Jeff Mangum 2011 Tour Review – Vermont

It’s like Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel) has never left us. Sure, he hasn’t been on a real tour in over a decade. But like a good wine, it has only made the music better.

I was fortunate enough to get 1 of 500 tickets in Burlington, Vermont Aug 8, where Jeff Mangum began his tour. Needless to say, it was one of the best concerts of my life.

Playing in a Unitarian Chuch on the top of the pedestrian walkway Church Street, the mood was intimate, awe-inspiring, and emotionally moving. The church itself, complete with blue lights on the side of Jeff, a red light in the middle of the pulpit, kept his face hidden and the mood relaxed.

After nearly 2 hours of opening bands, the crowd was getting a bit impatient. Jeff was relaxed, and the crowd soon relaxed with him. And Jeff sang like he was laying down tracks for his discography. His voice was pitch perfect. Timing exquisite.

Three songs into the set, the PA system went down. Did Jeff freak out? Did he scream? Nope. He took his chair down, sat on the floor, and played acoustic on the top of his lungs. Jeff Mangum unplugged. He invited the crowd to move in, as we took part in a campfire-esque sing-a-long. Needless to say, I would love if Jeff played at my campfire.

Of course Jeff played some of the best. He played songs off of both albums. What I can remember off On Avery Island he played A Baby For Pree, Naomi, and Where You’ll Find Me Now Good. Off of In The Airplane Over The Sea he played In the Airplane Over the Sea, King of Carrot Flowers Part 1-3, Ghost, Two Headed Boy 1&2, Oh Comely, Holland 1945.

And he even threw in a Daniel Johnston cover, True Love Will Find You in the End. Oh, he also played Ferris Wheel on Fire. For a 1-song encore he played Engine, from the Merge Compilation.

The crowd may have been the most respectful audiences I have ever seen. After every song we cheered wildly, as if the Sox won a World Series every time a song was played. Jeff loved it. He loved it so much, that he even mentioned how much he loves Vermont, how he loves the beauty of the landscape, the people, and the progressive politics. And in case any of us doubted this God-on-earth, he told us to look it up on the internet. That he never compliments crowds like he did with us. And I believe him.

Do I feel a little guilty that, as a Jew, Jeff got me to sing sacrilegiously ‘I love you Jesus Christ’ at the top of my lungs in a house of Christ?

Nope. Because Jeff is the fucking man. And I’d do it for him again.