. The band’s style has changed between albums before, but nothing as dramatic when comparing the last three releases to earlier albums in the discography. The transformation is so startling, that it’s hard to believe Barnes and company are still technically part of Jeff Mangum’s Elephant 6 Collective. Highlights of the show included Barnes sitting on a throne with sultry nuns at his feet, walking around as a minotaur (half-man/half-bull), and appearing almost nude with his “dick in a box.” Barnes ended a night at the circus with his rendition of Nirvana’s immortalized “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The ending seemed a little out of place, but the crowd appreciated the homage.
Setlist:
- intro
- Id Engager
- So Begins Our Alabee
- Triphallus, to Punctuate!
- She’s A RejecterFor
- Our Elegant Caste
- Touched Something’s Hollow
- An Eluardian Instance
- Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse
- Gallery Piece
- Wraith Pinned To The Mist (And Other Games)
- Women’s Studies Victims
- St. Exquisite’s Confessions
- Superman
- Nonpareil Of Favor
- October Is Eternal
- Wicked Wisdom
- Disconnect The Dots
- And I’ve Seen A Bloody Shadow
- Plastis Wafers
- Beware Our Nubile Miscreants
- Mingusings
- “Lavender Dick Rub”
- A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvingerencore
ENCORE:
- Day ManGronlandic Edit
- Oslo In The Summertime
- Smells Like Teen Spirit
The entire show is available in high-quality FLAC format here.
Update: Jeff Mangum Plays Neutral Milk Hotel!
No, Neutral Milk Hotel did not get together for a reunion tour. The news is not that promising. However, Jeff Mangum did muster up the courage to join his Elephant 6 collective on stage at a show at the Knitting Factory in NYC. The concert was part of the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour. Mangum was on stage for Olivia Tremor Control’s “The Opera House” and “I Have Been Floated,” and Elf Power’s “The Arrow Flies Close.” Unfortunately for fans, Jeff did not play any NMH tracks, but former NMH bandmate, Scott Spillane played “The Fool” from Neutral Milk Hotel’s masterpiece In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. the rare appearance from the Indie rock recluse keeps hopes alive that we may one day see new material. Ex-NMH multiinstrumentalist Julian Koster recently told Billboard Magazine about Jeff’s immediate intentions:
Jeff told me he wants to make it to the Chicago show and maybe the Kentucky show, so we’ll see. I know he hasn’t played out much in the past few years, but he seemed very excited about this tour when I talked to him.
Jeff Mangum hasn’t played material from Neutral Milk Hotel since his last show in New Zealand on February 4, 2001. Here is a clip from Jeff’s surprise appearance at the Knitting Factory on October 11:
UPDATE:
It has actually happened. Just days after his surprise appearance at the Knitting Factory in New York, Jeff Mangum played a Neutral Milk Hotel track at back-to-back shows in Pittsburgh and Columbus. Julian Koster played the singing saw as Jeff strummed the deeply moving chords of Holland, 1945 B-side, Engine. Mangum may still be a little distraught over playing NMH material, as they remained in the crowd to play the song instead of performing on stage. This performance created one of the more memorable moments in recent memory. Jeff’s voice sounded better than ever. The lighting in the videos was absolutely terrible due to Jeff being in the crowd while playing. However, the sound quality is as good as it gets for this type of event. The flashing cameras gives short glimpses of Mangum, who has become a messiah-like figure in Indie rock since his mental breakdown and reclusive behavior. One can only hope that the road to recovery has brought him to a point where playing live will be a more frequent occurence. Maybe future recordings and touring is a possibility. Here is the video from the Ohio performance:
Another update (October 23, 2008) - Jeff played Engine in Chicago. This marks the third straight show that Jeff has played the NMH track!
New Of Montreal LP Leaks
August 31, 2008 by Mark
Filed under News, Upcoming Releases
Skeletal Lamping, one of the most anticipated indie records set to release this Fall, has leaked to torrent sites all over the Internet. Of Montreal falls under the extended family of Jeff Mangum’s Elephant 6 music collective from Georgia. Led by pretentious indie pop maestro Kevin Barnes and his inner demons, Of Montreal reached unanimous critical acclaim with their last effort, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? That album contained some of the catchiest indie pop hooks ever recorded. More interesting were its lyrics. Barnes had just separated from his wife and was overcome by antidepressant medication and suicidal thoughts. The concept album was the first citing of his glam rock alter ego, Georgie Fruit. This guy’s the most pretentious artist working today, but he does put out great records. He described the new album on his MySpace page recently:
it is possible to view this album as one long composition, with lots of different movements, or just as a collection of pop songs. i wanted to make an album that was unpredictable and, at times,startling, yet always hummable and catchy. some of the transitions are intentionally awkward. i did this to keep the listener off guard and to dismantle people’s perception of how an album is supposed to be constructed. i am so bored with art that makes sense and “works”. i wanted to do somethings that didn’t “work”. very few things pique our interest while they are working as we expect them to, things are far more interesting when they are not working. shocking people though, just for the sake of it, is so mundane. nothing on Skeletal Lamping was intended to shock. i just feel that,in most contemporary songs, you can basically finish the artist’s sentences,musically and lyrically. i wanted to make an album where that was not possible.
Due in October, Skeletal Lamping has leaked almost two months early. You can find it on almost any torrent or file sharing site you look. Full review coming in the next few weeks.