repak shawahb

dry humor for cactus farmers

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Tue, 20 Jun 2006

Saw Beck tonight, accompanied by Meester Hester. Bad. Ass.

Highlights:

the "puppetron"—they had four live puppeteers putting on a puppet show of the performance as it happened, and had it on a projection screen via cameras and some whiz-bang visual effects.
Beck's mid-Debra break wherein he told us the story of writing the song, involving R. Kelly, some Alice in Chains references (unfavorable ones, at that), some sort of gospel radio station, and undershirt shopping. Hilarity itself.
Two songs apparently from a forthcoming album. No, I didn't just fail to recognize them.
A rendition of "Clap Hands" wherein he segued into "One Foot in the Grave"—and back again!
At least one song from every album since Mellow Gold except for Mutations (admittedly, that was somewhat disappointing, but still, the man played for a straight high-energy 90 minutes, so it's hard to really get upset).
Superb renditions of "Get Real Paid," "Sexx Laws," "Devil's Haircut," "Novacane," and "Pay No Mind."
an amazing back-to-back "Lost Cause" and "Golden Age" involving a dining table in the middle of the stage with four of the umpteen band members sitting around it banging on myriad vessels of liquid. Astoundingly cool sound from such a simple idea.
Oh yeah, the opening/backup band was Jamie Lidell (on the same label as Aphex Twin, Autechre, and Boards of Canada). We got there a bit too late to really enjoy the opening performance (though now I think I'll pick up the album), but they were damn good as backups.

Wow. Just wow.

Next week: INXS.