Live Shows: Neutral Milk Hotel, Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI 4/19/15
This is the one show I've been the most nervous for. Like many people, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is one of my most beloved and cherished albums. Reunion shows can be dicey, with many being obvious cash grabs by bands looking for a quick nostalgia payday, and just walking through the hits. Because of this (and my hatred of the Orpheum Theater in Boston), I had missed their first run of dates. Since this appears to be their final run, I had to suck it up and head down to Providence. I'm thrilled to say I had no reason to be nervous. Holy shit was this an amazing show. It was literally everything I could have hoped for as far a a reunion goes. The band, including the notoriously performance shy singer Jeff Mangum, seemed genuinely thrilled to be there. As the other members went through one of the greatest assortments of instruments I've ever seen on a stage (and the only time I've ever seen a banjo played with a bow and used as a noise instrument), they would sing...