Beck with Philharmonia Australia
Palais Theatre
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Tuesday 12 May 2026 (night 1)

Recorded and mastered by eckythump

Source: Nokia Lumia 930 (called Lumia Icon in North America) w/built-in HAAC mics > Audio Recorder Pro app > 16bit/48 KHz PCM/WAV -> iZotope RX11 Advanced -> Ozone 12 (various adjustments) -> Audacity 3.7.7 (split tracks and FLAC Level 8) -> Foobar 2.25.8 (Files tagged) -> Traders Little Helper 2.8.4

Track List:

00 - Intro
01 - Cycle
02 - The Golden Age
03 - Beck talks
04 - Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime (The Korgi's cover)
05 - Lonesome Tears
06 - Wave
07 - Tropicalia
08 - Beck talks
09 - Blue Moon
10 - Lost Cause
11 - The New Pollution
12 - Beck talks
13 - Ride Lonesome
14 - Beck talks
15 - It's Raining Today (Scott Walker cover)
16 - Paper Tiger
17 - Beck talks
18 - Ramona
19 - Beck talks
20 - Missing
21 - Montague Terrace (In Blue) (Scott Walker cover)
22 - Phase
23 - Morning
24 - Waking Light
25 - Where It's At
26 - Beck talks - Orchestra leaves the stage
27 - Devil's Haircut
28 - Mixed Bizness
29 - Debra
30 - Loser
31 - Encore break
32 - True Love Will Find You In The End (Daniel Johnston cover)

Beck Hansen - Vocals, guitar
Jason Falkner - Guitar, bass
James McAlister - Drums
Roger Manning - Keyboards
Philharmonia Australia orchestra perform on all tracks up to and including Where It's At

Show Notes: Beck's first ever tour of Australia playing with an orchestra, featuring 3 shows in Sydney with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and 2 shows in Melbourne with Philharmonia Australia, this being the first night. Some well known musicians were in attendance tonight, including Ben Lee and Neil Finn, who was playing with Split Enz in Melbourne over the next 2 nights which I also attended (I spotted Ben in the crowd, did not see Neil, but Ben posted a photo with him, Neil and Beck backstage at the Palais on social media).

Beck was last in Australia in April 2023 doing a solo show, and he joked here he over compensated this time around. Heavy on Sea Change and Morning Phase albums which lend themselves nicely to an orchestra, but with a few others thrown in too, including a fabulous New Pollution and Where It's At, plus a few covers. The orchestra then departed and allowed Beck and his band to rock out on a few classics that don't lend themselves as well to an orchestra (a strings laden Loser may have been interesting though). A great show in front of a very appreciative crowd.

Recording Notes: I was in the centre section of the orchestra seating towards the back row of that area, which not only provided a superb view of the orchestra on stage, but was also an excellent spot capturing the sound sweet spot of the theatre, which the trusty Nokia did perfectly. No talking around me, though during The Golden Age a latecomer entered my row and I had to stand which the sharp of hearing my notice a slight change in sound on the recording, but it's only for a few seconds. An usher is also heard briefly during that song as they directed latecomers to their seats. Otherwise this is a really great recording. Enjoy!