BASHUNG @ Fete de l' Humanité Sept 13th 2008

First time i'm seeing this french singer live . he's popular in france and unlike many other french singer he has a credibility ( a bit like Gainsbourg ).
It's really crowdy , it's saturday, lots of youngsters ( for the Babyshambles ) and old geezers too ; Belgium singer ARNO played just before, but we arrived just in time ( 7 pm ) to see Bashung .
Nice bluesy pop rock set , the poor chap has lung cancer and is being treated so he's seating for most of the gig.
He may be a bit frail but the voice is perfect .
Nice show but i'm still wondering why he's inviting his wife to sing.

With his wife Chloé Mons

OASIS @ Bataclan Paris Sept 13th 2008 ( for the show of the 30th )

Fans waiting for tickets ...

Hi there
Tickets for OASIS' next show were on sale this morning Sept 13th @ the Bataclan for their concert in this venue at the end of the month ( sept 30th ). Price is 39 euros .
1000 tickets were on sale at noon ( 1200 capacity ), the queue was impressive going around the block.

N*E*R*D @ Fete de l' Humanité Paris, Parc du Bourget Sept 12 th 2008

For METALLICA @ Taratata , please scroll down a bit ...

Baby-face in action ...

Hi there
Well... there was another Taratata recording tonight with Carla Bruni & Roger Hodgson ( former Supertramp ) but it wasn't worth going just to see 2 songs from Roger so i' ve been to see N*E*R*D @ La fete de l' Humanité.

It was a fucking nightmare to go there ( it's in Paris' suburb ), lots of traffic .
Luckily we arrived in front of the stage just as the band was being introduced .
Many people down there, around 50 000 .
I went straight to the VIP area, which is a little bit crap , on the right of stage but it was too late to sneak in down the front with the audience as it was packed, at least i had some space around me

Patrice Guino , our photographer , went into the pit ( enjoy his pictures !!! ) and with his contacts could managed to get ON stage , once again , for the rest of the show ( Bastard ! )
Needless to tell you that they've Rap-Rock the mother-fucking place. I really dig their music a very intelligent mix of rock & rap with bits of soul thrown in .
Their record " fly or die" is absolutly fantastic , i haven't heard the new one .

The 3 rappers ( or 4 ) walked that stage to death. Amazing how Pharrel Williams looks young, he really has a baby face. the show was very lively , for the last 2-3 songs they asked people to come on stage to rousing applauses. Then they get rid of all the boys and kept the girls for the last song which included a few seconds of the White Stripes' "7 nation army".
Some of the girls made it backstage , i don't know if they took'em back to their hotel as they were barely 17 .
Absolutely BRILLIANT .

As if you were ON stage with'em ...

Can't wait to see THE BABYSHAMBLES tomorrow ( and Roger Hodgson as well ) @ "la fete de l' Huma... " . Babyshambles' drummer is playing a late night show with his own band @ Truskell in Paris after Babyshambles' set.

Review + photos and videos of Pete Doherty's show @ truskell in June :
http://rockerparis.blogspot.com/2008/06/pete-doherty-shambles-grand-rex-paris.html

METALLICA @ TARATATA & Virgin Radio Paris Sept 10th 2008

James & Rob

Kirk & Lars

Long day with The Almighty METALLICA in Paris
First was Virgin radio in the afternoon and then TARATATA
It was a KILLER ...

Metallica was in Paris for a short promotional trip. they arrived here on the 9th around 9 PM. They stayed in the same hotel as Coldplay , Tony Parker & Eva Longoria. From what i heard they all went ( Metallica ) to the restaurant that night and then Lars & Kirk went to a dancing club coming back very late ... hum ... very early in the morning. Lars was staying in another hotel two minutes walk from the others.
On the 10th they went to the rehearsals for Taratata ( see picture below ).
Lars & Rob did an interview for Virgin Radio @ 6 pm ( Lars arriving late ) , we couldn't get into the studio so we had to stay in the lobby to listen to the interview.Around 30 fans were there and Lars & Kirk pose for pictures and sign autographs for everyone They left @ 7pm to go back to Taratata.

The show was running late and didn't start before 9 pm .
Metallica was the first band to play and did their new single " The day that never comes" .
What you have to know is that Taratata is the french Jools Holland , stage is central and stalls are all around for 400 people. We were second row, 3 meters behind James, facing the others.
You can't imagine how close we were from James. Sound was neat and not to loud. Perfect.
Just as they finished their song there was a power failure backstage so it took a good 10 min before they did their interview. Lars asked if there were any Metallica fans in the audience checking Metallica t-shirts in the crowd and talking to fans. They were very relax and chatty even though they show little signs of boredom as they had their plane to catch just after the show. After the interview in which James had a laugh at dave Mustaine as Nagui ( the host ) played some Megadeth in the PA ( Lars prefer to stay out of it ), they went back to their dressing room. Several other bands followed : Gabriella Cilmi, Sahara Hotnights ( an all girl band ) with Sting's son Joe Sumner , Joseph D' Anvers.
Metallica came back to play 2 songs "Cyanide" & " Enter sandman ". That was it.
Only 3 songs but that was mind blowing.
We went straight to the backstage area , Rob said hello and signed a few cds to a few fans and then they all left ( we didn't see the others ) by a small door to avoid people to get their plane in ...Reims as Le Bourget was closed.
As you wake up this morning they should take their breakfast in Denmark.
GREAT EVENING !!!

