back from beck

i enjoyed a night with the lad tonight, taking in the beck concert in st. paul. i'm dismissing the rumors that this is some sort of farewell tour (though the clever waif is pushing 40), but it was a fine greatest hits-type show with a fresh band in a small venue. highly recommended. because i've also associated beck hansen with david foster wallace -- maybe because loser hit my ears just before infinite jest hit my desk -- i was just happy to see this creative pop-art visionary alive.

beck wore a few hats tearing through his whole andre/thurston/gregg/muddy/bootsy/woody repertoire, but i liked the new band too -- especially jessica dobson on guitar. whereas the nfl's mike tice was once described as the "best blocking quarterback" in college football, i'd nominate ms. dobson as the "best dancing guitar player" in alternative rock. she's a fine guitarist to be sure, but an ebullient presence on stage. she plays an old danelectro with the same percussive style as, well, beck hansen, and her vocals lent a little exene-john doe magic to the proceedings.

heck, even tor had good things to say about the concert. there's still time to catch 'em in the next month or so:

Oct 2, 2008 Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL
Oct 3, 2008 Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL
Oct 5, 2008 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
Oct 6, 2008 St. Denis - Montreal
Oct 8, 2008 United Palace Theater - New York City, NY
Oct 9, 2008 United Palace Theater - New York City, NY
Oct 10, 2008 United Palace Theater - New York City, NY
Nov 9th, 2008 Club Nokia - Los Angeles, CA
Nov 10th, 2008 Club Nokia - Los Angeles, CA