The popularity of the upstart music video series “The Take Away Shows” (hosted by la Blogotheque) has been surprisingly influential in the world of web video.
With artists such as Arcade Fire, St. Vincent, Andrew Bird, The National and so many more, series creator and filmmaker Vincent Moon stages lo-fi, yet fantastically shot portraits of bands singing and playing on the streets, on roofs and in quiet cozy spaces.
The series’ signature hand-held documentary style has allowed an openness and spontaneity not typically found in traditional performance videos. The camera wanders around the room, often taking tangential peaks at the setting and landscape the music inhabits. At times the intimacy of the moment all feels a bit voyeuristic, as if we are witnessing something we shouldn’t be seeing.
This bare bones and simple approach to capturing quiet and improvised musical performances has spawned quite a few imitators and as well as the likes of R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe. According to an article on CNN, Stipe, who’s a fan of the site, asked Moon to collaborate on a few projects for their upcoming new record Accelerate including a concert film “6 Days.”
You can find an amazing collage\mosaic film work on the album’s promotional site (SupernaturalSuperserious.com) and another 90 Nights. Check out one of the video segments for 90 Nights below and the full “Supernatural Superserious” video on YouTube.
For the hell of it, I thought I’d post the National’s video of “Start A War,” probably one of my favourite sessions.
Postscript: After watching a handful of these clips from Ninety Nights feature, I’m getting pretty pumped for this new REM album. The last one was sorta bland from what I remember of it but they’re one of those bands I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
Postpostscript: Has Michael Stipe always been this forthcoming in terms of media exposure? I feel like for a long time he was considerably more introverted, but now it seems he has become more available to discuss his craft. If you can find it, check out his appearance on Sundance Channel’s “Iconoclasts” (not on DVD) where he spends a day with famed chef Mario Batali talking of artistry in various forms. Pretty insightful window into Stipe’s creative process.