Sorry no live pictures from Taratata as our photographer PATRICE GUINO left his camera in the clockroom of the dressing rooms and couldn't get it back in time .
He was shattered , poor boy ;-(((

Remember that The Melvins are playing the Elysée Montmartre on the 11th !


the rehearsals sheet

live tv show part1 + all access wrisband & James' plectrum

Tv show part 2

Contact : irockinparis@yahoo.fr
Check our video of other artists here, you Metalheads :
http://fr.youtube.com/user/rockingparis

COLDPLAY + Albert Hammond Jr Paris Bercy Sept 9th 2008

NEW:
The Virgins will play " L'album de la semaine" Canal+ on Sept 15th
James Hunter same tv show on Sept 16th
http://www.myspace.com/jameshuntermusic
--For bookings call Bertrand on 01 55 93 40 48--
Metallica will do a interview live on Virgin radio today at 6pm ( they are recording Taratata tonight )

With its new record Coldplay is probably the biggest band of 2008, they've been N° 1 in more than 30 countries and they're playing in Paris for 2 Sold out nights @ Bercy ( 17 000 capacity ).
Albert Hammond Jr is opening , he's the guitar player of The Strokes .
The concert was very late as Albert hammond Jr started his set at 8:40 pm
He should go back with them as soon as he can as his gig was plain boring , his singing is monotonous and the songs are just average. I already saw him and it wasn't as boring as tonight.
What happened Albert ?

I'll upload a couple videos of Albert Hammond Jr tomorrow on Youtube ( link below ).

Then at 9:50 pm Coldplay came on stage , Live they 're much more exciting than on cd , they may only have 4 records but they have lots of hit songs. The singer is still funny to watch and the musicians could be easily replaced no one will noticed it. The stage is very simple with the cd cover as backdrop and then a big screen in the back . They've played a couple of songs on a small stage.
They've also played at the back of the venue and this time it wasn't on a proper stage but directly in the aisle in Bercy , first time i'm seeing this happen. Chris made an effort to speak an almost perfect french. Good point.
Funny how some songs are sounding like U2 , they even did like U2 when their drummer came up front to play some drums. Lots of confettis at the end ...
Enjoyable night.

SETLIST
Life In Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Speed Of Sound
Cemeteries Of London
Chinese Sleep Chant
42
Fix You
Strawberry Swing
God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (partial - techno version)
Talk (partial - techno version)
The Hardest Part (piano - Chris)
Postcards From Far Away (piano instrumental)
Viva La Vida
Lost!
The Scientist (acoustic)
Death Will Never Conquer (acoustic - Will singing)
Viva La Vida (remix interlude)
-------
Politik
Reign Of Love
Lovers In Japan
Death And All His Friends
-------
Yellow
The Escapist

( Sorry no pictures for this gig as Patrice Guino, our photographer, didn't take any, he just didn't care at all. )
See our review of the small show they've done in Paris for W9 TV in June here :
http://rockerparis.blogspot.com/2008/06/coldplay-w9-tv-show-jun-19th.html

Black Kids "C'est Lenoir" Black Session Paris Sept 8th 2008

I' m just back from the first Black Session on France Inter since the end of June.
Tonight it's the up and coming Black Kids from Florida.
Rolling Stone called them one of ten "Artists to Watch" in 2008.
Well let's see...
I listen to their music this afternoon and they sound a bit like the Brasilians' CSS , a pop dance band with a Robert Smith-like singer.
As always at the Black Sessions conditions are perfect , bands are playing live in a studio and the audience is sitting in stalls like in a movie theatre and the seats are very confortable.
Not the best way to headbang or dance but hey , i' m getting old ...
The Black kids are 5 ( drums , bass , singer-guitarist and 2 girls playing keyboards ) and are playing a mix of pop-rock-dance, which is normally not my cup of tea ( One of my worst concerts was The Rapture who are playing the same shit )
Well live they're ok but their songs are too similar to me. It's like CSS without the fun even though the 2 girls on keys add a little something.
Black Kids will be back in November for the Inrockuptibles Festival .
Check by yourself :
http://www.myspace.com/blackkidsrock

and here's a video from the Black session :

What's next ... Black Kids, Coldplay, Metallica ...

