3voor12.vpro.nl

3voor12 is a Dutch multimedia company which produces a series called (Behind) Closed Doors (http :// 3voor12. Vpro. Nl/doemee/tags/(behind)%20closed%20doors). This series seems to aspire to be like La Blogotheque's Take-away Shows but falls short in so many ways. The bands play mostly in a couple of claustrophobia-inducing elevators in Amsterdam. The camera stays fixated on the singers, mainly because there's nowhere else for it to focus. The performers, at times, seem to be a bit uncomfortable. Note Will Sheff of Okkervil River rushing the interviewer into another song ("Er, shall I play another?"). As well, quite a few of the performers spend most of the time singing with their eyes closed, I can imagine to avoid the awkwardness of playing in such close proximity to the cameraman and interviewer. The production value is poor, and in turn, the results are pretty mediocre, even if they are some great bands (Grandaddy, Iron & Wine, Low, Bon Iver, Apples in Stereo, etc.). Perhaps it's the Dutch I'm lacking, but it seems that the website is not easy to navigate. However, going through the behind closed doors list can be pretty amusing with labels such as "Liam Finn zat met George Michael op het toilet" (Liam Finn sings about how he met George Michael on a toilet?) "Lou Rhodes (ex-Lamb) doet krantje croissantje in de Paradisolift" (Lou Rhodes sings with a croissant in his mouth on the Paradiso lift?), "Iron & Wine voelt zich $#*!ed" (Sam Beam gets $#*!ed? I don't want to know.)