BB King @ Palais des Congres Paris July 22nd 2009

contact: irockinparis@yahoo.fr

SEE YOU @ Rock en Seine in August
I'm off to the seaside for a month
Nice holidays to ya all

BB King @ Palais des Congres
Paris july 22nd 2009

Lucille & BB arriving on stage

3 years , it's been 3 years since BB King last played Paris @ Zénith, tonight we are in the beautiful Palais des Congres and its confortable seats.
We never thought it would happened as he announced last year that he was stopping touring the world.
The band started playing 2 songs without him and BB was introduced , everybody rushed to the stage , he started giving out lots of plectrums to the audience and then started playing on Lucille , well that's not the original , all his guitars are called Lucille anyway.

Giving out plectrums ( left )

With BB , it's a "One man show" and a concert , some people might complain that's he's talking way to much between songs, always telling funny stories or mentionning his age :83 years old ( I don't know why old people are always proud of telling their age ).
He may be 83 years old but he's still kicking ass on the guitar , the sound of his guitar is clear and he still knows how to play it, unlike Chuck Berry who's playing is SO embarrassing.

wwAAaaOOooWwww !!!

BB is a real showman even though he's sitting on a chair for the whole gig.
Lots of hits: " thrill is gone" " everyday I have the blues" ( HERE on Video )... and famous covers including jazz song " When the saints" .
Cool 100 min gig , at the end of the set he shook hands once again with the audience giving out some more plectrums ( I have 3 ) , BB King pins and a necklace to a girl down the front.
He even signed some stuff ( see Pics ).
BB King You are the KING !!!

Funny faces

Who's knocking ?

I LOVE ya all

Shaking hands & signing stuff : ON stage

Prince @ Olympia in Paris ?

There are strong rumours suggesting that PRINCE will play 3 shows at the Paris' Olympia theatre on July 24th , 25th & 26th.

NOTHING has been confirmed yet.

It seems that there are still issues regarding contracts and box office, maybe they should hurry as the first show is in 3 days !!! Fingers crossed.

It's a pain in the ass as I'm supposed to go on holidays on the 23rd. Should I stay or should I go ?

LATEST NEWS ( July 22nd )
Concerts in Paris are push back to the end of August or beginning of September.

UPDATED OCT 2nd:
Rumours are back :
Prince at the fashion week ???
Several shows in Paris in October ???

Vera Gogh , Kacey Johansing & PollyAnna @ Les Disquaires Paris July 20th 2009

Vera Gogh , Kacey Johansing & PollyAnna @ Les Disquaires

Paris July 20th 2009

Vera & Kacey

After playing in Caen and Metz , the girls from san Francisco are back in Paris to play a show in the Bastille area in Paris.
First on stage is 'La Sexy' Vera Gogh ( she can't help using this word all night long ) with the help of Kacey on keys.
Vera's a character : singing , playing guitar and acting ... and making jokes all at the same time ; Quite a performance , She's in high spirit ,French white wine is very helpful ;-)

Kacey & PollyAnna

Then it's Kacey Johansing 's turn to take the stage in front of a dedicated audience , most of them were already here for the Oliver Peel session on July 14th ( click on link for review , Pics & videos ).
Though she prefers singing with her band , Kacey has , one again , charmed us with her beautiful voice (which reminds me of Joni Mitchell) and her great songs.

Then French duet PollyAnna closed beautifully this evening of concerts , sorry if I'have missed most of their set as I was talking outside with the San Franciscan girls, Vera has always a funny story to tell well sort of ... Courage Honey and take care of yourself.

They will be playing @ Belushi's on Friday 24th &
will be the special guests of their friend Mariée Sioux @ Nouveau Casino on thursday 23rd.

The Dead Weather's posters & La Bastille

It was 40 years ago ... Walking on the moon, Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin @ Grand Rex
April 2009

Buzz Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon just after Neil Amstrong.

Paris on a sunday in July.

"Paris on a sunday in July"

Invalides ( left )

I went to see a friend in the 7e district , one of the most beautiful in Paris , unfortunately she wasn't there so I took this time to take a few pictures on my way home.
So nice to do some cycling in Paris on sunday , as I know Paris like my back-pocket I've avoided the crowded places , can you see anyone on the pictures ?
Some parts were like a dead town , cool. Someone probably shot down all these stupid tourists.

