Jeff Mangum - Return To Live Performances

Return To Live Performances

In October 2008, Mangum performed the song "Engine" on several stops of the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour. Prior to these performances, he had not played Neutral Milk Hotel songs in public since 2001. At the Lexington, KY stop, Mangum, Scott Spillane and Julian Koster led concertgoers outside the venue to a nearby tree. Prior to playing Engine, the group surprised the audience with Neutral Milk Hotel's "The Fool". This was, effectively, the closest thing to a Neutral Milk Hotel performance since 1998.

In December 2009, Mangum contributed the song "Sign the Dotted Line" to a Chris Knox tribute album titled Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox. On May 6, 2010, Mangum played a 25-minute acoustic set at a Chris Knox benefit show at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC. He played: "Oh Comely," "A Baby for Pree/Where You'll Find Me Now," "Two Headed Boy pt. 2," "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" and as an encore, "Engine." It was also announced it was not the start of a comeback, but a one time performance to benefit his friend Chris Knox.

On December 4, 2010, Mangum played a 10 song set at a loft in Bushwick, Brooklyn including 6 songs from In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and Engine.

On April 20, 2011, Robert Schneider debuted a score composed by Mangum for the Teletron, an instrument Schneider had invented. It is unknown whether the composition will have an official release. On August 26, 2011, Mangum launched the website walkingwallofwords.com, where he is self-releasing a box set of Neutral Milk Hotel albums and unreleased tracks, as well as one-of-a-kind drawings and a radio show he curated.

On August 12 and 13, 2011, Mangum played full sets at Trinity-St.Paul's United Church in Toronto, Ontario. Both shows were opened by members of the Elephant 6 Collective. Mangum played very similar sets at the two shows, performing several songs from Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" and "On Avery Island". During the show on August 12, Mangum also played a cover of Daniel Johnston's "True love Will Find You In The End". Mangum performed "Engine" as an encore at both shows. On 30 September 2011, Mangum played a full set at All Tomorrow's Parties in Asbury Park, NJ - his first large show in many years.

On October 4, 2011, Mangum made an appearance at Zuccotti Park in New York City and played several songs to the protesters participating in Occupy Wall Street. On October 27, 2011, Mangum performed a benefit show for Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, New York.

On January 9, 2012 Goldenvoice revealed that Jeff Mangum would appear on the Saturday bill for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival alongside such acts as Radiohead, Bon Iver, and Feist. On January 10, 2012 Mangum's official tour site revealed additional West Coast dates leading up to and through the Coachella festival.

Mangum curated the 2012 ATP in Minehead, UK between the 9th and 11 March. This marked the first time that Mangum, The Apples in Stereo and Olivia Tremor Control have officially all played at the same event.

On November 12, 2012, Mangum announced a 2013 tour of the United States.