Kitty Daisy & Lewis @ Album de la Semaine, Canal+, Paris, Jan 27 2015

Kitty Daisy & Lewis @ Album de la Semaine, Canal+, Paris, Jan 27 2015

see ya there for the recording of this tv show

Mirel Wagner @ Album de la Semaine Canal+ , Paris Sept 15 2014

Mirel Wagner @ Album de la Semaine Canal+ , Paris Sept 15 2014

Folk-Blues for Mirel Wagner
5* in Mojo mag for the album


Finnish (from Finland) girl originally from Ethiopia for a set of acoustic numbers, beautiful stripped down songs, you're expecting her to sing another verse and... no it's done.Excellent, she's signed on Sub Pop Label

The Brian Jonestown Massacre @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris June 03 2014

The Brian Jonestown Massacre @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris June 03 2014

Promoting new album

It's been a long time since we last saw the Brian Jonestown massacre, in 2008 @ Bataclan and by reading our review, we were less than impressed by their concert.

Anton was in Paris a few weeks ago to play a radio show but it was acoustic with just one additional guitar player.

The band has a new album out and as we couldn't see them at their sold-out concert @ Bataclan on May 21st, Jimmy Page was in town, we're glad to finally see them on a stage.

Lots of musicians, the usual drummer and bass player, two guitar players plus Anton (making it three), a keyboard player and legendary Joel Gion (Picture above) on tambourine and occasionally  backing vocals.

First thing we notice , the sound is crystal clear and we can hear each musician very distinctly, far from the fuzzy sound they used to have, for the better... Songs have a  very 60's psychedelic sound, we all know that, but from time to time it makes me think of The Cure...but for one song that is very Arthur Lee's-"Lovised".

Only 7 songs but one of the best gigs I've seen this year.

Archives:

BJM @ "Live Me Do" radio show for France Inter on April 09 2014
@ Bataclan in 2008

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings @ Album de la Semaine, Paris, May 07 2014

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings @ Album de la Semaine Canal+, Paris, May 07 2014

see ya there tonight

-Martha Reeves from Martha Reeves & The Vendellas is also playing tonight in Paris @ new Morning club

-John Butler Trio @ Trianon (sold out)

-"Live me do" France Inter radio recording with The Nits and others... (free entrance)

After attending Martha Reeves' rehearsals we went straight to Canal+ to attend Sharon Jones' recording for L'Album de la Semaine, she played a sold-out concert yesterday at the Olympia theatre.
lots of musicians on stage with backing vocalists, Sharon is leading her band into a 7 songs set, she's been dubbed the Female James Brown, well not really the music is different, though she's playing soul music, and she's not trying to copy Mr Brown , she has her own style and personality.
very enjoyable set

The Black Keys @ Album de la Semaine Canal+, Paris May 2nd 2014

The Black Keys @ Album de la Semaine Canal+, Paris May 2nd 2014

 Rehearsals' setlist (middle)  and tonight's setlist (far right)

 

Another day, another concert by The Black Keys in Paris to promote brand new album "Turn Blue"

Once again very short set ( less than 30 min) with 7 songs and 3 from the new album, I guess it was exactly the same set as yesterday when they've played a private showcase for 100 people at Studio de la grande Armée.

Once again the single "fever" is sounding much better Live than on the album even though I'm not too convinced about the "Bontempi" part in the song.

Songs from "El camino" are really fantastic...

Looking forward hearing some more new songs
Patrick went to see fans waiting outside to sign cds and pose for pictures

 

Lisa & The Lips @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris , April 01 2014

Lisa & The Lips @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris , April 01 2014

Lisa KekauLa & Guitar player Bob Vennum both from The Bellrays (They've played on sunday @ Chorus festival) have now their own band Lisa & The Lips to play some soul music.
The Bellrays always have this soul feeling while playing their punk Rock but with Lisa & the Lips  it's only more soul orientated music but soul music with balls, I mean Rock-Soul... with two guitar players, some keys and two horns it's grooving...and rockin'.
Nice set with a very heavy rendition of "Going Down" that the Rolling Stones also covered on their American Tour last year.

Little Dragon @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris March 06 2014

Little Dragon @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris March 06 2014

Swedish Electro-pop band playing famous Canal+ tv show to promote new album.
Electro's not really our stuff but it's always nice to discover new bands, specially in these conditions in the studio, alost as if the band was doing a home show.
Nice music even though it's hard to single out a song, too bad that the whole band dressed like shit, they should get a better "look" as the guys look like male nurses playing in a local band.
They should hire a stylist... anyway, nice music and nice singer.

