As reported by The Guardian last night, Beck put together “an evening of word and sound with guests including Thurston Moore and Simon Armitage.” Beck curated the event as part of Doug Aitken’s Station to Station, a “living exhibition” happening over the course of 30 days and comprising over 100 events at London’s Barbican Center. According to the Center’s site, “no two days will be the same,” and it includes “immersive yurt installations in our outside spaces and a new interactive digital laser commission,” as well as a “fusion” of works by artists of all different mediums and background.
Beck’s contribution more specifically was a concert/theatre/poetry reading hybrid that saw Beck accompanied onstage by three cowboys who reportedly stared down the audience for five minutes (in front of a similarly Western-themed projected backdrop), as well as poets like Jemima Foxtrott, Luke Wright — and the aforementioned Armitage — and then, of course, Thurston Moore. Despite giving much of the evening to Moore, wordsmiths and cowboys, Beck (who, himself, dressed as a cowboy) opened and closed the show – finishing with “Wave” from Kanye’s personal favorite, Morning Phase.
A fan near the stage happened to capture footage of both Beck (furiously gumming his harmonica) and Moore (unfortunately not furiously gumming a harmonica) performing: