Line Out - Comments on "Says it Was Good to be Alive" http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive Over the weekend, I dreamed that Jeff Mangum came out of hiding to perform as Neutral Milk Hotel, and I was at the concert. I couldn't believe how lucky I was.... Copyright 2008 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:15:09 -0800 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 08:26:22 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Nick If only.

]]> Nick http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782248 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782248 Last Night Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:35:38 -0800 Comment by matthew fisher wilder I saw NMH a few times live. They're not that good. They were certainly not as good as Olivia Tremor Control, who can be ok live.

The weirdest time was when they hopped on a bill as openers for Brainiac and Trans Am in 1996 or so.. it was just Jeff and two other guys jumping up and down playing for 20 minutes They Might Be Giants style.

]]> matthew fisher wilder http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782313 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782313 Last Night Mon, 13 Aug 2007 10:39:17 -0800 Comment by Fnarf I wouldn't say they were "not that good". I'd say they were extremely variable. I saw them here at the Backstage, and they were pretty good, if tired; I saw them in New York several months before and they were INCREDIBLE. Chaotic and ecstatic and joyful, with not too much understanding of what "playing songs live in a club with a band" means, but a perfectly harmonious ability to achieve something more awesome than that pedestrian understanding. Seriously, they were like Sun Ra or something. And yet still a pop band at the core.

]]> Fnarf http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782750 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782750 Last Night Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:42:37 -0800 Comment by abbey I don't care what folks say, this is my dream too!

]]> abbey http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782797 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782797 Last Night Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:38:39 -0800 Comment by Grant Cogswell Fnarf, you saw Neutral Milk Hotel: you are now "cool with me".

]]> Grant Cogswell http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782816 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782816 Last Night Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:20:32 -0800 Comment by segal Olivia Tremor Control >>>> Neutral Milk Hotel: more psychedelic, more adventurous, catchier songs (when they're in pop mode), WAY less annoying vocalist.

]]> segal http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782817 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782817 Last Night Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:22:02 -0800 Comment by kingchiron I saw them play and I thought they were quite good and a lot of fun. It was at the Florida Popfest in 98 with NMH headlining one night and Mountain Goats the other. Plus Of Montreal, Silver Apples, Elf Power and the test of the Elephant Six and Kindercore crowd.

]]> kingchiron http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782847 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782847 Last Night Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:15:17 -0800 Comment by Matt from Denver I guess NMH was okay but that is easily the worst name for a musical act ever. Even Windsor For the Derby is a good name in comparison.

]]> Matt from Denver http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782914 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/08/says_it_was_good_to_be_alive#c782914 Last Night Tue, 14 Aug 2007 08:26:22 -0800