Intimate, acoustic music series have become the new go-to online clips capturing the hearts and ears of music fans around the world. Here’s a list of the top sites to turn to for endless hours of watching pleasure.
La Blogotheque’s Take Away Shows
The original purveyors of the live acoustic music video, French blog La Blogotheque has been documenting bands since 2006. Having produced memorable videos of the Arcade Fire crammed into a freight elevator, Beirut roaming the streets of France or St. Vincent’s Annie Clark strumming tunes in bed, having a Take Away Show segment has arguably become as big as playing on SNL. Extraordinary filmmaker Vincent Moon shoots most of these clips, with more directors in the US and Canada joining since.
La Blogotheque’s Les Soiree de Poche
The success of La Blogotheque’s Take Away Shows created a spin-off series in 2008 entitled Les Soiree de Poche. Similar to the Take Away Show’s aesthetics, Les Soiree de Poche is a longer documentary, more concert-like rather than snippets. Grab a cup of hot cocoa, sit back and take in one of these videos on a weeknight, it’s worth every minute.
London’s Black Cab Sessions are one-song performances shot in well, a cab. Originated in London, England, Black Cab Sessions began in 2007 and have documented bands such as Death Cab For Cutie (insert cab pun), Grizzly Bear and Ryan Adams. And yes, they’re actually performing in a moving vehicle. Example: just watch this New Pornographers session.
Bonus: You should also check out Vincent Moon’s In a Van Sessions he shot during CMJ in New York
Southern Souls is Ontario’s answer to La Blogotheque and the Black Cab Sessions, as it so clearly says so on its main page. Covering mostly Ontario bands within the GTA-region, with some out-of-towners in its “Other Souls” section, Mitch Fillion channels Vincent Moon beautifully. He blends senses of familiarity and uniqueness together to create an extraordinary moments of intimacy; like your best friend is serenading you in a zoo or on the subway.
Similar to London’s Black Cab Sessions, The Transit Tapes puts musicians on a moving vehicle as they play stripped-down versions of songs. But instead of cabs, Transit Tapes, as you can guess has bands on the streetcar. Watch as the Sunparlour Players, Gentleman Reg and Spiral Beach play on Toronto streetcars.
The Live From Toronto Series follows both local and international artists play in familiar Toronto locales like Kensington Market (The Stills) or the Fan Expo at the Metro Convention Centre (The Most Serene Republic).
Film and media student Adrian Vieni recently started the Wood & Wires Video Series, again channelling many of its predecessors in intimate one-off performances in unique locations. A must-see is this impeccably shot and edited clip featuring the Wilderness of Manitoba, shot at a café in Toronto.
We all knew Pitchfork couldn’t resist jumping in on a trend like this, especially with their new online TV section. With not one, but several different series, Pitchfork covers impromptu performances in churches, basements, rooftops and much more. I highly recommend Cemetery Gates and Don’t Look Down.
Even Aux TV has jumped on the bandwagon with our very own Camera Music. Camera Music follows musicians as they play in alleys, kitchens, living rooms, and the list goes on. As the show says, “Camera Music is music for your eyes.” Go online or check your local listings for when you can catch Camera Music.
