Jeff Mangum - 2/6/12 Chicago, Athenaeum Theatre

[shoesgetcold3]

Back in August I planned a trip around seeing one of the first shows Jeff played in his "reincarnation" tour. It turned into one of the most memorable nights of my life. Seeing Jeff on a summery Saturday night in Canada when I had no idea what to expect was both magical and inspiring. I wrote a lengthy post on this blog in the Someone Else's Song section which described not just the show but my personal reactions and emotions before during and after. With the success of those those summer shows, a follow on tour with a stop in Chicago seemed realistic, something that would have been hard to fathom one year ago. Taking place on a cold Monday night near home, this show lacked anticipation not just from me but from the late arriving crowd. Granted the show in Toronto was GA, where this show assigned seats in advance. But whatever was missing before hand, was quickly replaced once Jeff took the stage. Starting with Two Headed Boy part 2, his voice was loud and spot on, holding notes long and perfect. The energy of Holland and Gardenhead blasted through especially the latter's transition into Leave Me Alone. Little Birds which he did not play at the show I attended in Toronto was dark and personal, and when Scott and Laura (Scott Spillane of NMH) came out on Ghost, the energy was at its highest. But perhaps the highlight of the night was the beautiful and haunting Two Headed Boy which lead into The Fool when Scott, Laura, the third member of their band and one more woman (whom I did not know but also played a beautiful Cello on Naomi) all came out to play the instrumental only track. The randomness and ease with which the supporting players came and went was very cool. There were no announcements or grand entrances, just extra musicians coming and going mid songs to specifically add sound to Jeff's guitar. Closing with the title track from one of the best albums ever was an emotional way to end a very moving performance. "How strange it is to be anything at all." It was hard to leave after that, but the honor of being in attendance was more than enough. I assume some other via chicagoans were there, what did you guys think?

 

 

Set list:

 

Two Headed Boy part 2

Holland

Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone

Song against Sex

Little Birds

King of Carrot Flowers part 1

King of Carrot Flowers parts 2 & 3

Ghost

Naomi/April 8

Oh Comely

Two Headed Boy

The Fool

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Engine

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

[Kim Bodnia]

Jeff Magnum is a poet.

[Magnetized]

I'm a little late to the party, having discovered Neutral Milk Hotel only a year or so ago, but In the Aeroplane Over the Sea quickly became one of my personal favorites. I hadn't realized Jeff was on tour until I searched for tickets to Yo La Tengo at the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville and saw that he was playing there on Feb. 4. The show was sold out, of course--it's a tiny theater. But I put out some feelers and checked on Craigslist and finally got my hot little hands on a single ticket to the show for just a small premium over face value. I'm very excited! In preparation I just bought a solo album "Live at Jittery Joe's."

 

So has anyone else seen him on this small tour?