Beck is still touring in support of his 2017 album Colors (released via Capitol Records) and finally stopped into New York on July 19 for his first ever headlining performance at Madison Square Garden. This was the first official stop of the tour (although he did play a private show at Spring Studios in December) and Beck brought out all the stops and then some.
As expected Beck ran through a flurry of his decade-spanning hits such as “Devils Haircut,” “Loser,” and “Mixed Bizness,” along with the new more pop-friendly material from Colors, which admittedly work much better live than they do in their recorded form, at least for me. Beck brought out Spoon’s frontman Britt Daniel to join him on vocals for “Dear Life,” before he returned the favor by letting Daniel take the helm and play Spoon’s “I Turn My Camera On.” He kept the good vibes going by inviting Jenny Lewis back on stage (she also opened the show) to sing along on old-school Beck track “Girl Dreams.”
Being his first ever headlining performance at The Garden, Beck reminisced about the time he was with Bruce Springsteen backstage there during the Grammys. He realized that this wasn’t just another gig, with the location being so close to where his grandfather came to the U.S. as an immigrant and made it here in what is a true American story, the sort that this current administration is fighting so hard against. He first came to NYC when he was 18 and played down on the Lower East Side, living in a transient flophouse. He noted it was no small miracle that he was on this stage playing to us and dedicated the next song to all of those who have a similar story. He then kicked into “Blue Moon” and what resulted was one of most beautiful moments of the evening.
It is amazing to see just how many genres and sounds Beck has touched upon throughout his career and to see it all come to a head at MSG that night was a joyous thing to watch unfold.
Find a full gallery of photos from his performance posted below, along with the setlist.
Beck setlist:
1. Devils Haircut
2. The New Pollution
3. Mixed Bizness
4. Up All Night
5. Wow
6. Qué Onda Güero
7. Think I’m in Love
8. I’m So Free
9. Dear Life (with Britt Daniel)
10. I Turn My Camera On (Spoon cover) (with Britt Daniel)
11. Girl Dreams (with Jenny Lewis)
12. Lost Cause
13. Blue Moon
14. Dreams
15. Girl
16. Colors
17. Loser
18. E-Pro
Encore:
19. Where It’s At
20. Can I Kick It / Good Times / See No Evil / I’m Waiting for the Man / Taking It to the Streets / Once In A Lifetime / In the Air Tonight (covers medley)
21. One Foot in the Grave
22. Where It’s At (Reprise)
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