Just got back from Jeff Mangum. I was expecting to be disappointed, but it wound up being the complete opposite. His voice almost sounds better than ever, and although it was just him and a guitar for every song he did a really good job at filling in parts that the band would normally be there for.
His dialogue between each song was also very entertaining. He kept pointing people out and asking them not to take a picture because he doesn't want his pictures on the internet, lol.
I met him after the show, he was exactly as awkward as I had always imagined. I gave him a drawing which he really seemed to appreciate a lot. I'm not one for autographs, but I went to the concert hoping that I would get to meet him. Half because of the challenge of meeting someone fairly iconic in certain music circles. The other half, despite me generally being anti-autographs, and preferring handshakes and a quick chat about whatever can pop up, I have an original issue of On Avery Island from 1994 in pretty pristine condition.
The vinyl on its own is fairly collectable, but now with the addition of Mangum's signature, and the as close to mint as you can get shape that the vinyl is in, I feel like I may have a real true valuable gem that I can hopefully sell to some needy hipster collector.
I have no real attachment to it other than that I love first editions & rare vinyls. The signature means little to me, and I honestly feel awkward asking for one. It's a tradition I can't seem to get into, although I have a couple of autographs. I'd rather have the story of meeting him, conversing, shaking hands, giving a hug to a favorite musician. It's more fun to tell a rock concert story than it is to just show someone a signature. That is more valuable than a signature for me, but hopefully not the case for some oddball collector that is going to buy it off me for an obscenely marked up price.
Great show, the sound quality was crispy clear and I didn't get bored once. Considering I like variety in my instruments being played on stage, Mangum solo does not bore.
Great night.