Austinist Show Review: Beck at the Backyard

We mentioned before that we absolutely love Beck, but even setting our fan status aside, last Tuesday night's show at the Backyard was a quality performance and one of the best we’ve seen in a long time.

Beck’s two latest albums, Guero and Guerolito, were released in rapid succession in 2005 and are essentially different mixes of the mostly the same stuff. Really, really good stuff. In his most recent albums, Beck reverts back, after his mellower Sea Change, to something much closer to the upbeat and difficult-to-describe style of Odelay, his 1998 album that was not only wildly popular but also universally critically acclaimed. Guero and Guerolito are an unlikely yet fantastic mix of urban/techno/rap/funk/pop with Latino undertones. We know that sounds like a hodgepodge that could never work, but trust us – it works phenomenally well.

The show kicked in abruptly with a rockin’ version of "Black Tambourine," during which Beck actually played a black tambourine. He and his band performed most of the songs from Guero, and also managed to throw in a good mix of older stuff, including the crowd-pleasers "New Pollution," "Loser," "Where It’s At," and "Devil’s Haircut". Busting out his acoustic guitar in the middle of his set, Beck slowed things down a bit with tracks from Sea Change, but the show picked right back up towards the end. All told, the sound was a perfect balance of voices, instruments and energy. In all, Beck offered up about 100 minutes of tunes in a remarkably strong and tight set that never held back and always sounded inspired.

In addition to the funny stories, references, and quips that Beck shared between songs, there was also an elaborate theatrical component that made the music even more enjoyable. And we’re not just talking flashing colored lights: imagine the entire band energized and dancing, waving, and even a cartwheel or two. Props were employed, including a huge honkin' boom box in front of which they played their big hit, "Where It’s At."

But the most remarkable aspect of the show were the puppets. In addition to the live version of Beck and his band on stage, there was also an entire marionette puppet rendition of Beck and his whole band. The puppets were dressed exactly like the humans they were designed to portray, and they simultaneously performed the same show as the human Beck and band, only in miniature on a stage set up within the main stage. What’s more, this mini puppet show was projected larger-than-life-style on a jumbo screen behind the whole works. It may sound like this would have distracted from the music, but really it just added to the entertainment value of the whole night by creating this whimsical and engaging scene of people, puppets and music to watch and listen to all at once. There were, of course, flashing colored lights as well.

Even though it wasn’t part of the live show itself, one of our favorite parts of the evening was just before the encore performance. While the band was still off-stage, they showed a mini-film on the jumbo screen that must have been made as soon as they got to town. The film depicted the puppet versions of Beck and his band members gallivanting around Austin. There were scenes that showed puppet Beck and his puppet band members running on Town Lake among random human Austinites, playing SRV’s guitar on the famous statue, doing pull-ups along the trail, eating at Amy’s Ice Cream, singing Soundgarden songs, and engaging in hilarious banter with each other all the while. We thought the funniest part was the scene that showed them outside of Guero’s in front of the sign. Get it? Guero!

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By austinist_ami in Arts & Entertainment, Other on June 26, 2006 12:25 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

ronnie

A very nice website !! Very well Done !!! nokia6630

jen

late on this but oh well. does it really matter how many redbulls beck didn't drink or lines of coke not snorted before the show? the music was good, isn't that the point? His deal has always been laid back, not some crack monkey side show jumping from side to side on stage. You should've just enjoyed the show..and the $4.25 falafel girl.

glad Inopay

Gotta agree that it was completely lackluster. I don't know about "better than most on most nights", but his shows used to be electric... now puppet shows? and the same imaginary meal bit? not to mention they go some one to do his frantic dancing for him? and enough with the androids comments.

to boot, the big secret show after which consisted of his band (smokey, they need you back!) and the opener from the show Jamie lindell, wearing whigs and doing a 75% attempt at soul. totally tongue in cheek and uninspired and way outmatched by the locals who played before and AFTER them.

odelay!

citizen Able

I noticed Beck's "tired vibe" when he taped his ACL show.

He was still head and shoulders above most live acts on their good nights.

Ami

Really? I thought it was a great show. (Obviously). It's true that Beck wasn't screaming or hollering, but I thought he seemed really into the music and the crowd. As for Jamie Lidell, his singing was good, but I could have easily lived without the "instrumental" cacophony in between lyrics. Ouch. My ears are still ringing. And not in a good way...

Keith

was i at a different show? Beck seemed so drained/bored/malnourished. He played "fun" songs but apparently can no longer even fake having any fun playing them. Maybe it was just an off night, but I thought Jamie Lidell had a much better showing that Mr. Hansen. Beck was grumpy, didn't really talk to the crowd that much until the story about mid-90s r&b which was pretty late into the set, and just seemed on autopilot the entire night. Still better than a lot of live acts out there, but I dunno. After waiting years to see him live, color me unimpressed.