Jeff Mangum - Two Headed Boy - Live at Jittery Joe's

[KlumzyThePunk]

Fucking hate women sometimes, they completely ruin shows like these.

[Steven23CrazyBassist]

I hope the little princess dancing near the end still remembers this today. I've never been so jealous of an infant before.

[nickgderp]

he even sounds amazing live on this crappy camera (no offense)

[SchmuddelGrunge]

Doesn't stop for an instant, even with that kid around. True performer.

[dFORdarryl]

when he and the kid lock eyes just for a second, that's what makes this video so great compared to other versions. For me.

[Yoshimitsu4prez]

omg seeing him in august so stoked

[mnhoops]

thank god for this music

[supraman350hp]

I would like to offer my thanks to everyone posting on this who has showed the same sort of amazement as I've felt. I've read several comments, and the stories being retold are similar to ones I've experienced in my own life. NMH was something (I hesitate to label it) which I found without any sort of exposure, and for whatever reason, struck a very particular chord in me. I have yet to figure out what or why, but all I know is that no one I've showed it to has felt even remotely similar.

[JapancreaticCancer]

You want to know something that sucks? I've lived in Athens all my life, and I missed this performance because I wasn't that into music at this point. I kick myself everyday for it.

[voltcorp]

The baby's laughter makes such a nice sounding addition. I love when real life sounds match the song I'm listening.

[ReeceHughesRocks]

@voltcorp agreed

[carnage101]

can't believe he's playing in NYC this May...and it's sold out.

[r4l9]

Oh man, baby going for the distortion pedal at 2:31 is great

[Swiftlygothedays]

Hey, I'll say it, and I really mean it. Jesse Lacey's a pretty good artist. I'm a big fan of his pre-2005 works. His covers of NMH songs are actually ok, if you ask me.

But c'mon, if you're seriously comparing him to someone like Jeff Mangum, you need to get checked. You can't compare ANYONE to Jeff Mangum. He has his own realm. It's something more than music. It's like the elixer of life. I have never felt so alive.

[SimMaster]

i wish i was that baby

[ShzaMack]

That baby probably grew up to be an awesome person just for having experienced that at such a young age.

[iwillcommitdeicide]

is it from the audience or what?

[iwillcommitdeicide]

whos baby is that?

[skinlessman]

Pree's?

sorry i had to

[lateralus462]

Jesse Lacey simply can't sing, nor perform. He is just another bitch in the "indie" bitch parade.

[steve0619]

Jesse is a pretty good singer, and a better performer.

but more importantly, he is one of the best songwriters of the modern era. (and probably the best still putting out music)

[VanHalen010]

Then music is truly dying

[qwertj1]

i love when live performances of songs sound the same way it was performed on the cd, they are brilliant, this is one of those songs.

[VanHalen010]

You say that because you never saw his shit ass videos.

[VanHalen010]

I'm pretty sure that Jesse Lacey destroys this song and every other song of Jeff he and his two bitch bands Manchester orchestra and Kevin devine play.

[Vincentehautesavoie]

who's jesse lacey ?

[VanHalen010]

He is from the terrible band brand new. It hurts to hear him sing Jeff's music.

[Vincentehautesavoie]

ok not a bad thing 'cause Neutral Milk doesn't exist anymore

[piratewannabe2]

Lead singer of Brand New. I actually enjoy his cover of Oh, Comely.

[FlaminFingaz]

I enjoy the fact that Neutral Milk Hotel is remembered. Even if it is by someone that isn't as musically talented (according to popular opinion, not saying my opinion I've never heard Brand New Songs) . I mean come on, if we tried covering these songs, we'd hurt people's ears too. I know I would haha. So let's just enjoy the music, no matter who sings it just for the fact that it is remembered.

[piratewannabe2]

Oh, Definetly. Neutral Milk Hotel is my favorite band ever. haha, I would prefer Jeff Mangum over anything else. everything he makes is beautiful

[jmbretter]

I WILL CRUSH YOU INTO A JELLY.

[kmcrae6]

i really dont even know what to do when i listen to his music, it means so much to me it makes me cry almost every time it is just really so beautiful and to hear him live just over the computer means so much more.

[jbqwerty]

...I like this song a lot, but seems like it´s recorded at Toys´r Us. Anyway, that would be nice and original.

