#

Neutral Milk Hotel Live Performance at EJ's, Portland, OR

Venue: EJ's Location: Portland, Oregon, United States Date: July 7, 1996

On July 7, 1996, Neutral Milk Hotel played a memorable set at EJ's in Portland, Oregon, a moment captured in one of the band's earliest known live recordings. At this point in their career, the band had already released their debut album, 'On Avery Island' in 1996, which was their introduction into the indie rock scene and featured distinctive lo-fi sounds and surreal lyrics. This show would have been shortly after the album dropped, giving fans a raw glimpse into the band's evolving sound and emotional depth. Although the recording is fragmentary – with cuts in songs like 'Snow Song, Pt.1' – it’s fascinating to think about how this set helped shape their later, celebrated work 'In the Aeroplane Over the Sea,' released just a year later in 1998. This kind of intimacy, raw energy, and the band’s signature sound is what makes these old recordings so elusive yet cherished.

Watch on YouTube