I don’t know French. But I like to think I know good music. Which is why I’m still stoked on frenchie music site La Blogotheque and their Les Concerts a Emporter series (that’s Take-Away Shows to you freedom fry-loving folks). The fact that a hunk of you won’t be able to read their editorial coverage of the latest UK and US acts shouldn’t trouble you. At least not when you’ve got over 30 videos to peruse, of said acts doing impromptu acoustic sets in and around the streets of Paris.
The set-up is simple: Take "buzzy" band. Remove amplifiers and superfluous instruments. Place in park, streets, or basement of hotel in Paris. Make them play hit single. Press record.
The result is simply brilliant. Granted, the Blogotheque crew aren’t about to waste their time recording crap bands, but the pared-down tunes of bands like the Kooks, Tapes ‘n Tapes, Guillemots, the Divine Comedy, and I’m From Barcelona (whoa, recognize a few of those from my Obligatory Best Of?) are immediately charming, the whimsy and honesty of the moment easily transferable to the viewer, and inclined to make you that much more enthusiastic about the band.
Islands (ex-Unicorns) make a rag-tag parade through androinissments; Okkervil River sits alone in a park with his guitar; the Hidden Cameras serenade a small, bemused crowd in the moonlight along the river; Spinto Band take over the corner of a small cafe…
It’s capricious moments like these that often reveal both the truest music and the truest fans. Enjoy.
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