Eglise St Germain ( right )

I'm not that good at taking pictures of monuments as you can see, so i've used some effects to cover my weakness.
I'm more confortable at taking pics of rock musicians ;-) even though these monuments never moan about it.

Dome des Invalides ( right )

Eglise Ste Genevieve ( left )

Panthéon

Paul McCartney Live @ David Letterman' s Ed Sullivan Theatre rooftop

To watch the 5 songs gig from the marquee it's here:
http://www.cbs.com/late_show/video/mccartney.php

'Get Back' ( not on the video)
'Sing The Changes' ( not on the video )

'Coming Up'
'Band On The Run'
'Let Me Roll It'
'Helter Skelter' (including 'Purple Haze')
'Back In The U.S.S.R.'

Kacey Johansing & Vera Gogh ( + Mariée Sioux ) @ Oliver Peel session # 10 Paris July 14th 2009

Kacey Johansin & Vera Gogh @ Oliver Peel session # 10
Somewhere in Paris July 14th 2009
+ Special guest Mariée Sioux

Today is a very special day Not only it is Bastille Day but it is also the last Oliver Peel session of the season before some well deserved Holidays.
San Francisco is in da house tonight with two great female Folk-rockers from the Bay area ( Home land of the Mighty Metallica ).
Once again the appartement is packed, the sun is shining , the wine is flowing and Cécile, our host, has made some great sandwiches & cakes.

The first " on stage" is the lovely Vera Gogh, with her blue dress and red lipstick she looks like a movie star escape from a 40's movie . She knows how to sing and knows how to act on and off stage too. Her friend Kacey ( who'll play later ) he's helping out on electric piano and backing vocals for most of the set.
Nice starter.

Kacey Johansing is next , great discovery just a couple of weeks after seeing Simone White at the very same place for the Peel session # 9 ( click for review & videos ).
She has a stunning voice and the songs are great.
She's got that " something" that makes her one step above the others.

For Bastille day , we have a special Encore as Kacey & Vera are coming back to play each one another song and Mariée Sioux who was here to see her friends is playing two songs to the delight of Oliver Peel. Mariée 's doing well in France and is on a french Label Fargo.
Nice way to close the season before the holidays.

"Les 3 graces " together

Once again NOT everybody could fit in

Kacey & Vera will play @ "Les Disquaires" 6 rue des Tallandiers near Bastille on July 20th @ 8:00PM and @ Belushi's Club, 68 Quai de la seine Paris 19th district on July 24th.
Don't miss them

Then we went to see the 120th anniversarry of the nearby Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffet tower on fire for the bastille day

Last show for me before the holidays will be BB King @ Palais des Congres on july 22rd.

U2 Second Show Part 1 @ Stade de France July 12th 2009

contact : irockinparis ( @ ) yahoo.fr

U2 Second Show @ Stade de France

Paris July 12th 2009
Part 1
Part 2 ( click on Link )

First show yesterday HERE

Back to the very same place to see U2. Both shows are sold-out .
Yesterday I didn't really appreciate the concert, maybe that's because I was surounded by fat cunts and the pit was packed and I was on the side ...

ALL PICTURES © Guino Patrice

CLICK ON PICTURE for the full version

Today it's different I am standing JUST in front of Bono and The Edge ( our fellow photographer Patrice Guino in not too far).
The view is perfect , there are lots of empty spaces ( you could lie down during the gig without being disturbed ) and the people are nice.

Probably the best spot I ever had at the Stade de France .

I guess it was almost the same set as yesterday but good point not to much of Bono 's stupid political statements.
Thank god we didn't get, this time, a conversation with those guys from the Space Station.

Cool atmosphere down the front, great show.
OK the new songs are still complete crap with their OOoohh AaaAAhHh !

Massive from here

AAArrgghh !

Let there be light

OOOooOOhHH !!

AAaaAAaa HhhHH !

U2 Second Show Part 2 @ Stade de France July 12th 2009

U2 Second show @ Stade de France
Paris july 12th 2009
Part 2
Part 1 ( click on link )

Bone with the Irish flag

ALL PICTURES © Guino Patrice

CLICK ON EACH PICTURE for the full version

Goodbye 1

get on your knees

See ya guys

Girl with Larry's drumstick

Pass & the tube after the show

"One":

U2 First show @ Stade de France July 12th 2009

U2 First show @ Stade de France
Paris July 11th 2009

I couldn't see Kaiser Chiefs as I 've arrived there very late or maybe they were playing early.

