Strange Powers at the Bell House and the Brattle Theater

Oh, friends, we’ve missed you. But now! If you’re in Boston or New York, you can see us on screen and in person.

Strange Powers, the documentary by Kerthy Fix and Gail O’Hara, has two exciting screenings coming up. If you come to the screening in New York, Claudia is going to do her one-woman David Bowie extravaganza, which you don’t want to miss, PLUS you get to watch the movie.

Here are all the details. Hope to see you there.

Boston: http://iffboston.bside.com/2010/films/strangepowersstephinmerrittandthemagneticfields_iffboston2010

New York: http://www.nycharities.org/events/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=1400

love

M + E

P.S. We haven’t forgotten about the shirts, life has been busy. We will post them, and sell them, very very soon. Thank you for your patience.

Things Get Dark in Scandanavia

From a distance, here’s what we know about Scandanavia: things get dark. These things include the Magnetic Fields. Also, the Swedes have interesting public art. For example, enormous brass penises. Need proof? See below.

Big Pete at Heathrow.

Stephin, somehow confused by the public affection.

Claudia, giant penis.

Bathroom Realism.

From the Jwoo Vermeer portfolio.

Another dark Swedish portrait.

Light, dark, Stephin.

Right now, the band is in Germany, which means they’re almost done with the European leg. We will be delighted to have them back. Perhaps they will bring pot brownies and Marimekko by the suitcase-full. One can always dream.

Yours,

M + E

London, Stockholm, and Remnants of Leamington Spa

Until we can figure out how to post YMike’s excellent photos, we’re going to offer you a small Whitman’s Sampler of what the band’s been up to in recent days.

Really, why would one hang out anywhere else?

YMike and YMike at the Barbican in London, c/o Fancy Pano Express.

Welcome to Sweden, care of a boy band and the Shirley cam.

Airport Claudee.

Shirley's still thinking about her killer rendition of 'Stand By Your Man.' (Update: the video has been secured, we're just trying to figure out how to watch it. We now owe Shirl $20)

Sam is our co-pilot, always.

Stephin's caption:Enclosed please find an ethnological photograph of a typical Swede, in its natural surroundings.

So many more photos to follow, once we learn how to post YMike’s pictures. Stay tuned. Until then, close your eyes and picture Sweden.

M + E

TMF meets Tammy Wynette in Leamington Spa

Well, maybe not Tammy herself, but the band did spend an awful lot of time in her trailer, which was inexplicably found in the backstage area. I’m surprised no one volunteered to sleep there.

Mike found it difficult to leave Manchester, what with all the ferris wheels.

Meet Tammy's trailer.

Shirley in Tammy's trailer, delighted. We offered Shirley twenty dollars to sing 'Stand By Your Man' inside the trailer. We shall see.

Stephin in Tammy's trailer, c/o the Fancy Cam, which makes Tammy's trailer look very fancy indeed.

But who needs a trailer when you can sit at John's feet?

Next stop, London! We expect more photos of food. Don’t let us down, band.

Tally ho,

M + E

Manchester + iphones = new blog post!

The world is a small place, our friends. Today we got email after email with photos from Manchester, and without further ado, we will present them to you.

From the Shirley Cam, in an Icelandic airport. The model looks thrilled to be there, as I'm sure Shirley was.

Sam introduces us to the anti-Deathstar.

A goth cityscape, via Shirley.

John in the Manchester cathedral, also via Shirley.

We loved the cathedral. Suits us, don't you think?

The ladies, via Fancy Cam 2010.

Stephin, cathedral, Fancy Cam.

Sam and John pano, via Fancy Cam, obvs.

All of us in the van on the way back to the hotel. We look remarkably perky, I think.

Phew! What an exhausting day. Here’s what we would have eaten: fish and chips! Lots of beer! Here’s what else we would have done: gone to the Abba exhibit with Stephin!

Next stop, Leamington Spa. If there isn’t a single hot tub picture, we quit. That one’s on you, A Team.

Yours, via satellite,

M + E

The lucky ducks in Manchester get to see TMF rock a cathedral tonight!

Soundcheck. Taken with the Sam Cam

Best of the Best

*Please note, this list is ours and ours alone, and the opinions set forth below are not those of the Magnetic Fields. I mean, sure, they might be, but they might not be, and you shouldn’t blame them for our poor taste. Proceed.*

FOOD

Best Cupcakes: Cupcake Royale, Seattle, WA

Best Pho: Xe Lua, Toronto, ON

Best Meal: Pok Pok, Portland, OR

Best Breakfast: Sparrow, Montreal, and The Crumpet Shop, Seattle, WA

Best Local Delicacy: The Montreal Bagel, The Wisconsin Beer, The Chicago Hot Dog

LODGING

Best Hotel: Ace Hotel, Portland, OR

VENUES

Best Hospitality Service: BAM (care of Sahadi’s, which was Claudia’s idea)

Best Venue Staff: Town Hall NYC, Fox Theater, Old Town School (appearing at the Harris Theater)

Best Crowd: Town Hall NYC; The Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI; Herbst Theater, San Francisco

Best Dressing Room: The Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI, and The Fox Theater, Oakland, CA

Most Seizure-Inducing Lighting: Harris Theater, Chicago

PLACES

Places Well Represented Despite Our Not Visiting: Louisville, Vancouver

Best Mode of Transportation: The Deathstar, obvs

Best Five Minute Vintage Store Shopping Spree: Tag, on Barack Obama Blvd, St. Louis

City in Which We Wanted More Time to Play: Los Angeles, CA

BAND

Biggest Ham: John Woo

Best Story about Bloodletting that Should Have Been on the Blog Even Though It Would Have Scared You: Dan Bora

Leadership Award of Excellence, Dude: Jason “Tourganizer” Thompson

Best Snacks Hidden in Her Bag: Claudia Gonson

Perpetual Winner of the Movie Game and Scrabble and Every Other Game We Played: Stephin Merritt

Best Faces: Shirley Simms

Best Team Spirit: Sam Davol

Most Devoted to Task at Hand: Michael Fusco

Most Devoted to This Particular Task: Emma Straub

Up next…Outtakes! Photos from Europe!

