Neutral Milk Hotel Tour
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Neutral Milk Hotel 2014 Tour Opening Band: Elf Power
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Frequently Asked Questions
What songs will Neutral Milk Hotel play in concert?
Neutral Milk Hotel gained music immortality in 1998 when they released their sophomore album, In the Aeroplane over the Sea. The band remains one of those unique acts where their debut was remarkably overlooked, but the follow-up is considered classic. This makes up their entire studio output, so setlists are clearly favored towards this modern indie-rock magnum opus.
The band did release an EP in 2011 called Ferris Wheel on Fire. Though it did not achieve a huge splash critically or commercially, it is represented with a handful of songs, generally towards the middle of the setlist. The band opens huge with the Aeroplane classic, “The King of Carrot Flowers” trilogy. It is a three part song that has seemingly opened up every show the band has performed in the last year.
The group nearly always closes with the enormous crowd-pleaser, “Engine.” It is actually not on their critical acclaimed masterpiece but off their first official EP release known as Beauty. It is widely overlooked, and only long-time fans that dig deep into their discography will find it.
Neutral Milk Hotel rarely plays covers, if ever, and it has certainly been reflected on their 2014 reunion tour.
Fortunately, fans of their most popular and widely recognized album will find nearly all their favorite tracks included on the setlist. Only a few tracks are omitted at all, which makes many speculate why they don’t simply play the album in its entirety.
Below is the setlist which has remained constant around of the time 99% for all shows within the last twelve months.
The King of Carrot Flowers, Part One
The King of Carrot Flowers, Parts Two & Three
Holland, 1945
A Baby for Pree
Glow Into You
Gardenhead
Leave Me Alone
Everything Is
Two-Headed Boy
The Fool
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Naomi
Ferris Wheel on Fire
Oh Comely
Song Against Sex
Ruby Bulbs
Snow Song, Part One
Ghost
Two-Headed Boy, Part Two
Engine
How long is a Neutral Milk Hotel concert?
Neutral Milk hotel plays a crisp and cool 90 minute set, equipped and propelled by the overwhelming majority of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea’s 40 minute runtime.
What should I expect at the show?
Band frontman Jeff Magnum is quiet and reserved onstage, as he keeps between-song chatter to an absolute minimum. This comes as little surprise. Magnum does not allow for any photography during the event, so journalists are stuck working undercover to snap some photos for publicity. Cell phone usage is monitored carefully, and attendee members sneaking a quick photo may face minor scrutiny. This all helps establish a mystique that Magnum and co. have carefully developed and maintained for well over 25 years. Magnum has delivered very few interviews over the years, and his demeanor and careful identity plays out on stage calmly and magically.
The lo-fi dirty folk sound of their material comes across with beautiful elegance onstage, where the group infuses their set with slow atmospheric jams and dim lighting. It is a show that speaks almost solely through the music. Magnum takes center stage for a selection of acoustic tracks that are nicely dispersed throughout the evening.
Who is opening the shows for 2014?
Elf Power is an indie folk rock band with a history dating just as far back as Neutral Milk Hotel. The group is opening for Neutral Milk Hotel on the majority of their 2014 dates, touring for their new 2013 release on Orange twin Records, Sunlight on the Moon.
Who is Neutral Milk Hotel’s current media contact?
Having their own record label and being on a 15 year hiatus has placed Neutral Milk Hotel in a unique position. The band does not currently have a public media contact partner. The website, Walking Wall of Words, is the best place to make any media contacts. It is the official band website where tour announcements, news updates, podcasts, and new music are posted on a steady basis. Media contacts for booking and publicity may be sent to Jim@groundcontroltouring.com, who fronts touring management for the band’s current 2014 presence and beyond. For those hoping for a photo pass, photography has been banned from this tour so those requests will fall on deaf ears.
Where can I find presale tickets for shows?
Neutral Milk Hotel has collaborated with independent ticket distributor CrowdSurge to deliver special advance tickets. Not all venues are participating though, so visit the official website to see if your city of choice is on the current list.
It is worth noting that a portion of all tickets sold through CrowdSurge will go to the Children of the Blue Sky charity. The group does not have an official fan club that provides tour presale tickets.
There are an array of other presales offered in select markets. These include radio, venue and other presale opportunities. Its best to visit their website and follow them on social media for further details.
Concert Reviews
“How many bands out there wouldn’t love to go on hiatus for a decade and a half and come back playing thrice-bigger venues? Not to mention, how many vain rock ‘n’ roll singers wouldn’t like all their press to include photos from 15 years earlier, which Mangum has achieved by disallowing photography (including cell pics) at his concerts and even refusing to issue a current publicity photo.” – Chris Riemenschneider of the Star Tribune
“From parts two and three of the King of Carrot Flowers trilogy, to fan favourite “Holland 1945” and more, a punk show-worthy mosh pit erupted and lasted for a good portion of the set, except during slow numbers like “Oh Comely” and “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea”, that lulled the crowd into a trance.” – Curtis Sindrey of Aesthetic Magazine
“Even after 15 years of mythologizing buildup, Neutral Milk Hotel still point at something bigger and weirder and more beautiful than most people can ever imagine. Had photographers and other would-be documentarians not been gently but firmly told to knock it off (or else, bro), they might have captured a sloppy, ecstatic fuzz-folk band looking much like any other group appearing around the country this very weekend in basements or dive bars or VFW halls.” – Jesse Jarnow of Spin
Tour Archive
This will be Neutral Milk Hotel’s first tour in 15 years, following an extensive hiatus that began in 1999.