The stage is looking fantastic from the other side of the stadium

We could secure "golden circle" wristbands so we're in the first pit on The Edge's side , not the best place as it's really packed here.
The stage is really beautiful but they don't really use the catwalks so it would have been better to be front stage. We'll sort this out tomorrow ;-)

Bono's just been told , he's gonna pay more taxes this year

I mean... this is U2 some great songs ( the old ones ) and also lots of shit ( the new ones ) with their stupid backings vocals let-all-sing-together : OOoohh ! AAaAAaHHhhh !

You can' t go to a U2 concert without stupid political statement from Bono : War not good , Starvation Not good , Dictatorship Not good ... and so on .

They even get Desmond Tutu to do a speech on whatever it was and the most ridiculous thing of the gig , the lads from U2 even asked questions to some guys trapped in their space station who are listening to U2 , poor guys.
Bono didn't forget to thank Live Nation ( probably the worst Cie on earth , they have a monopoly in some countries killing the music scene and they supported Bush & the neo-cons ) Universal ( nice label too ) ...

Bono : what a fucking moron you are , This opportunist probably forget to tell you that the U2 company is registered in a Tax haven.
These guys don't want to pay taxes, maybe someone should tell them that with Taxes, money is being injected into Hospital , public services , schools , university , social security ...

Anyway It was a good show but Bono should cut all this political bullshit from the gig and play one more song maybe two.

Setlist : ( From U2Achtung.com )

01 - Breathe
02 - No Line On The Horizon
03 - Get On Your Boots
04 - Magnificent
05 - Beautiful Day / Blackbird (snippet)
06 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / Movin 'On Up (snippet)
07 - Desire / Billy Jean (snippet) / Don't Stop Til You Get Enough (snippet)
08 - In A Little While
09 - Unknown Caller
10 - The Unforgettable Fire
11 - City Of Blinding Lights
12 - Vertigo
13 - I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (remix)
14 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
15 - Pride (In the Name of Love)
16 - MLK
17 - Walk On
Rappel 1
18 - Where The Streets Have No Name
19 - One
Rappel 2
20 - Ultraviolet
21 - With or Without You / Rain (snippet)
22 - Moment of Surrender

John Butler + Tété + Nicky Bomba @ Folies Bergere Paris july 10th 2009

John Butler +Tété + Nicky Bomba
@ Folies Bergere Paris July 10th 2009

First on stage is Nicky Bomba on guitar and different percussion and samples , We just arrived for the last 2 songs as he started playing very early, the whole seated theatre is already packed.
His set went down a storm, he had a couple of people from the audience to play with him on stage, very fun and lively.
Then we have French singer Tété ( pictures above ) .
He had a couple of hits in France with his acoustic-soul music. The songs are good, people like him a lot here. Unfortunately he's trying to be funny between songs ( he had to tune his guitar each time ) it's ok once or twice but it the end it started getting on my nerves maybe he should stick to the music. Or maybe I didn't get it as everybody was having fun.
Maybe I should stop moaning all the time.

John Butler is very popular in France , his concerts have allways been very lively and fun, he's playing tonight on his own for most of the first part of the gig , he will be joined by Nicky Bomba on drums for the second part.
You think that someone seated playing acoustic guitar on his lap might be boring : WRONG.
Once again John Butler proved that he's a great artist , songs are fun , he's using lots of different effects on the guitar ( from acoustic to electric to indian sitar ) to great results.
How many people can play a instrumental guitar song on his own for 9 min without being boring ? He can do it and it's FUN.
They ended the set with Nicky Bomba ( a great showman ) by using every kind of percussion they could put theirs hands on to ( including a chair ) and had the audience split in 3 to sing each one a different melody while Nick & John were conducting it.
Of course they didn't forget Mickael Jackson by playing ( with Tété as a guest on vocals ) the Jackson 5's " I want you back ". Here on video.
NOTE: They may have changed the setlist or maybe play one song before the other. (He introduced a song about the Prime Minister of Australia and played ... another. )

setlist

Jackson 5's " I want you back " with Tété:

Madonna@ Bercy July 9th 2009

Madonna @ Bercy
July 9th 2009

Same show as in September 2008 @ Stade de France
See our Pictures HERE ( First show) and HERE ( Second Show ) from the Stade de France.

