30Oct2006

Any Given Sunday: Common Grounds Conspiracy

On any given Sunday in Lexington, KY you could catch a movie, play disc golf, or catch up on all the work you procrastinated since Thursday. It was on a Sunday, yesterday to be precise, that I had one of the best musical experiences while in Lexington. While it’s obvious that most bands opt out of Lexington for Cincinnati or Louisville, we still manage to pull in a few gems every now and then. While I would get to witness one of these gems later that night, my day (like most Americans) didn’t start until I got a cup of coffee.

Prior to playing some disc golf before the sun went down, my friend and I went to Common Grounds to grab a specialty cup o’ joe. As I turned around from the counter to walk out, there sat Robert Schneider with index cards spread across the table conversing with a mysterious figure. I didn’t want to interrupt since he was obviously talking business of some kind with this character. When I maneuvered my way around the table I had to do a double take. Now, I’ve never seen Jeff Mangum in person but from observing various pictures – I’d bet my vente latte it was him.

Exit coffee shop; enter conspiracies. I was strongly doubting it was Mangum, yet the more I thought about it the more I started to find streaks of possibility. Schneider and Mangum are good friends, dating back to their childhoods. Schneider lives in Lexington and is gearing up for the release of a new Apples and Stereo of which Mangum played drums, cow object, backing vocals, and handclaps for. Mangum has been rumored to be returning to music; Schneider produced Neutral Milk Hotel. Were they discussing his future plans? The new Apples CD? Reminiscing in an obscure Kentucky coffee shop? Was it even Jeff Mangum?

I’m not even sure what to make of the whole ordeal, since it could’ve easily been Mangum or I could’ve been having delusions of grandeur. Either way, I’m gonna remain excited for a few at least a few more hours. That is until the Hardly Boys solve this mystery.