[Vincentehautesavoie]

cool if it it is

[DarknessHowls]

I've said it before and I'll say it again--Jeff Magnum has an amazing voice. Or at least amazing lungs...whenever I try singing along to "In the Aeroplane", I can never finish any phrases because I'm constantly running out of breath...I have no idea how he does it. :-/

[disgai]

Know when the breaks are coming up and take a quick deep breath. Like to hold the note the whole time in Gardenhead.

[SebAGITATED]

That's the thing about this song...at parts it seems like he is pushing his voice further than it should naturally go. And it works great!

[horlock91]

does he still play these gigs? i would be tempted to fly to georgia from london just for that. would be fucking worth it.

[joshman800000000]

nope. but you're right. it would be worth it.

[pointplaya6]

@horlock91 he's back

[Draxzar]

@horlock91 I know this comment is two years old. Buuuuuuut, fuck it. HE'S DOING A GIG IN LONDON BOYO.

[tangonoose]

too many bands or songwriters write songs for other people ,

he could care less whether you liked it or hated it ,this was for him =D ,and thats why its great

[AxleCarp]

This song isn't too hard to play, but those high notes he sings, damn...

[ajgree6]

I will never ever forget the first time I heard this song. What a moment.

[samiscrazycool]

oh my god dude me too!! it introduced to a side of music I had never experienced before... suddle beauty and appreciation of life

[adam4skateboarding]

I love all of his music but I hope he never comes back, there is too much to lose by his potential sucking.

[msjenn2ns]

i can play this song on the uke. cause it's easy. but no one will ever play it like him. ps... luckiest baby ever.

[Rapofile]

Amazing performance.

[dudesons441]

haha i love how the baby yelps. then jeff says "Im listening to hear where you are!!"

[greenboymonkey]

That was great.

Jeff didn't seem to mind the baby at all. Cute.

[Cougan86]

beautiful. well-played, mangum.

[zdskate21]

the chords are so easy but the vocal melody and the downstroke strumming makes it fucking impossible to play.

i love this song though.

[PolandSprings16]

I hate how unreal this performance is..

[MRFRANKETTE]

Not one of those studio bands. Sounds great, if not better live

[MEST12]

sounds like it's right off the cd.

[GodFStudio]

When I saw that they were live video of this song I was like : ''There is no way it sound like the cd, downstroke picking and yelling at the same time ''

Omg what a great suprise

[ti3nt]

That's because NMH actually made music, not the talentless hacks you see nowadays, garbage to appeal to the masses churned out my money hungry corperations.

[c0al]

"i'm indie"

[harrypluto2317]

someone should have told that mother to keep control of her offspring

[chrl0t]

amazing

wish i was there :(

[brighterwest]

i dont like when he sings placing fingers around the notches in your spine..

it doesnt flow as well as through the notches in yous spine..

[horlock91]

i love this song so fucking much. it almost makes me cry. if he doesnt ever come back the world will be without one of our most brilliant saving graces. i wouldnt put pressure on him to return i just pray that he does. god speed.

[sjp440]

I read somewhere that Jeff left the band to go make a documentary about snails... I have a feeling he'll be back one day

[foleys07]

you people are stupid. just listen to the song.

[burythehatchet72]

Jeff Mangum =]

[lisadouglass]

Where is Our Beloved Jeff? Please come back to us, we sorely need you. Our souls are crying and you speak to us in the only language we can hear. PLEASE COME BACK.

[cfotoole]

No offense, but it's comments like that that drove him away from the public eye in the first place.

[angelzyt43]

@cfotoole true true true, i wish he was still around.

[beelzebubsasshole]

"Where is Our Beloved Jeff?"

Jeff is dead. Long live Jeff!

[cfotoole]

Amen

[TannersRoomLive]

jeff mangum is not dead

[Classikpunk1976]

he's still alive, and making music.

he just wants to focus on the future, and doesnt want to dwell on the past of NMH.

[caityannehall]

thats my favorite part by far!

[Winsl0w]

Does anyone else feel like he says "all floating in bliss" instead of "glass" like most lyrics sites say? I feel that he more clearly enunciates a "b" at the beginning of that word in this recording than in the studio one, though I think I hear it there too.

Anyone else hear it?

[csalvito]

I don't really hear it too much, but it sure makes more sense to say he's floating in bliss than glass. I certainly see where you're coming from.

