Razorlight @ Olympia for Rock the Gibus, Paris April 03 2013

Razorlight @ Olympia for "Rock the Gibus", Paris April 03 2013

 French bands were playing before RAZORLIGHT, I Have to say we didn't really bother watching any of them. So we stayed in the lobby where they have some nice pictures of some of the artists who played in the old Olympia theatre before it was destroyed in 1997 (Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Otis redding...).

Razorlight played very late around 11:00pm just after the jury announced the winner band of the competition.

This version of Razorlight is more rock even though their sound is still a bit "light" to me. They do have some very decent songs and are enjoyable to listen to.
They've played a couple of new songs that are sounding very unusual with just piano, percussions and saxophone (?!?)
Their short 60mi,+ set ended with their Hit song "America".
Nice behave band in front of a young and well-behaved audience (with lots of young and sexy chicks).

Thanks to Phil S for the tix

SETLIST:

 From our archives:

 RAZORLIGHT  @ Fleche d'Or on Feb 22 2011

Asaf Avidan free show @ Fnac St Lazare, Paris Jan 30 2013 6:00pm

Asaf Avidan free show @  Fnac St Lazare, Paris Jan 30 2013 6:00pm
 

Asaf is promoting his new album with some more showcases in Paris, after playing L'Album de la Semaine for Canal+ last week , Taratata tv show for France 2 and a showcase for Le Mouv' radio (click on link for podcast) yesterday night at the Maison de la Radio in Paris.

Very cool 8-9 songs set with Asaf alone on acoustic guitar performing songs from the new album, many girls in the audience, lots of people were already queuing 30 min before 6:00pm.
He was in a chatty mood between songs and even joked about the fact that he sounded like a girl.
After his performance , he signed cds for fans
40 min show + 20 min signing

The Animals + Steve Cropper @ New Morning, Jan 24 2013

The Animals + Steve Cropper @ New Morning, Jan 24 2013

Lots of people tonight at the tiny New Morning Club, in fact it was SOLD-OUT a few weeks ago. I gues most people are here to see STAX legend Steve Cropper.
First we have a band playing some original material, not bad.

After a short break we  have The Animals... well, hard to call them the Animals as there is only the drummer (John Steel) from the original band and a keyboard player (Mickey Gallagher) who played one year with them.
In fact it's more an honest cover band playing blues (John Lee Hooker's "Dimples" & "Boom Boom") and Animals songs (see setlist for details).
Then the 'plat de resistance' with legendary STAX guitar player, co-writer of many STAX hits with Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd and Booker T & The MGs, Blues Brothers man STEVE CROPPER.
Unfortunately he probably drank too much Whiskey before getting on stage, each song is introduced with a very loooong anecdote which is getting on people's nerves who'd  rather see him playing than talking, he's also singing his songs ( see setlist for details) and he's not a great singer so...

I guess I was expecting a bit more than a cover band and some on and on talking...
Very average gig !

The Blues Brothers will be back in Paris this july for a show

See our reviews of Past BLUES BROTHERS gigs in France:

With Eddie Floyd @ Olympia in 2008

@ Enghien les Bains in 2011

SETLIST

 

Meeting with Peter Hook @ Motel, Paris Jan 21 2013

Meeting with Peter Hook @ Motel, Paris Jan 21 2013 7:00PM

Lots of people tonight in this very tiny club nearby Bastille, of course they were more than an hour late and it started past 8:00pm.
The interview is well prepared with an English journalist asking questions and the translator of the  "Unknown Pleasures" book Suzy Borello doing the french parts.

From the very beginning when Peter Hook attended the Sex Pistols gig, that started it all, in Manchester to his latest band "covering" everysong that Joy Division recorded,which has never been done before, Peter is nice and chatty.

Funny to learn that Joy Division did cover The Doors in their youth (no recording exists).

After this conversation where no video recording was allowed ( wait for our short video anyway) by the management Peter signed both his new books, that's when we decided to leave the premises as we had a conference to attend in St Germain des Pres on North Korea.

À l’occasion de la parution de "l’Haçienda, la meilleure façon de couler un club" et de "Unknown Pleasures, Joy Division vu de l’intérieur", rencontre exceptionnelle avec Peter HOOK. Un moment d’échange pour parler d’un club et d’un groupe de légende suivi d’un temps de dédicace.
Il sera possible d'acheter des livres sur place.
La rencontre sera suivie d'un DJ set de SHIT BROWNE
Une rencontre organisée par les éditions le Mot et le Reste, la librairie L’Arbre à lettres et le bar Le Motel.