Last June, the legendary New Zealand musician Chris Knox suffered a “series” of strokes. A few months later, we posted Jeff Mangum’s cover of the Tall Dwarfs gem “Sign The Dotted Line,” a take that appears on Stroke – Songs For Chris Knox, a two-disc collection released by Merge to help raise money for Knox’s rehabilitation costs. Continuing the support, there’ll be a Chris Knox Benefit Show on 5/6 at New York’s Le Poisson Rouge. (All the money raised after direct club expenses will go to the Knox Family.) The lineup for the night includes the Clean (as well as solo Robert Scott and David Kilgour sets), Yo La Tengo, Portastatic, Kyp Malone, Claudia Gonson of the Magnetic Fields, and comedian John Mulaney, among others. One of those others is Jeff Mangum, who’ll do a “a very short acoustic set.” He’s made surprise appearances with other bands here/there, but this will be his first proper public performance in over a decade. Tickets go on sale 3/30 (next Tuesday) via Kickstarter (keep watch there for info). We’re told they won’t be cheap because, after all, it’s a benefit. And, if you can’t make it, no worries: It will be “partially recorded” for later broadcasts on WFMU and New Zealand community radio stations.
