September 20, 2008 9:47

Beck battles through sound troubles at San Diego Street Scene

The star plays hits spanning his career

Beck battled through sound troubles during his headlining set on the first night of San Diego Street Scene (September 19), which included older hits as well as several tracks from his new album 'Modern Guilt'.

Backed by a five-piece band, the star began his set with his 1994 hit 'Loser', and segued into 'Nausea'.

"Hello San Diego! It's great to be here," Beck said, and the crowd cheered.

Beck, sporting long hair and a grungy look, maintained a mellow vibe throughout his performance, even during typically high-energy numbers like 'Devils Haircut'.

New tracks including 'Modern Guilt' and 'Gamma Ray' were met with strong applause.

Earlier in the evening, Spoon delivered a strong set, with frontman Britt Daniel in top form. Groovy numbers including 'I Turn My Camera On' and 'Rhthm & Soul' created a dance party vibe.

"This is a good festival and a great lineup," Daniel said. "Can you believe TV On The Radio?"

Just before Spoon's set, TV On The Radio drew a massive crowd on a nearby stage. The band focused largely on material from their most recent album 'Dear Science', but also played tunes from 2006's 'Return To Cookie Mountain'.

"Good people of San Diego, thank you very much for having us," said vocalist Tunde Adebimpe, and the crowd erupted.

The band were joined by a four-piece brass section from the Antibalas Orchestra, which also faced sound problems that drowned them out.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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