Vampire Weekend - Bowery Ballroom (1/29/08)
La Blogotheque never ceases to amaze. The Concerts a Emporter they produce not only represent a new form of recording music, but also act as a documentation of the world’s greatest bands. One of the most recent sets Vincent Moon has directed features Vampire Weekend. If you’ve listened to WPGU at all in the last month you’ve heard “Walcott” about six thousand times, which is a good thing. This band has taken every city on their tour by force, willing music lovers to crown them the newest indie darlings.
Check out Vampire Weekend’s Take Away Shows filmed in Paris:
[Intros via La Blogotheque]
It couldn’t have been worst in Paris that day. A gray November afternoon, at La Chapelle. Gray sidewalks, wastelands, railroads, public telephones. Paris wasn’t exotic that day, it was not Montmartre on a spring Sunday, it was the opposite of Daïquiris. The guys wore student sweaters, Ezra had his scarf on and they were responsible for the sun, their mission was to put some colour in the Northern area of Paris. What a burden.
The whole thing hung on a single rhythm, a voice, the incongruity of the equipment. Two keyboards, held single-handedly, because the guys had to carry them while playing, and then put them on the ground. An amazing drummer, deprived of his drums, who ended in a desert backyard, hitting cheerfully on yellow and green trash cans. Above all, a voice: Ezra’s, young and strong. It impressed us first when we were above the railroads at Gare du Nord, then in a little café, back to the roots.
They started playing Walcott as we’ve never heard it: this song, which usually relies on a piano riff, here rested upon a delicate guitar arpeggio. They walked, then we enter the Delis’. Wainscot panelling on the walls, very kind owners who agreed to lower the sound of the radio, synthetizers on tables, next to beers, customers, some were indifferent, some joined the chorus on Blake’s got a new face. Similarities with the very first video we shot. It was Spinto Band, another freewheeling pop band.
Matt Fender: I'm put together beautifully
Comments
Roseanne (Roseanne) says:
(Posted April 6th, 2008 at 2:53 pm)
The Cold War Kids take-away show is awesome.
elle (elle) says:
(Posted April 6th, 2008 at 5:12 pm)
the first time i watched the kids don’t stand a chance on blogotheque, it blew my face off so then i watched it like 5 times in a row.
Carlye (Carlye) says:
(Posted April 8th, 2008 at 12:24 am)
I gotta disagree, Fend. Hearing “Walcott” (and “Silver Lining,” holy shit) six thousand times —or in more literal terms, every time you listen to the radio — is not a good thing. It highlights the fact that there’s a lack of variety on WPGU’s playlist, and in a way is equatable with mainstream radio’s overexposure of Justin Timberlake and other poppy acts.
Sure, I’m pretty much asking for a backlash considering this is a joint venture with 107.1, but someone had to say it, and if no one else will, I will. Damn journalism ethics.
He Said He Said » Blog Archive » A Movie about The National (He Said He Said » Blog Archive » A Movie about The National) says:
(Posted April 8th, 2008 at 5:00 pm)
[…] 2007. Yesterday the band’s label Beggars Banquet announced that la blogotheque director and Take Away Show genius, Vincent Moon, has made a special 60 Minute movie about The National’s days spent creating […]
Matt (Matt) says:
(Posted April 8th, 2008 at 9:10 pm)
I think you are wrong Carlye. Mainstream radio plays the same songs over and over again from the same bands. They are on restricted playlists that DJ’s cannot change.
Not only does WPGU constantly have meetings on what new music they should play, they choose things that don’t get played anywhere else - like “Walcott.” Besides, I’ve listened to that album about 40 times myself.
The second I see a Clearchannel executive step foot in the Illini Media building I will start complaining.
steve (steve) says:
(Posted April 9th, 2008 at 3:03 pm)
lack of variety in WPGU’s playlist……HAHAHAHAHAHA
it’s called rotation priority
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Matt Fender
I'm put together beautifully
alex (alex) says:
(Posted April 6th, 2008 at 7:36 am)
I’d check out the Yeasayer take-away show too…