Bercy is really packed even though there were still tickets left a few days ago.
The promoter even put people on both sides behind the stage , Bastard.

Lots of backing tapes for the vocals

After seeing Britney Spears in this very same place 3 days ago ( see our review and pictures HERE ) you can really tell the difference between someone with talent and who knows how to dance and entertain and a lousy " singer".
Just imagine a boxing game between Myke Tyson vs Prince.

Britney is KO.

Tribute to Mickael

ALL PICTURES, Courtesy of PATRICE GUINO

Lie down baby

-Click on each Picture for the Full size-

Rock & dance

Some Fans

Some Girls

SEAL @ Paris Bercy July 8th 2009

SEAL @ Paris Bercy
July 8th 2009

Opening Band ?

3rd show in 3 days in Bercy for our team at ROCKERPARIS , we should be back for Madonna tomorrow ( or maybe we'll go to see Canned Heat @ Bataclan or Anthony & the johnsons @ Salle Pleyel or Chris Cornell @ Black Calavados , we don't know yet )
Almost sod-out tonight , Seal is VERY popular in France , he sold more than 1 Million of his last album " Soul".One third of the woldwide sales of his last cd were in France.
I saw him before chritmas at a Canal+ TV show " La Musicale" ( click on link for the review ) and I thought he was brilliant.

Can't tell you anything about the folk - rock support band ( even their name ) we just saw the last song , people seemed to have enjoyed it

Lots of soul cover in the first half with SEAL ( "Papa was a rolling stone" , "a change is gonna come" , "I've been loving you too long" , "Knock on wood" + one from Al Green , The Impressions ... )
Songs are great but when you're singing Soul music , you need SOUL and there isn't any SOUL in Bercy tonight , it sounds more like an easy-listening version of soul covers.
He's not helped by some totally uninspired musicians.

The second part is more focus on his songs which are much more electronic and dance than I thought , it's better but far from being fantastic.
He stayed most of the time on a small catwalk to be in contact with his fans shaking hands with them very often and even taking request ( He did " Ne me quitte pas" in English and a cappela ) and is also making the effort to communicate with the audience.

Nevertheless it was a very disappointing concert

Sorry the pictures are crap Patrice Guino our photographer didn't bother taking any for this one.

" Crazy " probably the best song tonight :

Leonard Cohen @ Paris Bercy July 7th 2009

Leonard Cohen @ Paris Bercy
July 7th 2009

On his knees

Back to Bercy for a very different concert than yesterday ( Britney Spears ) , this time we have a real composer & a real singer.
I' m not too familiar with Leonard's catalogue apart from his most famous songs , the place is packed but not sold-out in this all seated arena.
So there's around 12-13000 people.
Leonard is playing over two sets for almost 3 hours.
He has a deep and low voice, he's dressed smartly and is with 7 musicians and 3 girls on backing vocals.
Maybe some songs are sounding the same if you're not too familiar with his songs like I am.

SETLIST ( Courtesy of Leonard Cohen site & 1heckofAGuy )

• Dance Me To The End Of Love
• The Future
• Ain't No Cure For Love
• Bird On The Wire
• Everybody Knows
• In My Secret Life
• Who By Fire
• Chelsea Hotel #2
• Waiting For The Miracle
• Anthem

Second Set

• Tower Of Song
• Avalanche
• Suzanne
• Sisters Of Mercy
• The Partisan
• Boogie Street
• Hallelujah
• I'm Your Man
• Take This Waltz

First Encore

• So Long, Marianne
• First We Take Manhattan

Second Encore

• Famous Blue Raincoat
• If It Be Your Will
• Closing Time

Final Encore

• I Tried To Leave You
• Whither Thou Goest (tutti a cappella)

The best is to , Watch this :

" Suzanne" :


"The Partisan"

Blur NOT PLAYING @ Parvis Hotel de Ville Paris August 5th 2009

UPDATED JULY 9th:

BLUR HAS OFFICIALLY DENIED PLAYING IN PARIS ON AUGUST 5th
Sorry , you should never rely on French journalists especially in music.
These morons don't know shit.

