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Early in 2006, a Frenchman by the name of Mathiew Saura (aka Vincent Moon) hit the streets of Paris with The Spinto Band and recorded a mini-documentary performance in an apartment and a restaurant. He called these glimpses into the psyche of bands Take Away Shows (Les Concerts à Emporter), and since that evening he has gone on to film over 100 more Take Away Shows, and has been involved with several feature-length documentaries, one of them centered around the band Beirut, entitled Cheap Magic Inside.

What is so great about these shows is that you get a different look at musicians you love, as well as exposure to new bands you may never have heard of. Most of these shows are set in Paris, France (though other directors have gotten involved around the world), and use ingenius ways of presenting the songs to us. Whether we’re following Andrew Bird down the street as he whistles and sings amidst passerby, or listening to St. Vincent confess her intimate thoughts in a lush crimson bedroom, the connection is always there.

One of my favorite shows is Yeasayer’s voyage through the underbelly of Paris’ subways, singing acapella until they arrive in a 5th floor flat and find an old piano along with several willing listeners. I also enjoyed following Zach Condon down the streets with his ukelale, until he surprises us all by wandering into a restaurant where the rest of his band awaits to continue his song in epic fashion. Arcade Fire has an awesome setting in the bowels of some old building, with a megaphone and hundreds of fans crowded around them like a swarm of ants.

View the Shows.

Here are a few noteworthy shows, but please check out all of them.

Watch on Dailymotion

Andrew Bird

Watch on Dailymotion

Arcade Fire

Watch on Dailymotion

Yeasayer

Watch on Dailymotion

Beirut

For the unfortunate readers who have never watched Fraggle Rock, it was a television series created by Jim Henson featuring his signature muppet designs. It ran for four seasons (96 episodes) in the US, on HBO. It was on-air from 1983 to 1987. It featured Fraggles, Gorgs, Doozers, and Silly Creatures (humans), and was created with the grand hopes of bringing peace to the world (seriously).

For the rest of you out there, wasn’t this show AMAZING?

So many things I can talk about here. How the Fraggles’ main food source are the buildings made by the Doozers (out of radish dust). Or how the main character’s uncle (Traveling Matt) is always out exploring “Outer Space” (the human world).

Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey and Red are the five main characters of the show, and if you can find a funnier puppet than Boober in any television show, I’d love to hear about it. His lines are just too much “That sure was a spirited mosey!” and “I pride myself on my inability to guffaw.” are just two examples.

Then there’s the Gorgs. Ma and Pa Gorg (queen and king of the universe, respectively), and their goofy son Junior Gorg, who’s main hobby is trying to catch Fraggles. “Look ma! I caught a Fwaggle!”

Or what about Marjory the all knowing trash heap, and her two rat sidekicks Philo and Gunge? She is the oracle of the show, and often provides a handy little moral for the Fraggles (and us) to follow.

I could tell you about the real human, inventor Doc Crystal, and his (puppet) dog Sprocket. How in each episode Doc gets a postcard from Traveling Matt addressed to Gobo Fraggle and throws it in the trash, only to be retrieved and read by Gobo to the rest of the Fraggles.

I could go on and on (and on), but I think the best idea would be for you to buy or rent the first season on DVD and (re)discover it for yourself.

This is probably one of the most imaginative children’s series ever put on the screen, thanks in large part to HBO’s willingness to let Jim Henson and his team just go for it.

Ladies & Gentlemen, I do believe it’s time for you to head down to Fraggle Rock.

Learn More.

Buy the DVD.

Disclaimer: Fraggles DO like to sing and dance, but fortunately the 80’s vernacular makes the songs forgivable.