Citi launches new Music Platform, Citi Sound Vault, with special Beck concert

Beck performs onstage as part of Citi Sound Vault, a new live music platform curated exclusively for Citi cardmembers, at Hollywood Palladium on February 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo credit: Charley Gallay / Getty Images for Citi

WHO:	GRAMMY Album of the Year winner and 5-time GRAMMY Award winner Beck
WHERE:	Hollywood Palladium | Los Angeles, CA
WHEN:	Friday, February 10, 2017, 9:15 p.m.
WHY:	A special performance exclusively for Citi card members. Citi, working with Live Nation, has unveiled "Citi Sound Vault," a new live music platform curated exclusively for cardmembers to access unprecedented music experiences across the U.S. From performances by major artists in intimate venues, to meet and greets and backstage access, Citi Sound Vault goes beyond ticket access to deliver extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Citi and Live Nation - the worlds leading live entertainment and ticketing company - have a longstanding relationship that is focused on providing fans with more access to their favorite and providing next-gen experiences.  Beck performs onstage as part of Citi Sound Vault, a new live music platform curated exclusively for Citi cardmembers, at Hollywood Palladium on February 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Photo credit: Charley Gallay / Getty Images for Citi  Beck's set list on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 Main set: Devil's Haircut / Loser / Black Tambourine / New Pollution / Qué Onda Güero / Think I'm In Love / Soul Of A Man / Go It Alone / Lost Cause / Blue Moon / Like A Ship (Without A Sail) (gospel cover) / Fourteen Rivers Fourteen Floods / Mixed Bizness / Wow / Girl / Sexx Laws / E-Pro Encore: Paper Tiger / Where It's At

Review by Robert Kinsler

Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 marked the third time I have had the chance to catch the gifted singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Beck in concert. This special event, part of the new music platform Citi Sound Vault recently launched by Citi, was staged at the legendary Hollywood Palladium and had the bona fide vibe of a one-of-a-kind event and indeed the night did prove to be worthy of Beck's first public performance of 2017.

Beck performing at the Hollywood
Palladium on Feb. 10, 2017.
Photo credit:
Charley Gallay / Getty Images for Citi 

From the time the dressed-in-black Beck took the stage at 9:15 p.m. until he wrapped up his 19-song set around two hours later, there was a joyous and adventuresome spirit that was downright infectious. It is difficult to think of any modern-day artist who routinely juggles as many styles so effortlessly and with such mastery. Beck's performance this night was no different; he opened with the upbeat rocker "Devil's Haircut," and then immediately dove into an even more spirited original courtesy of his 1994 breakthrough hit "Loser" that had everyone in the crowd moving and singing on the big choruses of the hip hop-meets-pop favorite.

This was an audience that was ready to have some fun and do a bit of dancing on the floor during those upbeat songs, but was also treated to a wide-ranging set that would include Beck's many other sonic guises. There was the retro cool of "Black Tambourine," the scintillating introspection of his Americana-styled "Lost Cause" and the exhilarating psychedelia-tinged laid-back rocker "Think I'm In Love," the latter enhanced by a bit of Donna Summer's disco classic "I Feel Love" positioned in the middle. 

Jason Falkner, left, with Beck on Feb. 10, 2017.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Beck is such a talented and fascinating artist to watch, the fact that his band has the musical skills and perfect personality to enhance his show came through all night. Guitarist Jason Falkner and keyboardist Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (both of Jellyfish fame) were able to provide dynamic stage presence and musical firepower, while long-time drummer Joey Waronker and famed bassist Wayne Moore provided a surefire rhythm section to expertly navigate the variety of styles.

This was indeed no ordinary night, as evidenced when director Fred Martin and members of the Urban Entertainment Institute (UEI) participated took the stage for the last 10 songs of the concert. The soulful vocals of UEI (a nonprofit organization designed to teach students music, dance and multiple aspects of the music business) added new dimensions to Beck's live show, particularly on the luxuriant "Blue Moon" and the gospel standard "Like a Ship (Without a Sail)," the latter introduced by Beck as being a special one-time, this-night-only offering.  

Other highlights included Beck showcasing his virtuoso skills on the blues harmonica during "Fourteen Rivers Fourteen Floods" and a performance of his vibrant new single "Wow." 

Beck performing with members of the Urban Entertainment
Institute at the Hollywood Palladium on Feb. 10, 2017.
Photo credit: Charley Gallay / Getty Images for Citi 

The night ended powerfully with the lovely genre-twisting "Paper Tiger," before bringing things to a fun-filled and dramatic close of "Where It's At." This was no mere run-through of the song, with Beck highlighting the members of his band with bits of well known covers such as Chic's "Good Times," David Bowie's "China Girl," the Doobie Brothers' "Taking It to the Streets" (Manning got plenty of love for his soulful vocal impression of Michael McDonald), Prince's "1999" and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean."

Beck has reportedly been working on an eagerly-awaited followup to his three-time Grammy-winning album Morning Phase (released in February 2014) for several years. Based on the strength of his winning performance and the audience's enthusiasm on Friday night, let's hope the wait for that new album is almost over.

About Citi

Citi [NYSE:C], the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook:www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

About Live Nation

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV), or Live Nation, is the world's leading live entertainment and ticketing company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Live Nation Media & Sponsorship and Artist Nation Management. For additional information, visit www.investors.livenationentertainment.com.