[Passtheguitarplease]

I think it is glass and i think glass makes more sense. The way i interpreted that part of the song was that the two headed boy is almost in a cage for people to see and judge him, like a freak show...

[leander37]

No. It is a two headed boy floating in glass, like at a weird science museum. I guess he could be floating in bliss, but that wouldn't make as much sense.

[thyy]

I really love his voice.

[alexfuckingleach]

i've been to jittery joe's is actually a nice place.

my grandfather lives in the neighborhood across the street from it near gainseville school.

[elguappoburro]

I love this song too much.

I'm really scared to try to cover this song in fear that I'd ruin the song.

[mbgambler]

you would

[webbyness]

That's mean.

[mbgambler]

Some songs cannot be covered. This is one of them. This is the pinnacle.

[samiscrazycool]

Jessie Lacey does it good justice

[ha0676578]

god no. no he doesn't. seriously?

[Supaduck0]

Yeah, Jesse is probably one of the only people who could actually do NMH justice. Nothing like the original though. In the same way Jeff singing a BN song wouldn't be like Jesse's version.

[pauls1]

that kid will grow up to have superpowers!

[albion9876]

good ol' jeffy and i were childhood chums! his music is just outstanding. this is mr. greatman reincarnated 18 times atleast

[Casodex]

I firmly believe that if Magnum kept writing music at the pace he was in the late 90's, he'd be on par with the likes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, etc. He's truly a gift to the musical world.

[SangnokHigh]

These videos are absolutely priceless, and by far the best things on Youtube.

[burythehatchet72]

i agree =]

[MajestySnowbird]

That baby sound near the beginning has become an integral of this song for me. It's beautiful, in a way.

[joshman800000000]

i know what you mean! it's weird to not hear it in the normal version.

[skotoseme]

something about this song makes me fucking burst into tears almost every time i hear it. nmh isn't even really one of my favorite bands, and still i just utterly lose it more often than not whenever i hear this...i don't think i can say for any other song...

[xGambitx]

i like the baby that squeaks in the beginningish of the song.

but nmh is one of the greatest bands ever, no doubt about that. and jeff is amazing. i hope that one day he will come back, even if he doesnt have new stuff, just to hear him live.

[OptionallySavage]

"His whole mysteriousness adds so much more to his music..."

What? No it doesn't. I don't give a damn how 'cool' or 'mysterious' he is, I appreciate the music he creates for what it is, in and of itself. Am I the only damn person in the world who can separate the artist from the art?

[thyy]

He is a genius. I cannot imagine how a genius like this can be hidden somewhere. He is so much better than what we are trying to listen everyday in BILLBOAD CHART Rock n roll albums. Sometimes, famous means nothing to good music. Even Indie bands nowasays are crappy, so-called indie..well. Maybe this is the reason why he should not return to the so-called indie market in USA now..haha.

[adamschneider]

the man has the voice and lung capacity of the holy trinity. he is the second coming of Christ in my opinion. these are analogies, im not actually religious, but if i were, Mangum is jesus.

[Perfect1Stranger1]

I think he played this about anne franks love.. Not too sure why i think that though lol brilliant song

[kubrocker]

pure perfection

im jealous of anyone who ever got to witness this in person. ive been listening to these songs since 2001, sadly not long enough :(

[testytestytest]

I really wonder how he holds a note for that long. His last few words are held for around 12 seconds!

Jeff Mangum is a talented musician, and I look forward to the day that he shares some new music.

[JJimHuinink]

I am sitting and watching the rest of Live at Joltin' Joes. Thank you so much for this! This is an intimate closeup of an unequivocal genius.

[solidshakes]

the instant that I heard one of NMH's tracks off of aeroplane, I was in love with the band. My sister was playing this song, and I was won over. Delving deeper into the band, I listened to the album in order, and tears streamed down rapidly. It was absolutely beautiful, and strange, and inspiring at the same time that I didn't know what to do with all the thoughts revving through my mind.

[Blomstrom]

OMG, thank you so much for this. I just found this band and can't stop listening to them. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing...

[joshman800000000]

no prob. this stuff will change your life (at least your musical life :) )

[IDkeiro]

beautiful song

and also, for me, connected with a beautiful memmory :)

[fourstring182]

thanks jeff

[bigyellowlegoman]

one of the best songs ive ever heard...