SETLIST: 1) Klapp Klapp 2) Killing Me 3) Underbeat 4) Cat Rider 5) Nabuma Rubberband 6) Paris 7) Pretty Girls

Aloe Blacc @ L'Album de la Semaine Canal+, Paris March 04 2014

Aloe Blacc @ L'Album de la Semaine Canal+, Paris March 04 2014

setlist for tonight's show

Aloe Blacc promoting new album "Lift your Spirit" by playing famous Canal+ tv show. Smartly dressed with 6 musicians all wearing black costumes and black hats except for the two guys on saxo and trumpet, dressed in white (?!?).
Nice songs, Aloe is a great singer and seems to be a very nice guy but the music is a bit "light", it's lacking passion and "soul" which is a bit of  a shame when you're playing soul music.
Very enjoyable set of songs but it's lacking something...

Little Dragon on March 06 &  Metronomy on March 07 will also play the same TV show.

March 05:

"Live me Do" on France Inter, radio recording with Metronomy, Owlle & Mr Clerck.

Free entrance, first come first serve at the radio à 6:30pm

St Vincent @ Album de la Semaine Canal+, Paris Feb 19 2014

St Vincent @ Album de la Semaine Canal+, Paris Feb 19 2014

After playing @ Cigale yesterday night (video below) St Vincent will play songs from the new album à famous Canal+ TV show L'Album de la Semaine

Nice show from St Vincent , on each song there is a dance choreography or stage moves that are adding a theatrical parts to the concerts.
 She's playing some nice guitars licks on a few tunes but it's a bit too electro for us, in fact I don't remember her being so electro, not really our stuff but enjoyable.
Didn't say a word for the whole set just a wave and a "Merci" at the end

John Butler Trio @ L'Album de la Semaine, 8:00pm & Nouveau Casino 11:00pm Paris Jan 27 2014

John Butler Trio @ L' Album de la Semaine, Paris Jan 27 2014, 8:00pm

Nouveau Casino, Paris Jan 27 2014, 11:00pm

Album de la Semaine TV show for Canal+: 

Setlist for Canal+ above

JBT is back with a new album, he's promoting it with lots of press :interviews and live performances, tonight he's @ canal+ to play a short 7 songs set of mostly new songs.

I can't remember the last time we saw him on a stage, probably a few years. Same pop-folk-rock lots of nice songs and a bit of wild distorted sounding guitar on...acoustic guitar.

Great new songs. Link to the audio recording HERE

Album de la semaine du 08/02 - John Butler Trio

Nouveau Casino, Paris Jan 27 2014, 11:00pm

We then rushed to the Nouveau Casino club at the other side of Paris for the 10:00pm show. It will be a late start, lots of people are queuing on the pavement outside (see video here) to get in, its freezing outside.It's past 30 and the doors are still closed.

The band is getting on stage around 11:00pm, the gig is sold-out so is the Trianon in May, a new show had just been added @ Olympia theatre in July.

As usual John is smiling, we have lots of new song which are sounding very good indeed. Both his sidemusicians are leaving the stage mid-show , John is sitting down and we have a 12 min long instrumental on acoustic guitar that reminds me of the Led Zep acoustic break during their concerts with Jimmy Page on the twelve stings. Very cool.

The concert couldn't be complete without "Zebra" and the audience participation (he also played it @ Canal+ a couple of hours before).

People complained a bit when John said they were about to play the last song for tonight. I guess he was a bit tired with all the promo he did today.

Show ended with "Livin' in the city" (here on video below) after 75 min.

Nice set.

 setlist for Nouveau Casino and link to the audio recording HERE

WARPAINT @ L'Album de la Semaine, Canal+ Paris Jan 21 2014

WARPAINT @ L'Album de la Semaine, Canal+ Paris Jan 21 2014

WARPAINT played a sold-out show yesterday night @ Trabendo club in Paris, from what friends told me , the sound wasn't that good and the band wasn't very tight, can't blame them it was the first show on the Tour.

Tonight they're playing famous Canal+ TV show, They do have a lot of press over here so I guess I should check these media darlings. I have to say I've never heard anything , I don't even know what kind of music they're playing. So no preconceived mind about this all girl band.

First song is starting with a long instrumental intro that is sounding a bit like the early The Cure, then we have ambient songs. All the girls are singing lead vocals (apart from the drummer) and doing backing vocals with lots of effects on their voices.
Can't tell that they do have a hit single out there as all their songs are very "ambient" with atmospheric voices and guitars
It's sounding like a English Post New Wave band from the 80's.
Hard to believe that some of the press is calling this "a Rock band", its NOT.
Not bad but not really the stuff that we like, we're more into Rock and wild guitars.
Good show.

