Beck Hansen, better known simply as Beck, is probably best known for his 1994 hit song “Loser.” Since then, he has released nine albums, including his most recent, Modern Guilt, which came out in 2008. Last year, he took the unusual step of releasing 20 new songs, with lyrics, in a book of sheet music. He called it, simply, the Song Reader. He encouraged people to learn the songs, maybe record them, and he’s posted some of their efforts at www.songreader.net. On Saturday, the Colorado Symphony becomes the first professional orchestra in the world to take on the Song Reader. Members of the orchestra will be joined by singer-songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff, bluesman Otis Taylor, and members of the alt-country group the Hollyfelds at the Westword Music Showcase in Denver. Ryan talks to Rateliff and CSO bassist Nick Recuber.
Listen to full performances of the two songs they recorded in the CPR Performance Studio:
[Photo by Melanie Watson.]
[Poster by Brian Mietz. Courtesy Nick Recuber]
Video of Do We? We Do in the CPR Performance Studio
