Take Away Shows - What do Indie Hipster Musicians Acting Locally Have to Give to the World?

Having a lot of time to find music to blare in my head all day, I go on various journeys across Youtube's landscape, and being a fan of various so-called Indie fare, I often stumble upon these live-in-the-streets, impromptu shows. Sometimes dubbed "Take Away Show" or "They Shoot Music" or "Blogotheque", these videos showcase all the various Indie/Folk/AlternativeRunning-out-of-generic-genre-descriptors-for-20-somethings-with-hand-me-down-clothes-and-old-time-values-and-manners artists of today, in the flesh. They take everything out to the streets, on a bus, in a stairwell, or whatever places that are not in a studio.

As much of a gimmick as this may be to make these musicians look like they really are just shooting the shit and are as laid back as ever, while all the money and fame and major labels of modern music are as far away as the clouds in the distance, these videos, nonetheless, do reach a place that is hidden away from the iTunes library; from the remixed covers of covers; from the music video desensitized and auto-tuned digital world that has held a grip on modern music ever since MTV started falling apart in the late 90s. But most of all, it tries to pull you as far away from the internet as you can be while being on the internet watching these videos. It proposes to viewers that the outside world is still a part of our world, and it tempts people to go out and see it. Most importantly it creates something great out of something small.

By having the impromptu shows, these talented hipster-what-have-yous (to be fair, I'd only consider some of these as hipsters in the pure sense, others more vagabonds, and others still just shyer less glamorous artists than your run-of-the-mill KanyeWeezyTaylorSwift, and others just some random dudes and girls) are pleading in a very relaxed manner for people to forget our phones and our screens and simply go for a walk. If music is to move forward in some way, shape, or form, maybe it's best to stop worrying about the incessant voices that plague sites like Pitchfork and Youtube comments and forums and get out. I enjoy a lot of these artists because you can see that they make music because they love it, and they'll take that where ever it goes. I also think that getting outside to play music on the streets has a very subtle but strong way of embracing the ability music has to bring people together and put many different strangers into the same experience seamlessly. This, again, takes us away from our earbuds listening independently to our own song and own playlist, because while there is a time and place for delving deep into music with only yourself and some high quality headphones, music should also be heard with a lot of people, together, just like seeing an epic film in a theater with a huge crowd when it comes out. Live music means that much more because even though you may have heard the song before, when you hear it live, it is new and different. It is renewed. I'm not sure where exactly the take away shows will go in the future, but I'm happy they've made a place to escape to for now.

Here's a random collection of some of my favorite take aways among other similar performances:

Beirut - "Nantes": this may be the first one I ever saw (thanks to Jim), and at the time I didn't really know it was something done with multiple bands, so I thought it was just a Beirut thing - not that it wouldn't be because it suits their style anyhow. The singer in this is pretty much king. I love the many instruments too, a staple of the folk/indie music these days, just throw as many people and as many instruments up there as possible and have fun (see Arcade Fire and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes).

Phoenix - "1901": they sing in a circle in front of the Eiffel Tower (they're French ya know, how cute! but seriously, it kind of is), and I love that they can get away with that without that many, if any, recognizing them as Phoenix who has taken a pretty big step into radio, at least in the states, and I would think even more so over there. It helps that the camera has a really cool contrast for lighting and movement throughout.

Ben Lee - "Kids" (cover of MGMT): did I bash covers earlier in the post? Nah, I meant to only make fun of the absurdity of new artists covering old "classics" with weird remixed noises and farts here and there. But overall, I generally love covers, because who doesn't want to sing their favorite songs? Apparently, nowadays all of the artist cover each other, which is a nice way of giving it up to your peers. "Ben Lee just covered our song? Marfuggin' sweet."

Grizzly Bear - "Knife": the fact that they're kind of laughing and self-conscious throughout only helps this.

Johnny Flynn - "Brown Trout Blues": sounds of water and traffic and a calming song if there ever was one. Also, here he is in a cab as part of a whole other series - Black Cab Sessions: "Wayne Rooney"

The Morning Benders - "Excuses (Yours Truly Session)": even though it's actually not out on a street, it brings the collective feeling into the studio with three times as many artists than usual, as the singer explains in the beginning. Thanks to Edward on this one and the "some girl" that gave it to him.

Arcade Fire - "Neon Bible" or "Neon Bible live in an elevator!": pretty much all because that title is hilarious and exactly staples the gimmick to your head, setting the hipster roast aflame. But ah, what the hell, might as well have fun with these weirdos. For an actual better performance by them: "Wake Up"

Jason Mraz - "Live High": absurdly silly, I can't really take this guy seriously, but I still like the song, and this is a fine example of the take away show.

Bon Iver - "Skinny Love": because it's fucking great song, but also it's prime small venue gathering with a cross-legged sleepy tipsy audience that the cameraman creepily and steadily but assertively pans over. Also, I love that originally, this guy apparently recorded an entire album about heartbreak alone in a cabin somewhere in a (presumably snowy) forest. And for good measure, "Flume" (don't ask me what happens at the end).

Noah and the Whale - "Give a Little Love": for getting the look of a hipster/Timbo Cotter down perfectly. The song's great though.

Jose Gonzalez - "Fold": I love this guy. Apparently he started out in a Metal group and then started doing his own acoustic stuff.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes - "Home": because Letterman makes fun of there being fifty of them and even though this isn't necessarily a "take away show" it still has that feel because of how gypsy these gypsies are. That woman is so happy it's nuts.