4/5
Tokyo Phase.
A microphone without two turntables (although he did break into a piano perfect rendition of 'Odelay's' 'Where It's At'), Beck told the crowd for the second show of the day of his acoustic tour of Tokyo, "it's just me...and you!" As well, it should be. Beck hasn't put an album out in a half-decade (2019's 'Hyperspace' which couldn't be more Tokyo if it tried). Although acoustically, he did release 'Thinking About You' and a cover of Neil Young's 'Old Man' for Tom Brady. And he hadn't been in Japan, until last night, since six years ago. But he has more in common with the land of the rising sun than just bringing a sweet smelling Sakura tree onstage to mark the blooming of cherry blossom season here. Or the somewhat six degrees of separation that almost brought a tear to this writer's eye when he broke out a cover of Chris Bell's 'I Am The Cosmos'. One performed so poignantly by avenging actress Scarlett Johansson, making her mark with inspired singer/songwriter Pete Yorn for their 'Break Up' EP. The same way she did in the movie world with Bill Murray for Sofia Coppola's classic 'Lost In Translation'...the whole reason this writer even finds himself lucky enough to now reside here in the first place.
Turns out, Tokyo and Japan have helped shape Bek David Campbell too. Most of the stirringly sad 'Sea Change' was written here, as we were treated to moving performances of 'Guess I'm Doing Fine' (after the 'Cycle' of the intro to its sister album, 'Morning Phase'), 'Lost Cause', and then 'Lonesome Tears' and 'Round The Bend' back-to-back. While the album artwork lettering of his massive 'Mutations' (we had 'Lazy Flies' and a bottle of "blooze" (thanks for the pun, Chris), although I had two hands together for 'Nobody's Fault But My Own') was provided by PARCO. A department store that couldn't be more Beck if it tried. "Arrigato" he told the crowd seriously and endearingly as the Japanese faithful loved that he wasn't lost in translation, reading sentiments written on the set-list floor. Raw, but polished in the sound it produced, Beck admitted he didn't know how to use the effects pedal he was gifted with that offered more 808s to his string selection. Road testing some harmonicas, he went through with the kind of kindness you don't see on Bumble, he was anything but fumbling around as this artist found the best strokes to paint with. All before strapping on the instrument like braces and almost looking like Dylan (sorry, Chalamet), as the man who started out as a folk singer (touring Tokyo, no less) went to work with the Springsteens and Zimmermans of the world. Yet this is Beck. You know he has a bag like no other, when it comes to versatility. All the way to Brazil. He may have not released an album for time, although 'Colors' still paints as fresh as the day it hit your speaker's canvas, but he's produced one this weekend for the 'Ohio Players' of The Black Keys, as this hip-hop head linked up with Juicy J for a 'Paper Crown'.
You can best bet Beck brought it to Tokyo this weekend (thanks for the repost). All for the losers baby, who won on this Saturday night in the hills of Roppongi, no longer for the lonely. Shining in orange like the Tokyo Tower that watches over this part of the city, Beck came strong with a sensational set and a legendary list of hits at that. His first show also featured his 'Old Man' take (maybe he didn't want to trigger me this time) and 'Debra' made even more famous by 'Tokyo Vice' star Ansel Elgort's 'Baby Driver' singing it to Lily James' namesake. He said he'd tour the greatest hits next year. And you don't need to hold him to a promise you know he'll keep and besides, everyone from the Chilli's to Bruno Mars keep coming back here, literally year-after-year since the post pandemic borders have opened back up. But he brought them here too. 'Truck Driving Neighbors' (wait for the story behind that one), 'Unforgiven', 'Heart Is A Drum'. All to tell us, 'True Love Will Find You In The End' and the end of the night on 'One Foot' and his penultimate, iconic 'Loser' as classic 90s Americana as his "cameo" on 'The Simpsons', or the same Levis jeans whose stocks are now soaring thanks to the 'Cowboy Carter' of Beyoncé's collaboration with Post Malone. But only this rock star (and a little bit of a country one) can bend genres like this from the Billy Joel to the hip-hop, hands in the air, one mic-manship. And he's already armed with enough Grammy's that Kanye couldn't storm and the late, great Prince should have given it up more for. Because, no one, aside from the purple one himself, can reign over this much music as Beck. He's got too many hits, too, like the artist once proclaimed during his 21 night showstopper in London. This, on the other hand, may only be a one night residency, but Beck is back. And you know that's where it's at. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Set-List Picks: 'I Am The Cosmos', 'Lonesome Tears', 'Loser'.
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