It’s not too much of a secret, I love La Blogothèque. To me, they are the personification of everything I love about music. Their “Take Away Show” and “Soirée de Poche” videos showcase a raw atmosphere: the musician at his most intimate, the candidness of their listeners’ responses, moving without apprehension or awareness, and the romantic (in the true sense of the word) interaction between the two bodies when people who love music are brought together.
La Blogothèque, a company based in Paris dedicated to bringing beautifully crafted, private live shows to the masses. Their “soiree de poche” videos are usually set in unique Parisian apartments, where the band plays to a crowd of seemingly no more than fifty people, making everyone who watched the video ooze with jealousy that they couldn’t attend. Their “take away shows” are usually following a band down the sidewalks of Paris while they play their instruments and sing to strangers and tourists walking past. While I’ll be giving you a list of some of my favorite productions, make sure you check out their website (you’ll probably want to see the english version) and youtube channel. There is not one single video that isn’t worth watching.
And without further ado..
Alicia Keys in Paris | A Take Away Show
This is one of their newest videos. And it’s filmed at one of my favorite bars/restaurants in Paris, Le Comptoir General.
Onda Vaga | Part 4 | A Take Away Show
Latin rhythm, a street party, and a trombone solo. Sign me up!
Local Natives – Dark Days & Fountain of Youth | A Take Away Show
Capturing Canal St. Martin in the summer, the most magical conjunction of season and place.
Ok. Now this one’s a big one for me. Beirut has always been one of my favorite bands. Their music just captures something about traveling—and Europe in specific—that no other modern-day band can. The spring of my senior year, when I was struggling with deciding where to go to university, I came upon this video. The buzzing atmosphere, the smiling and shouting of the audience, everyone with their arms around each other, all while the eiffel tower sparkles in the background. I was hit with an epiphany: I would choose Paris. I wanted to be a part of something like this.
P.S. Make sure to check out Beirut’s Take Away Shows. Zach Condon is one talented guy, and his music fits Paris like a glove.
Please please please, take your time to watch this one. At least for the first five minutes as singer Jamie Lee sings a poem, chases little children around, serenades the crowd, and kisses someone’s date. C’est magnifique.
Just an example of La Blogothèque’s unbeatable filming and production skills.
Papooz – One of those Days | A Take Away Show
Papooz are a great French band, and when you film them playing live music on a French beach at sunset, you can’t go wrong.
Benjamin Booker – Have you seen my son? – A Take Away Show
Watch Benjamin Booker interact with French garbage collectors as he sits on a rubbish bin and is pushed down the street at a sidewalk sale as he’s followed by children like the Pied Piper. What I would have given to see this.
Phoenix | 1901 | A Take Away Show
Nothing like a French band as iconic as Phoenix playing in front of not only the eiffel tower, but a couple’s wedding photos.
Phoenix in Versailles | A Take Away Show
Another iconic French institution with another iconic Phoenix jam.
Lianne La Havas | No Room For Doubt | A Take Away Show
Montmartre and the delightful Lianne La Havas: a good combination.
The Walkmen | Soirée de Poche #7
I don’t know what it is about this one, but it always gets to me. Maybe it’s because the first song of the setlist is “New Country,” and it’s being sung in my new country, but something about Hamilton Leithauser’s voice pulls on my heart strings.
The Growlers – A Take Away Show
Love or hate the Growlers, you have to admit they’re entertaining. Singer Brooks’ scratchy vocals reverberating off of city walls and the base player walking around with a huge upright base makes for a charming video that only La Blogothèque could ever produce.
by Sophie Pecilunas
All images credited to La Blogothèque.
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