Has it really been 32 years since Beck’s “Loser” unexpectedly infiltrated radio waves and graced MTV with an amusingly ramshackle video that couldn’t help but accentuate the then-23-year-old Los Angeles native’s singular juju? And while he couldn’t quite sustain the creative, stylistically diverse juice that powered the albums following his “Loser” breakout (1994’s Mellow Gold, 1996’s Odelay, 1998’s Mutations, 1999’s Midnite Vultures and 2001’s Sea Change, he’s been a persistent presence on the musical landscape, dropping interesting, if less vital, projects (though some might argue 2014’s Morning Phase was another high point) over the last two decades.
One of the more curious developments in recent years is Beck’s series of shows backed by large city orchestras. The first such collaboration — a 2023 concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Orlando, Florida — essentially occurred by accident.
“It was kind of a last-minute thing,” Beck said in an interview with Wallpaper earlier this year. “I think another artist had dropped out and we filled in. Looking through my records, I realized there were a couple of dozen songs that had orchestra on them, so there was a lot to draw from. I think we were all surprised at how it went and that led to more shows last year. Now it’s kind of taken on a life of its own.”
The final album of Beck’s apex era, Sea Change, is especially appropriate for the orchestral treatment, its folky melancholia originally heightened by string arrangements courtesy of his own dad, David Campbell. It’s then no surprise that the recent orchestra shows feature such Sea Change staples as “The Golden Age,” “Lonesome Tears,” “Paper Tiger,” “Round the Bend” and “Lost Cause.” Another chunk of the set features tunes from the like-mindedly wistful Morning Phase, as well as covers of songs by Scott Walker and This Mortal Coil. And, of course, most of these shows conclude with “Loser,” the tune that started it all.
Beck performs with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at PNC Pavilion on July 21 at 7 p.m. More info: riverbend.org.
This story is featured in CityBeat’s July 9 print edition.
This article appears in Jul 9-22, 2025.