BREAKING NEWS :
BLUR will play their last ever show In Paris on August 5th 2009
This will be a free show on the Parvis de L' Hotel de ville.

Updated July 8th:
Hold on baby ! NOTHING has been confirmed so don't buy your eurostar tickets to come to Paris before it's confirmed officialy.
I tried to get more info and got nothing , the journalist who said that might have been confused with Damon Albarn 's african project with Amadou & Mariam who are playing that day.
Paris Match original news

Britney Spears @ Bercy Paris july 6th 2009

Britney Spears @ Bercy
Paris July 6th 2009

Circus

Last show for Britney Spears lots of empty seats in the back covered with black curtains , the other two were sold-out.

I Went with my two little cousins who are on holidays in Paris ( i'm trying to find a cheap excuse ).

First on stage is French new Gay icon Sliimy thankfully get there for the last song , he was on stage with just a guy on acoustic guitar , I don't think the response he get from the audience was overwhelming.

Then we had a very cute female DJ ( Havana Brown ) She was sooo bad it was embarrassing , if she ever DJ like this in Ibiza this summer i'm sure someone 's gonna find her body mutilated in a plastic bag.

You can CLICK on each picture for the full size

Last but not least we had some dancers and jugglers for a good 20 min before Britney Spears got on the stage arriving from the ceiling.
I've been told that the show was stunning , well that's partly true , it's a center stage with perfect view wherever you are , the musicians are hidden in the pit.
There are 500 and 1000 euros tickets just in front the stage and you're sitting on a sofa but who would pay to see such crap.
She's not singing AT ALL for the whole show , yeah it's a show not a concert.
The pre-recorded voice is unbearable from start to finish drowned with distorted auto-tune.
Can we talk about the music ?
Well NOT , the biggest piece of shit I have ever listened to.
At least Madonna has some very decent tunes.
LOTS ...I mean LOTS of very beautiful girls in the audience tonight.
I had my camera with me so I kept myself busy for the whole show so enjoy !
After such crap I really had to listen to some real music , there's nothing better than "Painkiller" by Judas Priest to wake up the neighbors at 1:00 AM
Vengeance is sweet.

review © Guino Patrice

Hey dude watch out behind you !

If you like Madonna come and have a look at our review with lots of pictures from both nights last year at the Stade de France
Show 1 ( click on link )
Show 2

ALL PICTURES © Guino Patrice

The best for the end : Cute English girls

Next Shows in Paris july 2009

July 6th:

Foreigner @ Olympia
Fred Wesley @ new Morning

July 7th:

Léonard cohen @ Bercy
Roger Hodgson @ Olympia
Fred Wesley @ new morning

July 8th:

Seal @ bercy
Lee Ritenour @ new Morning

July 9th:

Madonna @ Bercy ( there are tickets left )
Canned Heat @ Nem Morning ( with Larry Taylor & Harvey Mendel )

CHRIS CORNELL @ Black Calavados ( Private Show )

July 10th:

John Butler @ Folies Bergere

July 11th & 12th :

U2 & Kaiser chiefs @ SdF

july 22nd:

BB King @ Palais des Congres

Crosby Stills & Nash Part 1 @ Olympia July 4th 2009

Crosby Stills & Nash @ Olympia Paris
July 4th 2009
Part 1
Part 2 ( click on link )

see our review ( with Pics ) of Stephen Stills 's concert in Oct 2008 @ Olympia( click on link )

Cool to see those legends back together in Paris , the show at the Olympia theatre near the Opera is long Sold-Out even though the tickets were once more VERY expensive ( between 80 and 100 Euros ).
Same promoter as usual. I won' t name the bastard.

ALL PICTURES © Guino Patrice

Nice introduction as the trio started very slowly on acoustic with " helplessly Hoping".
They've played songs we're not used to hear from CSN, covers from The Rolling Stones , Bob Dylan , Tim Hardin , The Grateful Dead.
For the last one David said that he would never have thought singing this one in a million years.

Each one of them had a solo spot during this first part of the show , Graham & David did a duet on one and Steven took the bass for " dream for him" ( from the album " Looking forward" )

" Our House" had the best ovation for the 1st part
Really cool 50 min+ 1st set.

