I’m pleased to see how many artists are making their rounds here in Omaha. Greta Van Fleet just announced new tour dates, including a stop at the CHI Health Center next February.
I finally got to see Beck Saturday night at the Steelhouse. Previously, I never had luck seeing him perform. His shows in Los Angeles were always sold out, and then he was supposed to perform as an opening act for Arcade Fire during their last tour in 2022, but canceled last minute. I went into this show out of casual interest, since I don’t know his material that well. Since I was going as a casual listener, I didn’t drop any cash for one of the balcony seats, which were priced significantly higher than usual, so I hung out on the floor level, which was all standing-room only. I initially stood next to the mixing board for a few songs but then found an elevated spot next to the stairs that led to the main floor, where I could view the show with minimal obstruction, apart from the coming and going of people.
It was a 27-song set, with large emphasis on Beck’s latest studio album, Ride Lonesome.It didn’t take long for me to whip out my phone and follow him on my Spotify account. The entire show was full of theatricality and exploration of numerous musical styles, like folk, hip hop, electronic, and piano rock. With the way the stage settings and screen projections were constantly being changed, and the way the band changed configurations throughout the show, it felt more like watching a musical, and that I should have been holding a Playbill! Here’s some photos to give you a sense of how many times the set changed throughout the night.
Beck is another performer who likes to “perform” his songs rather than “play” them. I don’t remember if I’ve talked about this before, but to me, those two terms are distinct. It’s one thing to simply stand on a stage, play your instrument, and sing your lyrics the way you’ve composed them. That can be done well and still be enjoyable, but when someone “performs” their work, it takes things to a whole other level. When an artist “performs,” it means that they act the song out. It’s like actors getting into character for a movie. When a singer physically embodies the words they wrote, you get a deeper, more striking sense of sincerity. It reminds me of a quote I read by David Byrne, where he said, “As a singer, you can be transparent and reveal yourself on stage, in that moment, and at the same time be the person whose story is being told in the song.” That hits the nail on the head! Byrne is another “performer,” as is Steve Hogarth of Marillion. I think it takes a special gift to be able to embody your lyrics and be able to communicate their message that way to your audience.
The performance style included both real set pieces, like the house pictured above, and screen projections. The musicianship was stellar, as well, featuring a huge variety of instruments, big and small, electric and acoustic. The crowd demographic appeared to be somewhere in the middle. Not super young, but not super old, either. I’m guessing a lot of people remember Beck from the 90’s since that was when he had his hit, “Loser,” which he did play at the end of the night.
All in all, it was a fun night, and I look forward to exploring Beck’s discography in more depth!
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