Last week, we wrote a li'l report about Jeff Mangum possibly joining the E6 Holiday Surprise Tour for a couple shows (TMT News). Well, the possibility turned into reality earlier than expected at last night's Knitting Factory gig in New York, as Jeff Mangum unexpectedly hopped on stage and performed three songs -- "The Arrow Flies Close" by Elf Power and both "The Opera House" and "I Have Been Floated" by Olivia Tremor Control.
Not sure if I should be surprised or not, but there are already a couple YouTube videos documenting the show:
- "The Arrow Flies Close" by Elf Power:
- "The Opera House" by Olivia Tremor Control (watch as Mangum and Scott Spillane engage in some friendly shoving!):
Here's a late-night e-mail from TMT writer/editor Judy Berman (who was exhausted, sore-footed, and who "had a drink or two") detailing what happened:
Thought you'd want to know that I was at the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour tonight at the Knitting Factory... and Jeff Mangum was there. He came on stage and sang on part of Olivia Tremor Control's "I Have Been Floated" and Elf Power's "The Arrow Flies Close," as well as the entirety of Olivia Tremor Control's "The Opera House" with the whole E6 crew at the end of the night. It seemed like he was making a truly heroic effort just to get out there -- he looked anxious, uncertain, and gleeful at the same time. During "The Opera House," he was roughhousing with Scott Spillane. I think he was loosening up. Spillane and Julian Koster even played "The Fool" from Aeroplane (which is, of course, instrumental) and dedicated it to "a friend." What was really unnerving was that both of them were staring offstage as they were playing it, as though they thought it was possible Mangum would be inspired to come on and do some NMH songs. He didn't, but for a second it seemed possible. Also, some douchebag was screaming "Two-Headed Boy" and "King of Carrot Flowers"-- probably the quickest way to dash any chance of those songs actually being performed. I wasn't disappointed, though. I'm grateful that Mangum is trying so hard to come back, and I wouldn't want him to push himself to do something he isn't ready to do.
Anyway, it was an awesome night. Besides the Jeff Mangum parts, they screened the Major Organ movie, which was fantastic, Koster was a gracious and exuberant host, and it was mostly just a treat to see people who enjoyed making music together so much. There is a lot of love in the E6 universe, and it was nice to spend a night submerged in it.
The pressure on Mangum must be tremendous. It's cool to show our excitement and exhibit friendly encouragement, but hopefully we can refrain from getting too carried away and demanding he perform the entirety of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.
Wistful Americana torch singer and former Be Good Tanya, Jolie Holland takes to the road next week in support of her latest, electrified effort, The Living and the Dead (via ANTI-), which features cameos from M Ward and Marc Ribot. It's too bad that so many venues have gone smoke-free, as smoke-filled rooms accent perfectly the intimately dark, roots-tinged western folk that radiates through most of her catalog.
If you haven't seen her before, Holland jumps through multiple genre hoops on stage, combining musky vocal jazz with sparse remnants of blues, gospel, and, of course, folk, serving as equal parts Nina Nastasia, Tom Waits, and Andrew Bird. More than anything else, she's an excellent orator and narrator in the fabled troubadour style. Oh look at that, she's even playing the Troubadour, lol, etc.
In these hard economic times, parents have to do anything in their power to make sure they can provide for their children. Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, better known to you and I as Mates of State, are doing just that — except, unlike normal parents who are working longer hours or cutting expenses, the parental unit of Mates of State is heading out on a newly confirmed tour for the rest of the fall, including a show at the Barking Tuna Festival in Kalamazoo, MI. But who can blame them? How else are little Magnolia and June Elizabeth (aww cute children names, guys!) going to be able to afford Hannah Montana concerts?
Tourin’ hard for the money:
& Santogold, Low vs Diamond
% Santogold, The Ting Tings, Low vs Diamond
** Barking Tuna Festival: School of Seven Bells, Daestro, and more (Thanks Brendan!)
Psychedelic rockers Mammatus are planning to hit the road in October for a 12-date West Coast tour, "playing all new BRAIN songs that you've never heard before," according to the band. The Santa Cruz, CA three-piece have released two albums since their 2005 inception -- 2006’s Mammatus and 2007’s The Coast Explodes -- to much praise and acclaim. And it's no surprise. Mammatus have a singular sound.
They'll be going on tour with WILDILDLIFE. Don't know them? Perhaps Mammatus can convince you:
If you haven't heard them please enlighten yourself, these guys are not only pushing the boundaries of heavy music into the outer dimensions of human comprehension, they also write wicked catchy pop hooks that'll get stuck in yer head for centuries! So come out and experience an evening of insane electric wankery, eXtreme headbangin, drum destruction, and DUDEAGE!
Psychedelic rockers Mammatus are planning to hit the road in October for a 12-date West Coast tour, "playing all new BRAIN songs that you've never heard before," according to the band. The Santa Cruz, CA three-piece have released two albums since their 2005 inception -- 2006’s Mammatus and 2007’s The Coast Explodes -- to much praise and acclaim. And it's no surprise. Mammatus have a singular sound.
They'll be going on tour with WILDILDLIFE. Don't know them? Perhaps Mammatus can convince you:
If you haven't heard them please enlighten yourself, these guys are not only pushing the boundaries of heavy music into the outer dimensions of human comprehension, they also write wicked catchy pop hooks that'll get stuck in yer head for centuries! So come out and experience an evening of insane electric wankery, eXtreme headbangin, drum destruction, and DUDEAGE!
