A big thanks goes to youtube user TwinSparrows for posting this.

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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I just thought I would let you guys in on a few of the great downloads I have seen posted recently in blogland.

Live Postal Service from 2003 at Uberdrivel. Live Postal Service is a rare treat. A full treatment of the album makes it so much sweeter. Jenny Lewis included makes it the pinnacle. Very nice recording.

A set of live songs and an interview with Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel at Aquarium Drunkard. The interview is fascinating, and in it he talks about living in Seattle and having a hard time with life. The interviewer said Mangum had been up for 36 hours straight before doing this but he sounds his usualy self to me. 

Good Weather for Airstrikes has been on fire lately. They’ve just put up a post with songs and introductions to a veritable who’s who of the “it” bands your likely to see in 2007. With the Klaxons, Lily Allen, Cold War Kids and more it’s great primer in what’s hot on the blogs right now that gives you at least two songs from each artist to sample. Last week they put up all of their 50 top tracks of 2006 up for download. This site is a treasure trove of musical discovery and one of the best music blogs out there right now.

A curious sample of what I’ve been listening most to in November. Randomly rounded off at selections from 20 Artists:

“Here’s Your Future” - The Thermals
“Sleep Sandwich” and “How’s Forever Been Baby” - Elvis Perkins
“Black Wave” - The Shins (from the forthcoming Wincing the Night Away)
“Trouble” and the “Raised by Wolves EP”- Voxtrot
“All Fires” - Swan Lake
“Rotation of Crops” - The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers
“I Found A Reason” - Cat Power (velvet underground cover)
“Cold Wind” - The Arcade Fire (from the Six Feet Under Soundtrack)
“Woman is Nigger of the World” - John Lennon (acoustic)
“Girl From The North Country” - Bob Dylan, featuring Johnny Cash
“The Trees Get Wheeled Away” - Bright Eyes (live at the Gypsy Tea Room, 10/05/02)
“Paint’s Peeling” - Rilo Kiley
“Connect For” - Common Market (complete w/KEXP shout-outs, from Live at KEXP, Vol II)
“Nature of the Experiment” - Tokyo Police Club
“90-Mile Water Wall” and “Mr. November” - The National (from Black Sessions # 230 04/29/05)
“Lucky” - Radiohead
“Worked Up So Sexual” and “Call, Call” - The Faint
“The Eraser” - Thom Yorke
“Race You” - The Figurines
Neutral Milk Hotel: the near perfect In The Aeroplane Over the Sea. Which, if I can be so bold–
is my favorite album of all time.