 

Jake Bugg @ Album de la Semaine, Canal+, Paris Nov 20 2013

Jake Bugg @ Album de la Semaine, Canal+, Paris Nov 20 2013

see ya there for this tv show, one day before his show @ Olypia to play songs from the new album "Shangri La"

Setlist: 1) There's a beast 2) Strorm passes 3) Messed up kis 4) Pine Trees 5) Song about love 6) All your reasons 7) Scumville sunrise 8) What doesn't kill ya

Jake Bugg with a drummer and a bass player only playing his new song, a bit different than his first album, now there are some proper rock songs mixed with some acoustic stuff and his trademark Roy Orbison/ Johnny Cash stuff. The little fucker is talented, whatever style he's playing he's good.

Midlake @ L' Album de la Semaine, Canal+ Paris Oct 29 2013

Midlake @ L' Album de la Semaine, Canal+ Paris Oct 29 2013

Excellent show @ Canal+ for MIDLAKE, from what I remembered I Thought they were more folk than that, in fact they're playing a mix of Psyche-symphonic pop-rock that can be compare to King Crimson "Court of the Crimson King" era.
They don't really have a song that stands out, not really chorus-verse kind of songs. It's more atmospheric, very good.

setlist:

1)Young Pride 2) Gathered 3) Antiphon 4) Prouder 5) Rulers 6) It's going down 7) Aurora Gone 8) The O and Y 9) Roscoe

Willis Earl Beal @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris Oct 09 2013

Willis Earl Beal @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris Oct 09 2013

Sometimes you go to a concert expecting a lot and you got, almost, nothing (Babyshambles) and sometimes you go to a concert expecting nothing and you got A LOT !
Tonight it's the latter.

Never heard anything about that guy, Willis Earl Beal, before except that Cat Power sung a song with him and that the guy was homeless at one moment in his life and Oh Yeah... that he was singing soul music.
Didn't know what to expect when 3 black guys ( on drums, bass &guitar/piano ) all dressed up in black and the singer wearing a mask , like Zorro and a fucking cape... What the Fuck !

Strange sound at first with some weird synthesizers and then he started singing, a fucking revelation, this guys has something in his voice and he's playing the part on stage.
Like a young Screaming Jay Hawkins  or a stripped down version of Tom Waits: a big voice with that something that makes the difference.
The music, stripped down as well:in fact only one song can be really considered "soul" all the other songs are swimming in a sea of  lo-fi- blues and soul with just what is needed: a bit of drums a bit of bass and some piano or guitar.

Had a revelation tonight, it's called Willis Earl Beal.

from a previous recording @ Canal+ (2012)

Anna Calvi is also doing a radio show "Live me do" on France Inter tonight

Anna Calvi @ Album de la Semaine Canal+, Paris Sept 25 2013

Anna Calvi @ Album de la Semaine Canal+, Paris Sept 25 2013

 Very nice 60 min long set with new songs (and one oldie), same kind of music: still very atmospheric (ambient), "Piece by piece" probably not up to the level of other songs.
"Sing to me" being the best song tonight.
She seemed very nervous, not talking to the audience once, she just smiled at the end of the first set before coming to re-play some songs she was not satisfied with, still with no communication at all with the audience and just a smile at the very end.

setlist

Anna's concert @ Gaité Lyrique tomorrow (Sept 26) will be streamed live  here

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Arctic Monkeys @ Album de la Semaine Canal+ , Paris Sept 11 2013

Arctic Monkeys @ Album de la Semaine Canal+ , Paris Sept 11 2013

 We listen to the album before going to see Arctic monkeys perform it live @ canal+ tv show in front of less than 200 people, we like it even though there are many slow songs.

I have to say that after seeing the band playing those songs for an hour, it's boring, boring and boring...
Even more unbearable is Alex' attitude on stage trying to impersonate an American crooner, this is so ridiculous when someone is trying so hard to be cool. Josh Homme IS cool but he's naturally cool without playing a part. The guitar player IS cool but Alex , come on man, specially with his ridiculous American accent.

Almost all the songs played tonight are in slow motion, the new single sounds very good and as soon as the band is bringing out the guitars ( for one song) it sounds terrific unfortunately only one song.

So Alex, stop impersonating Elvis with some ridiculous poses and bring back the heavy stuff !!!

Here's a link to watch their latest show @ RoundHouse in London Sept 09

Archives:
Check our reviews of Arctic Monkeys @ Casino de Paris Jan 31 2012 (With Miles Kane), @ Olympia Feb 03 2012.
@ Rock en Seine 2011, @ Cigale on June 16, @ L'Album de la Semaine on June 15 2011 & @ Zénith in 2009

Check also Check our reviews of The Last Shadow Puppets @ Olympia on August 26 2008 & @ Album de la Semaine for Canal+ the day after.

