Last night at The Mann Center, Beck took the stage with the 80-piece Philadelphia Orchestra and his Sea Change album band. This allowed him to perform songs that he usually does not get a chance to perform: cuts from Sea Change, Morning Phase and Mutations, as well as sneaking in his big hits such as “Devil’s Haircut” and “Loser,” which got the intently listening crowd to their feet. It was a truly incredible sound. He referred to playing with the orchestra as “$100,000 karaoke.”
Beck | photo by Lisa Schaffer for WXPN
With lots of wit and funny commentary, Beck also talked a lot about his influences such as Serge Gainsbourg and Francoise Hardy, whom he dedicated a song to. He played songs that he “selfishly wanted to sing with an orchestra, now that they were on stage” with him, such as “It’s Raining Today” by Scott Walker. He also mentioned that his very first concert was Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos Jobim.
The screens projected the concert in a sharp contrast black and white to give off that timeless feel, and we all knew we were watching something very special. The show was definitely being recorded by the tall microphones in the crowd, and fingers crossed that a live album is in the works.
After the 90-minute set with the Philadelphia Orchestra, they left the stage, leaving just Beck and his band on stage. Beck walked and climbed around the seats on stage having the spotlight follow him as he performed the encore, and left everyone wanting the show to go on longer.
Molly Lewis | photo by Lisa Schaffer for WXPN
Even the opener was a unique listening experience. As heard on the Barbie score soundtrack, Molly Lewis, world famous and competitive whistler, whistled for a silent crowd. (I am pretty sure she was summoning cartoon forest animals everywhere.) She mentioned that she is able to whistle so good due to the chapstick that she was selling at the merch booth. Unfortunately, by the time the show was over, the merch booth was completely sold out of her chapstick.
Check out a gallery of photos from the concert below; Beck’s orchestral tour continues next week with two dates at Carnegie Hall backed by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s; information here.