[slowlydrowning]

This song, his voice, the coarse and melancholy sounds of nostalgia... the fist time i heard NMH i was immediately reminded of something that had never happened... emotions that I had never felt. What else can i say except.. thank you.

[skivvyjones]

I was going to leave a comment, but then I read yours and it's pretty perfect.

[thekakihara]

how could a single individual be so brilliant?

[laffordiefilm]

this music is so sublime...

[SLIMandtheTANK]

...this is one of the greatest songs ever.. i mean...i love this song.

[Bimkovitz]

At least the audience liked it...man I wish I had been there.

[kevmatkel]

Jeff, please, more music. Anything.

[novameat]

And stop insulting the baby, any baby that goes for Mangum's toes is a smart one.

[LifeInTechnicolor]

Agreed. Obviously the baby just loves Jeff so much she went a little silly.

I can relate.

[novameat]

I would give anything to have been able to sit in front of Jeff Mangum in a coffee shop.

[LifeInTechnicolor]

Ditto.

[sweetslashes]

i thort the baby was cute!!!!!!

xox

[Tonedefdom]

Its great we can all see this footage, it would have sat in some cupboard forever if youtube etc wasnt here.

[emergencyemergency]

i've never wanted a baby to die so much in my life

[karpuzsaci]

i think it gives better enterance to chorus :)

[JoesRedGuitar]

This guy is serious man! He's fucking awesome! I like to hear songs reproduced live as they are on the CD, and he fucking did it just like the studio version. Thats where its at.

[buckturgidson9000]

aw man.. it would've been awesome if he just demolished that baby's head with his guitar at the end of the song..

just kidding =D

[TheKidKomplexShow]

love meutral milk hotel

[kaligorr]

who needs any of your opinions?

[LadyHitchhiker]

Wow.. why do people have to fall down to calling each others names? *rolls eyes*

[b0bydigital]

so awesome

[disarmin]

beautiful

[otterpop3000]

I think the simplicity of his guitar playing is what makes his music so enjoyable. My room mate walked in and picked up my guitar and was able to play Holland 1945 because "Two of the three chords I know make up this song..."

He didn't mean that in a bad way either. The music is so powerful but the simplicity of the guitar adds so much. The composition is solid, despite it being basic.

[jrotcman]

Raw emotion doesnt need fancy guitar licks or amps with the overdrive kicked up to 50. You dont need loud drums or even drums at all. (no offense to the drummers out there). Its all about emotion and mood.

PS. Im also glad that he isnt all that good of a guitarist so I can strum, and even sing if no-ones around, along on my guitar at home.

[webbyness]

It doesn't necessarily mean he's not a good guitarist.

[aeroplneovrthesea]

he sounds great in the video. thank you for posting

[sasukenebe100]

pretty amazing

[weezescorcho]

I love jeff magnum.

[quincy211188]

SHUT THAT FUCKING BABY UP!

[TheMember06]

the babies actually part of the performance i believe.

[futoncat]

lmao

[TheMember06]

i meant on the credits for the DVD, Mangum has actually listed the baby and mother as performers.

[monkeyxx]

my dear god

[edwardbliss]

beautiful footage with the little kid at the end

[myleftventricle]

this song is perfect.

[dannakin]

one of the best musicians of all time!

[eyeball226]

Best songwriter, but not musician. Still good though.

[dooomgeist]

guy 1 - "I have an opinion"

guy 2 - "Not only is your opinion wrong but I too have an opinion, one which happens to be correct."

douche

[eyeball226]

Hey, fuck you. I never said my opinion was more important or more "correct". I happened to express my opinion too.

I expressed my opinion that I did not think he was one of the best musicians of all time but I did think he was one of the best songwriters. What the hell is wrong with you?

[mike12183]

please define musician....

[eyeball226]

As in his technical ability at playing a musical instrument.

[cowboyardee]

You're probably right, honestly. Compare Mangum to Coltrane and his instrumental skills aren't all that impressive in the grand scheme of things. (Rumor has it that he was a better drummer than a guitarist).

However, to anyone who says he wasn't one of the greatest songwriters of all time -- I will appear late at night reflected in your bathroom mirror and somehow punch you in the neck.

[crimboski]

Of course he wasn't one of the greatest musicians...eyeball226 know's what he's talking about...

[lars3939]

yes because soings are not music so this difference is a vital one, moan moan moan Im a music fan pedant...