Jill Russell loves La Blogotheque's Take-Away Shows

By Venus Zine Staff
Published: April 9th, 2010 | 6:00am

I'd almost forgotten about the "Take-Away Shows" web series until my friend Nick directed my attention to an especially fun recent entry. Who wouldn't want to see Phoenix gather near the Eiffel Tower to rattle off an impromptu unplugged rendition of "1901"? The fact that you've probably had enough of a certain song (thanks, Cadillac) doesn't much matter once French director Vincent Moon reinvents it live, on film, in a single take.

And that's what Moon's been doing on La Blogotheque with Les Concerts A Emporter since 2006. Every clip feels fresh, improvised, and special. A good photograph captures a moment, freezing it in time for those who weren't around to witness it. Moon's works do, too, combining the best elements of live performance, demo, and music video. Employing an always-on-the-move camera, he gets close to his subjects, and over the years has offered viewers intimate glimpses of some of our era's most talented and beloved artists.

If you're feeling down, or even just plain tired of what's on your iPod, tune in. You'll stumble upon new bands (I didn't get hooked on Okkervil River until I saw show #6) and discover new reasons to love old favorites (everyone from Lykke Li to Man Man to Beirut make appearances).

You never know what you might find. Today, I logged on and was overjoyed to see that back in December, Moon caught The Antlers (my band of the moment) performing two of their most lovely tracks in a quiet Parisian cafe. Enjoy.