la blogotheque

As a regular reader of BOT, you probably know that we've developed a serious affinity for French music video blog La Blogotheque. Not because of the writing, as I can't read a lick of French, but because the regular posting of quality videos from a regular rotation of some of my favorite bands in the indie rock world. From Islands to Edward Sharpe, Arcade Fire to Bon Iver, they're all on there, and they're continually adding more and more as the weeks go by. One of the most recent videos in the series of Take Away Shows is one from British folk group Mumford & Sons, where they take their already brilliant song "Awake My Soul" and change it up for the video by learning and performing the chorus and a verse of the song completely in French. Nestled in a courtyard in front of an audience of one gazing out her apartment window, the quintet warms up with "The Banjolin Song" before finishing with the aforementioned "Awake My Soul." I highly recommend spending the next ten minutes with this video... it'll be the best decision you make all day!

Unfortunately, I had to sell my ticket to their performance in Austin a few weeks back, but I'm determined to see them in the very near future. Maybe, just maybe, they'll add Houston to their tour itinerary during their next go-around of the States. If so, you'll definitely see me getting my yolk on!

It's been a while since I've personally posted anything on the old frontpage here, but now that my busy first half of June is over, I should be back on here in full force. My first offering is a great La Blogotheque Take Away Show featuring one of my current obsessions in the form of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. For this video, the group find themselves outside of a venue, playing for a rabid group of fans that waited around patiently for hours after the show let out just to get another taste. Starting with the ever-popular "Home" and finishing with a rollicking version of their album opener "40 Day Dream," Ed Sharpe and Co. have no problems entertaining those lucky few who apparently didn't have anything to do in the morning. Check it out...

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros are coming to Dallas on the 5th of July, and if I'm not too tired after the long drive from Phish's 4th of July extravaganza, I will be there in full force. If not, I'll have to wait until they make their debut performance at ACL later in the year. Hopefully I can attend both, if I'm lucky!

It's been a while since we posted anything about Chicago alt-country rockers Wilco, but thanks to French music vlog La Blogotheque, we now have some new content from Tweedy and the gang. Videographer Vincent Moon made his way to Montreal where Wilco were set to perform a gig later in the evening, and recorded the band going through a stripped-down version of their "Country Disappeared." I've been hoping Wilco would meet Vincent Moon Derrick Belcham, and it finally happened. I would've loved to see them do one of Moon's famous Take-Away shows, where bands take to the streets to perform unique two or three songs sets in different parts of the city they are in, but this will definitely suffice. Damn, I love this band!

Hopefully Wilco makes it to Houston again sometime soon, and when that happens, let's pray that Cereal won't get in a chick fight and have to poor a beer on some rude girls head.

I recently got turned on to the raspy folk stylings of Swedish singer/songwriter Kristian Mattson, better known as The Tallest Man on Earth, and I'm really digging the characteristically awesome videos that La Blogotheque shot of him last December. These were taken while he was in New York City for a three-night run with Bon Iver. Captured at the Music Inn in Greenwich Village, the vids are both beautiful and make me want to jump on a plane to check out the melange of musical instruments for myself.

View another video after the jump

About a year ago, we headed to Houston's Meridian to catch a headlining performance from Southern California singer-songwriter Matt Costa, who was supported by the up-and-coming buzz-band Delta Spirit. They put on a pretty great performance, but at about 40 minutes or so, it was not nearly long enough. After seeing this Take Away Show from La Blogotheque, my need to catch this band again has greatly increased.

Check out a couple more videos from this series after the jump

I don't give a damn if you smite me, these videos kick ass!

I'm not exactly a huge Man Man fan - that's Eggs' territory - but when I saw that La Blogotheque had posted some new videos of the band, I decided to watch at least part of one (primarily because I dig most of La B's videos). I was a little surprised, then, to find that I felt compelled to watch all five installments of Man Man's musical jaunts around Paris. La Blogotheque main man Vincent Moon did an exceptional job with the videography; this is some of his best work yet. It helps that the band (and frontman Honus Honus in particular) got so into the spirit of things; they look as though they were having a great time. Watch the videos to see Sergei Sogay getting his head shaved while the band musically accompanies the barber, Honus Honus attempting to negotiate a jewelry purchase, some enthusiastic assistance from a group of rollerskating kids, and other Man Man-style antics.

View the rest of the videos after the jump

"Van Helsing Boombox":

If you ever find yourself perusing the internet with no specific destination, and are in the mood for the most creative, original music videos that you could ever see, head on over to La Blogotheque to get your fix. This Parisian music blog looks like it would be a great read, but unfortunately my French comprehension skills are currently at a second grade level. Merci beaucoup is pretty much all I know (I have to admit that I even googled the spelling and babel-fished this post's title). Fortunately for us non-French-speaking people their videos do all of the talking.

#87.1 - Yeasayer - No need to worry / Redcave

Check out some of my favorite Blogotheque videos after the jump.