Yours,

M + E

Get Your T-Shirts Here!

Did get to one of the shows? Have an extra large friend who is in need of a Hootenanny? Starting in the very near future, you will be able to buy the remainder of the tour merch directly from us at M + E. Stay tuned.

Town Hall Night Three: We’re About to Get All Boyz II Men on You, So Watch Out

Last night was very bittersweet– we adore Town Hall, we’re happy to be back at home in New York, but our buddies are heading to Europe for another grueling leg of tour, and we’re not going with them. I think in a perfect world, we would all head to Hawaii with our loved ones and pets for two weeks of R + R.

First, let's all congratulate Jason on his tour baby. It's name is BBQ.

Outtake from 'Australian Guitar Hunk Weekly' c/o the Fancy Cam.

More modeling by Jason, minus the tour baby.

Yes fan # 1.

Yes fan #2. YMike must have something to do with this.

Meet Calvin.

Meet the cake Calvin's mother baked for us. Way to go, team!

Are these glasses Orch-Folk? Maybe not. But we had to photograph them nonetheless.

The Dewanatron, manned by two Dewans.

Do your parents bring tiny bottles of whiskey to your office?

This lovely lady was Orch-Folk and totally knew we were going to take her picture. Well done, missy.

Advertising in Big Pete's hatband.

We were also advertising across the street.

We aren't always this flummoxed when someone hands us money.

Tim is nice.

So are Kenny and Brendan.

Sam is sad this part of the tour is over.

But he just heard that Clarence Clemons is opening up for TMF in Europe.

John is sad this part of the tour is over.

But there's a huge Dungeons and Dragons convention this weekend!

Shirley's sad this part of the tour is over.

But Troy's picking her up in his uniform!

Stephin's sad this part of the tour is over.

But in Europe, every day is Wednesday.

Claudia's sad that this part of the tour is over.

But there are so many exotic snacks to look forward to!

Dan's just happy to get back to his homemade Absinthe machine.

Mikey's just plain sad.

But now we get to do our taxes! Oh, wait...

Emma's sad, too.

But these chubby cheeks need some yoga, stat.

Passed during the show. This time, thankfully, it wasn't for us.

Harold, one of Town Hall's finest, was game enough to make a face.

Stephin bought a few dozen Magnolia cupcakes, despite it being Friday. He must already be on the European schedule.

Two little teapots.

Jason's trying to be sad, but really he's wicked stoked to get back to all 700 hours of his Tivo'ed American Idol.

And in the end, it was just a boy and a cello.

Our own little chorus line. Okay, this is where the Boyz II Men starts playing.

Fancy Cam Pano of M + E inside the Town Hall spaceship. And we're done!

Oh, my dears, don’t worry. We’ve got a few more posts up our sleeve, and the band has promised to email pics from Europe, and we will post them for you here. It’s been such a pleasure! We are never eating cupcakes ever again, and it’s all your fault, you generous, sweet people.

We Live at Town Hall, and Here’s Proof

Yesterday, we spent all day at home before heading to Town Hall, and unless you want to see endless pictures of our couch and empty refrigerator, I think we’ll get right to the show.

Shirley was a little ray of sunshine during soundcheck.

View from the Pianet.

Sam and John, heading in opposite directions.

James and his beard popped by for a visit before the show.

Orch-Folk, complete with cast and crutches.

Darren Hanlon, pinball champ and all-around charmer.

Darren, doing some more charming after his set.

MIchael Hearst. Is this a sexy look or a disapproving one, I'm not sure.

We know every single person who works at Town Hall. Last night was our 9th time there with the band.

My body is really ready to get back to yoga class. My shoulders are now attached to my ears.

My wonderful friend Laura brought us a little nip.

It was both magic and medicinal. Thanks, dude.

Kate and Kevin brought us cookies in an inside-out pizza box. Hurrah.

Look everyone, we got Amy back! Double the Tourganization.

Tourganizers unite.

I'm not really that much taller than David.

Alexandra has a mean picture face. And when I say mean, I mean good. When I say good, I mean fierce.

The Davols are excellent totebag models.

They stayed like this for a really, really long time. Hands off, Woo. That one's mine.

John and some lady friends.

Darren is also playing at Bruar Falls in Williamsburg on Sunday night. You should go, and bring all your friends.

Dan and I love to loiter in front of bathrooms. Do you have a problem with that?

After the show, we walked through Times Square until we found the bar with the antlers. Then we stopped for a drink.

And now, please enjoy the dance moves of Town Hall’s finest, Chris Prandy. You may remember Chris’ neck tattoo from the last tour blog.  He was at Town Hall in 2004 as well.

One more show! One more show. We’ll see you tonight, same time same place. Things to look forward to: more Straubs! Something called the Dewanatron! Videos!

Until later, yours as always,

M + E