Franz Ferdinand @ L'Album de la Semaine, Canal+, Paris Sept 04 2013

Franz Ferdinand @ L'Album de la Semaine, Canal+, Paris Sept 04 2013

 The band is back in Paris to play songs from the new album "Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action".
It sounds more pop and less rock than what they've already done. Hard to make our mind after just one listen and in live conditions, even though I've heard some very good reviews for the new album after the disappointment of the previous one.
FF is a bit like Kaiser Chiefs, you need to see them on stage with a wild audience to really appreciate them which is more difficult when playing a tv show like this one.
Lots of girls tonight around us, the band still has some sexy supporters.
Very good gig ( one hour with two extra songs as an encore.)

The band will play a couple of songs @ Le Grand Journal TV show on Sept 05

Arctic Monkeys are playing on Sept 11 and  Placebo should play around the Sept 18 (tbc)

Phoenix @ L'Album de la Semaine- La Musicale Canal+ , Paris May 30 2013

Phoenix @ L'Album de la Semaine- La Musicale, Canal+ , Paris May 30 2013

Live TV show tonight to promote new album "Bankrupt"

In the middle of their Tour to Promote new album "Bankrupt" Phoenix is playing Canal+ TV show L'Album de la Semaine which is in fact now call "La Musicale". Good point as band are playing a longer set, instead of the 7-8 songs it is now 14-15 songs. Queens of the Stone Age played a couple of weeks ago.

Tonight it's French pop band from the posh Versailles city: PHOENIX. We've never really paid that much attention to that band, we've heard a couple of their songs on the radio but that pretty much about it.

Well, that's very pop, with a very trendy radio-friendly sound, they've found a "formula" and they're sticking to it.They have some very good songs and I'm sure it's very enjoyable attending one of their gig at a festival but in the end it all sounds a bit the same.

One of the best song tonight was the one they've played with just the singer and an acoustic guitar.
Not really the kind of stuff that we're listening to everyday but a good show.

setlist

Lou Doillon @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris April 30 2013

Lou Doillon @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris April 30 2013

 French singer LOU DOILLON playing tonight @ Canal+

French Pop-Folk, her first album had good reviews, we'll see how she's doing Live !

Not too bad,, first part was acoustic with the whole band sitting on stools down the front with Lou on acoustic guitar for some new songs.
Then there was a short break and they came back to play songs from the first album which is more orchestrated and electric (and more pop).
All the songs are slow tempo or mid-tempo so it was a relaxed affair.
Good songs but her way of singing ( or intonations) tends to be a bit annoying in the end.
Nice hour+ set. 

Miles Kane @ L'Album de la Semaine, Canal+ Paris April 22 2013

 Miles Kane @ L'Album de la Semaine, Canal+ Paris April 22 2013

Miles Kane is back with a second solo album " Don't forget who you are" and before his European Tour starting next month...and a show @ Maroquinerie on May 22nd (probably already sold-out), he's doing some promo. Tonight he's playing Canal+ studios in front of a young audience of 100+ people.

 I Remember that last time he played "L'album de la Semaine" to promote his first album we thought it was a bit too pop compare to The Rascals. We saw him many times afterwards and each time it was near perfection.
Now we're fully satisfied, it's ROCKING & KICKING ASS.
New songs are much more heavier and as good as the first album (we haven't listen to any of them yet).
There is an extra keyboard player to add extra flavor with piano or weird Psyche noises.
Miles is , as usual, smartly dressed with a black costume.
The set ended with a nice rendition of The Rolling Stones' "Doom & Gloom" that is rocking.
The came back once to re-play "get up" as they were not satisfied with the sound.
Once again Great gig ( around 40 min)

MILES KANE covering The Rolling Stones' "Doom & Gloom"
Afetr the show I've asked him why playing that song, he answered "just because I Like it"

Album de la semaine - Miles Kane "Doom and Gloom", le live

Miles Kane 

@ Main Square Fest with PEARL JAM  June 30 2012

@ Inrocks festival in Nov 2011 @ Cigale,
@ Rock en Seine , august 2011
@ Album de la Semaine March 2011
Check our reviews of Arctic Monkeys @ Rock en Seine 2011, @ Cigale on June 16, @ L'Album de la Semaine on June 15 2011 & @ Zénith in 2009

Check also Check our reviews of The Last Shadow Puppets @ Olympia on August 26 2008 & @ Album de la Semaine for Canal+ the day after.

Miles @ Main Square Fest last year.