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An
Angel At My Bar
by
Paul Luker
‘World of Wild Beards’ gig – Jeff
Mangum, Laura Carter, Chris Knox
Kings Arms,
Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday 4th February 2001
Prior to this gig, being new to all that is Jeff
Mangum, I did a bit of research and ended up exchanging messages with
a Jeff Mangum fan through Napster, I'm not sure they are convinced JM
would soon be performing in Auckland, New Zealand - not only that, but
at a bar only a few minutes drive from my place. I don't help myself by
suggesting that I would take some pictures, adding that an interview would
by good. It's made clear to me that “An interview with Jeff Mangum
would be the ultimate privilege”. I try hard not to brag, but in
a few days Jeff Mangum does play.
“There’s
some live stuff on napster from a club in my town.”
Where? I ask
“Chapel Hill, North Carolina.”
Chris Knox is also playing
“I have seen Chris, but Jeff is an Angel.”
Do you play music?
"I worked at my college radio station. You can pick it up www.wxyc.org"
I do see
Jeff play at the Kings Arms and that is a privilege, his performance,
solo and with Chris and Laura had me entranced, enchanted by his lyrics
and in awe of his vocal abilities. Later, to fill in a few gaps, I do
a web search. ‘Jeff Mangum’ results offer a duo of impostors
and a typically low-key link to the real Jeff –
Jeff Mangum – Tucson Scientist, National Radio Astronomy Observatory
...
Jeff Mangum – Attorney, Divorce Services: San Diego, CA 92101
...
Neutral Milk Hotel – News Discography Performances Lyrics
Biography Images Press Links ...
There’s a lot of stuff online about Jeff Mangum the songwriter, from
fans and reviewers alike –
“looking for Jeff Mangum’s email address...”
“Jeff Mangum boils down the essence of rock and roll into eleven
stunning tracks, each crucial piece to this concise, 40-minute musical
manifesto. ..."
“Singer wants musicians – into Neutral Milk Hotel etc,”
“Three cheers for Jeff Mangum and the rest of the Elephant 6 music
& art collective that participate on this, Neutral Milk Hotel’s
second glorious album ...”
“... we walk in and, sitting two tables away, is Jeff Mangum, brilliant
Neutral Milk Hotel front man, Elephant 6 recording collective member ...”
And on it goes.
So what other
stuff does Chapel Hill, North Carolina Napster user listen to... try -
Magazine, Aceyalone, Electric Prunes, T-Rex, 13th Floor Elevators, Apples
in Stereo, Brian Eno, Built to Spill, dbs, Love, Nick Drake for starters.
paul@hip.net.nz
Beachin’
by Mark Webster
‘World of Wild Beards’ gig
– Jeff Mangum, Laura Carter, Chris Knox
Kings Arms,
Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday 4th February 2001
I
met Jeff Mangum and Laura Carter at Parkiri Beach, north of Auckland -
huge, glittering expanse of sand like sugar;
cold, green crystal waves rolling in ... and the lazy drawls of these
two Americans, guests of Barbara Ward and Chris Knox, determined to have
their open eyes opened more, determined to relax, determined to see this
duo-island nation of nearly four million a little smaller than Mexico
...
We teach them how to bodysurf, boogie board ... Soon they buy a cheap
old Japanese car and head north, away from us – and, for the first
time, I hear the music on a tape Barbara (grudgingly!) lends me.
Two weeks later, we’ve ushered them in to the open, but almost private,
world of the Kauaeranga Valley near Thames. We poke fun at their tiny
tent, feed them, show them where they can plunge into the river, take
them on walks ... and that night, Nat Curnow from AK band ‘hip’
starts strumming Tall Dwarfs’ ‘Nothing’s Going To Happen’.
“Go on, Chris,” says Jeff, but Knox says he can’t remember
all the words. So Jeff fills in, in a beautiful, sure voice, and Chris
duets. Laura fills the campsite with the warmth of an accordion, and suddenly
Jeff starts playing the guitar and sings a new song in a big, beautiful,
clear, drawn-out, melodious voice, making each word ache like that feeling
in your throat when you’ve been crying, but making it sound positive
all the same. My skin goose-bumps ...
Kings
Arms, 2nd March. There they are, fresh back from the South Island where
they found a little paradise on the West Coast, sore throated, slugging
from a medicinal thermos, as unassuming as ever, though perhaps even a
little nervous (Jeff hadn’t played live in two years). Chris plays
first, in fine voice, though as usual I prefer his big, thumping tracks,
finishing with (a surprise to all) a Neutral Milk Hotel song – and
then Chris, Jeff and Laura take the stage together and the place starts
jumping.
Then it’s Jeff and Laura. Laura
is a sensational musician in her own right; incredibly modest, she rises
from the floor to add finely-chosen melodies on either accordian or clarinet
that fill out the strumming guitar of Jeff.
Jeff’s voice lifts up and hangs in the air. Two fans sitting on the
floor next to me sing word-for-word with Jeff. It’s a great moment.
It’s been a great night. Thankfully, there’s even an encore.
Back at my house, later, Jeff and Laura look exhausted, happy, getting
near to the end of their New Zealand sojourn and
starting to look forward to home. (But for me, nothing can beat that achingly
beautiful moment in the Kauaeranga Valley when, the air prewarmed by Laura’s
tentative notes on the accordion, Jeff sang without electrical aid in
the still, clear night air, accompanied only by acoustic guitar and the
sound of water over rocks through the trees ...)
mark@hip.net.nz
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