The six-hour benefit for underground New Zealand songwriter Chris Knox at Le Poisson Rouge on Thursday was indie-fundraising done right: all-star jams that made sense, meaty set lengths, a thoroughly worthwhile lineup, decidedly fan-oriented ticketing, and a stunning marquee name to sell out the room at $75 a ticket (and thin it out pleasantly midway through, after he performed).

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The benefit Le Poisson Rouge hosted last night for Tall Dwarfs frontman and New Zealand rock godfather Chris Knox, who suffered a devastating stroke last summer, raised over forty thousand dollars within days of tickets going on sale; last night, a big part of the reason for that windfall took the stage and played what probably every person in the room was hoping he would: five Neutral Milk Hotel songs, among them "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea," "A Baby for Pree," "Two Headed Boy Pt. 2," "Engine," and "Oh Comely." Video of that last performance made it out of the room, as did clips of "A Baby for Pree" and "Two Headed Boy Pt. 2" (below). Lovely that people still adore Mangum this much, though it can't be easy on him.

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​Which is to say that the May 6th show, featuring Yo La Tengo, the Clean, Jeff Mangum, and a bunch of other people is way beyond sold out--even at $75 per ticket. The indie start-up for indie start-ups, Kickstarter, hosted the bidding, and you can still give money there--as little as a dollar--to support ailing Tall Dwarfs frontman and New Zealand rock godfather Chris Knox, who suffered a horrendous stroke last summer from which he's still recovering. It won't get you into the show, but it's a pretty easy way to give back to a guy who has already given a lot of people an awful lot. [Kickstarter]

Oh, and scalp at your peril, clowns--what up, Lee Shaker?

​The latest on Chris Knox, the New Zealand songwriter and Flying Nun affiliate who suffered a debilitating stroke in June: He's at home, as he has been for some time. It seems he's making music again, as Tall Dwarfs, though he's not yet speaking--"He wanted me to do an edit of a song loop down from 12 bars to 8 bars," wrote one of his bandmates on the CK blog: "not an easy thing to communicate without speech." But they figured it out. Stroke, the Knox tribute album hastily planned and executed by an incredibly long list of grateful friends--the Chills, the Mountain Goats, Will Oldham, Yo La Tengo, Stephin Merritt, Bill Callahan, etc.--is also coming along. The two-CD set is completed and ready to go, with a November 16 release date in New Zealand and one early next year (on Merge) here in the States. But you can hear a one-minute excerpt of every song on the record right now at Knox's site. As always, we recommend "Not Given Lightly," in any form. [Chris Knox, via Pitchfork]

After a series of somewhat excruciating updates--hand signals, the occasional word, learning to write again--Chris Knox's blog has a bit of good news: Knox is out of the hospital. Nothing guitarist Roy Martyn writes that Knox is "in good spirits today in his new place of abode"--great to hear, considering that only a week ago, doctors still seemed to have no idea about Knox's long-term chances for recovery after the lo-fi/Flying Nun icon suffered a calamitous stroke. "Strokes seem to be about waiting and seeing," writes Martyn, "and what few details there are are just for us at the moment." So Knox isn't out of the woods yet. But at least he's home. [Chris Knox]

Very sad news: Chris Knox, one of the crucial figures behind the New Zealand lo-fi titan label Flying Nun, has apparently suffered a stroke. Details are scant, although that
hasn't stopped any number of Kiwi media outlets from speculating. Meanwhile, his family and friends are maintaining and updating a "Chris Knox had a stroke and everyone wants to know how he is, how the hell are we gonna keep you all updated all at once" blog, which reports that Knox is in decent, responsive shape. "This isn't easy," Knox sang on 1989's "Not Given Lightly," which was voted New Zealand's thirteenth best song of all time in 2001: "I might not write another." Let's hope he does.

Kiwi Pop Legend, Lo-Fi Pioneer and Flying Nun Founder Chris Knox Suffering From Stroke... Unable To Speak, Possibly Confined to Wheelchair For Life... Family Reports He's No Longer In Pain... [Daily Swarm]
Clark, how are ya? [Chris Knox]