“The relative success of the album (In the Aeroplane Over the Sea) in addition to the pressures of being suddenly thrust into the spotlight took its toll on (Jeff) Mangum, who disbanded Neutral Milk Hotel in 1998 after a tour in support of their latest album. Jeff has kept out of the public eye since then (although not without intrusive fans speculating on his whereabouts), rarely if ever playing acoustic sets and concentrating more on his recorded sound and music collages.
On April 2, 2001, Mangum and friends Laura Carter and Chris Knox played a gig-Mangum’s first in two years-at the King’s Arms in Auckland, New Zealand. The band was billed as “World of Wild Beards Incorporated”, a throwaway pseudonym which Mangum varied to ‘Walking Wall of Beards Incorporated’ whilst addressing the audience between songs.”
See poster if you’re still confused. Fantastic live recording, very clear even in its lossy state. Jeff jokes about everything from his nervous breakdown to pubic hair.
Oh my, you should really download this one…