Robin Pecknold and his sister Aja ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

While Robin Pecknold himself may have stuck to water last night at Neumos, it was clear by the end of the night he was one of a bare few. He contributed in his own way though, offering a wry humor and a one of kind night of music made up of some of his favorite traditionals, notable covers and songs from his own band Fleet Foxes. He was even joined on a few of the songs by some of his bandmates.

MP3: Robin Pecknold - “Two Headed Boy (Neutral Milk Hotel Cover)” recorded 7/11/2009 at Neumos in Seattle ( look for the full show download link below)

Grand Hallway opened the night and with a short half-an-hour of fully realized orchestral indie rock, that this time around felt not only practiced but natural, as if in the intervening months since I’ve last seen them, lead singer Tomo Nakayama now truly has as much control of his voice as his ability on guitar or keys displays.

Capitol Hill residents Throw Me the Statue are a band that has grown from a motley crew rambling around doing synthy jangle pop and riding a wave of critical acclaim into a tight cohesive force that is now truly deserving of that acclaim. With plenty of backup these days, lead mind Scott Reitherman seems to be sticking to the guitar for the duration performance, and if anything it gives the band a more consistent sound. If the unevenness of however Reitherman and whomever he had with him decided to play a song on a given day was part of the charm before, Throw Me the Statue is now a full-on band, and the new songs portray that identity clearly. Much of set list were songs from a new album, titled Creaturesque, and out in August on Secretly Canadian.

After the obligatory pass the hat speech, as this was a benefit Seattle’s all-ages haven the Vera Project, Robin Pecknold got down to business. Informing us he was just going to play a jukebox of songs he liked, and maybe a few requests, he began with songs he’s done as his myspace alter ego White Antelope. Then with no warning he dropped a Neutral Milk Hotel cover on us. “Two Headed Boy” no less. He forgot a few words near the end, but I’m sure I wasn’t the only one picking my jaw up from the floor still absorbing a moment that we wanted to never end.

Inviting fellow Fleet Foxes Josh Tillman and Skyler Skeljet to offer a little backup throughout (with Tillman also on comic relief), Pecknold took to the piano for a few songs, and at one point even threatened a Robert Goulet Version of a Fleet Foxes song. Unexpected laughter and humor seemed to be a reoccuring theme throughout the night, thanks to an enthusiastic and progressively intoxicated audience. “Blue Spotted Tail” was the only new song among the bunch, however a few covers did make appearances, foremost the Magnetic Fields’ “The Book Of Love” and an encore of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” with Pecknold sister Aja joining on backup vocals.

For those who missed it, the complete setlist and a full show download link are below the fold. It is highly recommended.

Robin Pecknold ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Robin Pecknold’s Cohorts ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Throw Me the Statue ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Grand Hallway ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

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Robin Pecknold of the Fleet Foxes ::: Photo by Josh

Saturday July 11, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes will be taking the Neumos stage as the headliner for this years multi-day A Drink For the Kids fundraiser in support of the VERA Project. The multi-bar event features drink specials for us over-21-ers, and on the final night at Neumos this concert will cap the week, with all the proceeds going to Seattle’s place for all-ages.

A Drink For The Kids, the Vera Project’s annual 21+ benefit, includes six bar nights featuring beer and liquor specials benefiting the Vera Project and a grand finale benefit show. Visit any of the bars below and purchase a Stone Brewing Company beer and ask about liquor specials to support Vera:

July 5th at Cha Cha
July 6th at Hazelwood
July 7th at West 5
July 8th at Twilight Exit
July 9th at Linda’s
July 10th at Solo & Funhouse
July 11th at Neumos

Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10am at TicketsWest. Unless of course you know the password. Then they are available for you right now. Snap ‘em up because as we know, out of all antelopes, the White Antelope is about as rare as they come.

And if you doubt you should be there… watch a song from one of our favorite sessions of 2008:

In my sickness-caused-deliriousness I neglected to mention earlier that this years edition of “A Drink For the Kids” is happening this week. This annual benefit for the Vera Project, has different businesses participating each night, and all you’ve got to do to support the kids is order a Redhook or a Dewars cocktail.

The event actually started yesterday, and goes through the weekend, culminating in a show at Neumos on Saturday, that until yesterday had a secret headliner. Courtesy of Megan over at the Stranger, that secret is out of the bag now, in the form the Tokyo Police Club. Here’s the rest of the schedule for this week:

Thursday October 9 from 6 to 10pm
Cha Cha
Hattie’s Hat
Mission
Rendezvous

Friday October 10 from 6 to 10pm
Linda’s Tavern
King’s Hardware
Spitfire
West 5

Saturday October 11
Neumos Presents A Drink for the Kids 2008 - Grand Finale Concert
Very special super secret surprise guest headliner: Tokyo Police Club
The Ruby Suns (Sub Pop) from New Zealand
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
Hosted by People’s Republic of Komedy’s Kevin Hyder
DJ Righteous Trash
$15 / doors at 8pm