Midnight Cultures

Wired magazine and its techno-savvy enthusiasts have taken to the streets in New York this week for NextFest and with the festivities came Next Music on Tuesday night. Beck, like last year's honoree Jeff Tweedy, was invited to curate the concert at Irving Plaza and, in turn, he chose Of Montrel and Jamie Lidell. It may be of no coincidence that scrambling the letters in "wired" is "weird."

Entering the stage with giant (creepy) masks with fey frontman Kevin Barnes and another guitarist donning pretty, pretty dresses, Of Montreal pile-drove through several cuts like "Forecast Fascist Future" and "Disconnect the Dots." They also touched on three or four new songs from their upcoming "Hissing Fauna" release, which apparently will be a much more soul-driven, glammy and dramatic effort. Packed with theatrics and at least two costume changes on Barnes' part (daisy dukes + hairy legs = epilepsy), the group was entertaining and tight but may have been on for a bit too long for our liking.

Can't say that we like the albums of his that we've heard all that much, but Jamie Lidell was a pleasant surpise live. Bouncing between Motown, trip-hop and soul-house, this Brit was easy on the ears and eyes (see above) and eventually got the crowd dancing. Gorgeous voice, fine skills with a loop machine and tables... a real treat.

No, Beck didn't show up. Yes, we were secretly wish he would. David Byrne was there, however. Keepin' hip with the kids, as ever.