Setlist Part 1

End of Part 1

Crosby Stills & Nash Part 2 @ Olympia Paris July 4th 2009

Crosby Stills & Nash @ Olympia Paris
July 4th 2009
Part 2
Part1 ( click on Link )

The second part of the show was much more electric starting with " Rock & Roll Woman" from then it was hits after hits.

It's hard to believe how many great songs this band has.

ALL PICTURES © GUINO PATRICE
Click on each Picture

The atmosphere is also getting electric in the audience.
The band is on top form , Steven is stunning on guitar.

Funy to see how these guys seems to be such good friends on stage when they barely speak to each other the rest of the time and that they're travelling separately in their own tour bus.

CSN smoking...

Hats off

Yeah ! we Rock

Vini Vidi Vici !

Time for one more

Steven guitar hero

We were lucky to be treated with an extra song - NOT on the setlist : " Love the one you're with"

Victory

Bye Paris you've been a great audience !

" Wooden ships" :

Peter Von Poehl @ Institut Suedois Paris july 3rd 2009

Peter von Poehl + Olle Nyman
@ Swedish Institute Paris July 3rd 2009

The Swedish Institute is organising festivities to celebrate the Swedish European Presidency.
Tonight is free event in the gardens of the Swedish institute in the Marais district, the sun is shining and there are LOTS of people queuing in the street.
I don't think they expected that many people.More than a 1000.

Swedish artist Olle Nyman is opening the show with his cool Pop-folk. Soulfull voice à la Paul Rodgers. He's on a french label Fargo ( with Peter , Alela Diane , Joseph Arthur... )

Olle Nyman (on the right) & friend

Peter Von Poehl and his band ( 7 musicians: drums , bass , keys ,brass & cello ) all dressed in white are taking the stage at 8:30 PM for a smooth and relax 80 min gig.

I'm not too familiar with his catalogue, another swedish playing pop-folk-rock.
He has a funny way of singing and probably listened to Nick Drake a lot in his youth.
His songs are nice and soft even though he sometimes gets a little crazy with an electric guitar , headbanging a bit.

He's making the effort of speaking in French, I think he's living in Paris.
Nice atmosphere in these gardens in the heart of Paris with lots of beautiful girls , not all swedish, I've also noticed that the cello player is also hot as hell.
I don't think there was a better way of getting into July ( who ? ) with this very bucolic gig.

Peter , nice....

... guitars

The cute Maeva on cello & setlist

Mick Taylor @ New Morning Paris July 2nd 2009

Mick Taylor @ New Morning
Paris July 2nd 2009

Rehearsals

Kuma Hurada on bass ( left )

Tonight is a special concert as it's been recorded for a future DVD.

We arrived there early to see the rehearsals, Mick was already drinking and was walking very carefully, he played a couple of songs and went back to his nearby hotel.
He has lost a bit of weight since last time I saw him and has made an effort to dress decently.

A French guitar player ( or by the way he's called Joël Daydé , sorry ) opened the show with a few blues songs on acoustic and electric guitar singing mostly in English and a couple of songs in French.
The guy did a good job but some of Mick fans were calling their idol on stage, morons.

Mick came on stage late ( around 10 PM ) doing strange movements with his arms , had a chat first then took his guitar and started playing " Secret affair" .
He was in high spirit tonight speaking between songs, always with a nice sense of humour.
His guitar playing is far from being as fluent as before, it's like he's playing in slow motion and the voice is sometimes weak. Nevertheless there were some very good moments.
He even took requests ( " alabama" ) as he didn't know what to play next.
He left the stage after 4 songs ( 10 min each ) leaving his guitar player sing the next one : " Burial Ground" .

Complete setlist :

• Secret Affair
• Twisted Sister
• Alabama
• Losing my faith
• Burial Ground (without Mick )
• Blind Willie Mc Tell ( with Bits of All Along the watchtower )
• Can't you hear me knocking
• No Expectations

We were lucky to get a Bob Dylan song that he recorded for -Infadels- that wasn't used and ended on a -Bootleg series- called " Blind Willie Mc Tell".

He left the stage after 1H40 Min and came to sign a few cds to fans without forgetting to get a drink at the bar first.

" Can't you hear me knocking"