Next shows in Paris ( some promotional ) :
08 Sept : Black kids "C'est Lenoir" 's Black session Radio show. ( 50 min showcase ) *
09 sept : Black Kids "Album de la semaine" for french TV Canal+ ( 50 min showcase )
09 Sept : Coldplay @ Bercy *
10 Sept : Coldplay @ Bercy
10 Sept : METALLICA ( 3 songs live ) + the Infadels + others . Recording for Taratata. *
11 Sept : Jamie Lidell, Shirleen Spiteri, estelle + others . recording for Taratata , a french Jools Holland Tv show.
12 Sept : Roger Hodgson + Carla Bruni + Katty Perry+ others . Taratata recording
ALL THESE SHOWS ABOVE ARE SOLD OUT
12 Sept : NERD + others Fete de L' Humanité
13 sept : Babyshambles + Roger Hodgson ( ex- Supertramp )+ others Fete de l' Humanité *
20 & 21 Sept : Madonna @ Stade de France *
22 Sept :Bryan Adams @ Zénith *
22 & 23 Sept Divine Comedy Cité de la musique Paris *
24 Sept : QUEEN + Paul Rodgers @ Bercy *
26 & 27 Sept : Killing Joke @ Trabendo
26 Sept : Elliott Murphy @ Paris' 6th district Town Hall ( free show )*
28 Sept : STEVIE WONDER @ Bercy ( sold out )*
I will go to all shows with a * ( maybe more )
So come back for reviews ...

KEZIAH JONES Metro Auber Paris Sept 6th 2008

Metro Auber

Last show for Keziah Jones @ station Auber.
Complete success for this parisian tour of the tube stations .
4 shows ( Metro Miromesnil , Olympiades , Montparnasse and Auber ) each time many journalists , cameramen and photographers for maximum publicity .
The record company did a good job ( for once ) it was all over the news and open to general public which doesn't happen very often when an artist is doing a showcase to promote a new record . Well... it was a limited access , " for security reasons"; 15000 people registered and less than a 100 people were contacted to be revealed the secret location of each gig. But ,Hey everybody has a cellphone now .
Nice week for me as i've been to 3 out of 4 shows ( didn't go at the first one but he only played for 20 min ), plus a radio recording yesterday ( he played 4 songs plus interview )

This afternoon it's party @ Auber , Keziah is playing with his band ( one bass plus Drums ) and its the biggest of all 4 shows ( around 400 people ) and it's a ( almost ) center stage with people all around.
Instead of the acoustic gig it's a more Hendrix-like gig , the guitar is screaming with a couple of technical problems but anyway that's Rock'n Roll , it can't be perfect .
Very lively atmosphere with fans , small kids and family and people who just happened to be at the right place at the right moment.
He played 9 songs , 40 min .
the best of all 4 shows .

Here's a video :

The Rascals Fleche d' Or Paris Sept 5th 2008

Hi there
Free concert tonight @ Fleche d' Or in Paris.
With all the buzz around the Last Shadow Puppets, i could guarantee a packed house and so it was.
Many people here including lots of record companies employees . Everyone wants to see Miles Kane band .
Two openings bands before the main attraction , they were Ok .
The Rascals are a bit different from the LSP but the 60's remain in their music and they are more rock which suits me fine.
Even tough the band is quit young they're very tight , Miles is very cool on stage talking to people , drinking some red wine ( so english ! ) and basically just having fun .
The gig was short but intense
i can see a bright future for The Rascals , hope the cd will match their gigs .

Some of the songs played : Rascalize, Out of dreams , Bond girl , wicked ways (new song ), Fear invicted to the ... , freakbeat phantom ...

Including one new song they have never played before, well that's what he said ...

Keziah Jones "Beaubourg Center" Paris Sept 05 2008

Keziah Jones is very, very busy man this week with his 4 concerts in the parisian tube ( he's playing one tomorrow afternoon in a secret location ) plus the press and radios to promote his new cd .
This evening he's playing @ Beaubourg ( or Centre George Pompidou ) well , that's what 's been advertised , many people expected a real concert , in fact he's just playing 3 songs plus interview for radio France Culture .
After enduring an hour of political talks about the so called contracts for the next 20 years between Italy and Libya.
Keziah Jones is finally showing up his hat and his guitar for a ( very ) short set of 3 songs live on air sandwiched between interviews, plus one extra for the crowd his hit song " rythm is love ".
Enjoyable evening . even tough it was short.

Both sides ...

Video from his performance for France Culture :

More here :
http://fr.youtube.com/user/rockingparis

Now i've got to rush to the Flèche d' Or to see The Rascals.

