Meute - alternative German brass
By pejepeine
This week’s topic brought up a wild and wonderful mix of live talent, from the surreal to the sublime, and didn’t really fit the usual A-list/B-list format here, but plenty of contributors made a real effort, and this list is just a selection of the clips that I liked the most. This week, however, I think the main thread itself is the centre piece. It’s full of magic and madness.
Aryeh & Gil Gat – Wish You Were Here (Leaveitallbehind)
We’ll start with two orthodox Jewish performers treating us to a bit of Pink Floyd in Jaffa Street, Jerusalem.
Windslide – JJ (Suzi)
The didgeridoo seems to be a fairly popular street instrument, and its trance-inducing quality is well displayed in this video of Exeter band Windslide, who are a regular sight on the streets of Devon apparently. Here they’re performing in a field, though.
Zaz – Je Veux (Maki)
French singer with a touch of chanson, a bit of manouche gipsy swing and a great, husky voice performing her first big hit in the street.
Street Opera at Covent Garden (Severin)
An unidentified singer and cellist perform Nella Fantasia, the vocal version of Morricone’s Gabriel’s Oboe theme from The Mission.
Guitar Wifie (Viking Child)
When I grew up in Nottingham there was a busker who would play a comb and paper with an almost shamanic intensity, despite never really producing anything you’d call a tune. I like him a lot, and the “Guitar Wifie” of Aberdeen, whose performances have inspired a cult following, has something of the same brilliant zeal, with occasional electronic touches provided by the reverse alarm of a vehicle.
Nile Rodgers – We Are Family (happyclapper)
Nile made €12.50 in 20 minutes from this performance, which gives us a glimpse of the chops that made him one of disco’s greatest musicians and producers.
Fanfare Ciocărlia and Gogol Bordello – Fun on the Street (Nilpferd)
Post-gig street madness as gypsy bands clash.
Ataca Paca - Caja de manzanas (Maki)
Another gypsy-tinged collective, performing a medley of Spanish and international hits in the heart of Madrid.
Clanadonia (VikingChild)
Wild Scottish street theatre in which bagpipes blend with Brazilian bass drums.
Improvisation at the train station in Paris (barbryn)
You can never be certain as to how staged this kind of YouTube video is, but the reaction of passers-by and the interruption of station announcements are real. It’s a great little clip, anyway.
The street piano itself is part of an artwork called Play Me I’m Yours, by British artist Luke Jerram, which has seen 2,000 pianos left in public places for anyone to play.
Tommy and Mary (severin)
A sort of street White Stripes rocking it up on Oxford Street in London.
Probes – Electricity (George Boyland)
Beefheart on the beach at New Brighton. A video of George himself appeared at the end of the thread on the the launch topic and is well worth seeing, too.
Lamba Pomme – Beatboxing (BanazirGalbasi)
This guy uses live looping to create a rhythm track over which he beatboxes and plays buzz flute.
Philip Roebuck – Can I Keep You (Shoegazer)
This week’s playlist isn’t complete without a one-man-band.
Amadou Diagne (TatankaYotanka)
The shimmering kora isn’t a sound you hear every day in the street, so it’s a surprise that the Christmas shoppers in Bath don’t seem to realise how lucky they are. This is lovely stuff.
Portico Quartet (Nilpferd)
The hang wasn’t invented until this century but has become a staple of street performers worldwide. The Portico Quartet have released at least six albums and received a Mercury prize nomination, but this clip shows their roots performing their wonderful, minimal cinematic jazz outside the Southbank in London.
Meute - Rej (Nicko)
A couple of years ago my partner became obsessed with this German brass band who play brilliantly arranged versions of deep house hits, and our home was full of parping techno for weeks. I was won over in the end.
Urban Sax, Venice 1981 (TatankaYotanka)
Canal music rather than street music, but an unforgettable event. In 1981, the artist Gilbert Artman and his group Urban Sax performed a piece in which they converged upon the centre of Venice, playing in costumes. I love this drifting, droning, shifting sound and have already ordered a record by the group on the strength of this clip.
The A-List of Avenue Acts Play Live:
Guru’s Wildcard Picks:
Just a few of my own favourite clips …
Tytheroygatra
My favourite local band, who are usually found playing trancy ethnic jams at local markets.
Fantazio – L’Archuma
French street punk/ minstrel/ double bassist and his friends rustle up a wonderful impromptu performance in a Parisian backstreet
Le SNOB – Kashmir
A bizarre Segway riding, costumed French brass band, performing Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir with their heads on fire.
Daniel and Isaac Gonora
A blind father and son street musician from Zimbabwe rip it up at the market.
Bomba Estéreo – Pa’ Respirar
It’s a post-mixed performance and video, but live enough to be convincing, as the band perform on the heights of Monserrate, above the lights of the Colombian capital Bogotá.
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Stop and listen: street music from buskers to marching bands. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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