Bruce's bootleg from the Parc des Princes

A friend of mine just send me this :
this is the cover of Bruce Springsteen's bootleg @ Parc des Princes
they took Patrice Guino 's photos for their cover .
"Bastards" was his only answer .
But i know that deep down inside he's very proud. ;-)))
Just check his pictures from the very same gig on this site :
http://rockerparis.blogspot.com/2008/06/bruce-springsteen-e-street-band-paris.html

STRAY CATS Paris Zénith Sept 4th 2008

Stray Cats are playing the Zénith for their farewell tour ( so they say ) . Once again prices are silly , up to 65 euros . It's 80 % full up but it's a " small zénith " so there are around 3500 rockers tonight .
The evening started badly as i had trouble getting my tix so i've missed the first 2 songs as the band started at 9 pm sharp .
As always with rockers , they are trying to play the tough guys maybe to impress their ugly girlfriend, so don't push any of them or they would give you their meanest look.
On stage things are getting ok even if it seems that the band is playing in slow motion .
Where's their anger they're on auto-pilot.

Slim Jim Phantom is on the left with his traditionnal drum kit , Lee Rocker on the right and Brian Setzer dead center. They alternate their Hits with more obscure songs ( " sweet Gene Vincent" a cover of Ian Dury ). The audience is relax, maybe too much ( but not for long ) and on stage things are going smoothly, way too smoothly...
Should it be like this at a Stray Cats gig ?
What's missing on stage the audience will give it but not the right way ...
Unfortunately 75 min into the gig after playing the first encore ( already ? ) " I fought the law" some stupid fucker threw what appears to be a knife on stage ,Brian has warned people not to throw any shit on stage earlier, the whole band decided to leave the stage for good .
What a shame that their last show in Paris ended up like this.
They fought the law and the law won , tonight they fought Paris and Paris won

Here's the official statement on Brian setzer's website :

"A regrettable note from the road:
During last night's Stray Cats performance in Paris, France, what
appeared to be a switchblade knife was thrown onstage late in the show. Brian was struck in the hand by the object. Although he was quite shaken but not seriously injured by this act of complete stupidity, he tried to carry on and complete all of the songs that the Cats had intended to perform. This incident and the fear that the next item thrown may have seriously injured himself, Slim Jim Phantom or Lee Rocker made continuing the show impossible.

Because of the dangerous actions of 1 spectator, the sold-out crowd was robbed of a full program. 5999 people came out to have fun and celebrate the last Stray Cats show in Paris and 1 nutter tarnished what could have been an incredible memory for all who filled the Zenith. Thankfully, Brian's hand was only bruised and at last report, he will be fine. Had that blade taken another path, we may have been reporting a much different situation. Thankfully we are not."

Go Cat Go !!!

SETLIST: ( Courtesy of http://www.straycats.com/ )
RUMBLE IN BRIGHTON
7 NIGHTS TO ROCK
DOUBLE TALKIN’ BABY
SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH MY RADIO
CRY BABY
LUST N’ LOVE
STRAY CAT STRUT
RUNAWAY BOYS
SEXY + 17
GENE & EDDIE
GINA
SWEET GENE VINCENT
BLAST OFF
BRING IT BACK AGAIN
FISHNET STOCKINGS
ROCK THIS TOWN
-------------------------
I FOUGHT THE LAW

Check Patrice Guino 's picture to illustrate Paris' gig on the official brian setzer's website : http://www.briansetzer.com/CATSEURO2008/paris.html

On Sept 5th Keziah Jones is playing a show ( before the one tomorow in the tube ) @ The Centre Pompidou in Paris for a radio show . Free entrance first come first serve . Show start 7:15 pm .

Keziah Jones Metro Montparnasse- Bienvenue Sept 4th 2008

In a corridor metro Montparnasse-Bienvenue

Another show from Keziah Jones in the parisian tube , the third one this week , this time in Montparnasse .
I though he would change of style for every gig, that was advertised like this : one concert blues , one nusoul , one afrobeat and one funk .
In fact he's playing his trademark blue-funk each time on his own and acoustic .
So quite the same gig as yesterday , he played 9 songs for a good 30 min including his hit " rythm is love"; He ended the set with " Beautiful Emily ".
So good set but seen yesterday.

But this time , as opposed to yesterday where the gig took place in a hall for 200 or 300 people , he played in a fucking corridor , which means that if you were not in the firsts rows you couldn't see anything. Which is a real shame as it was packed and many people didn't see anything at all.
Of course our photographer ( Guino Patrice )managed to get , once more , down the front for you to enjoy his pictures and videos
Rock on Baby ...

Video " rythm is love "


For anyone interested The Stooges will play tonight around 9:30 pm at the Showcase.

KEZIAH JONES ( + Rene Miller ) Metro Olympiades Paris Sept 3rd 2008

Keziah Jones

Keziah Jones is back in the tube ( where he was discovered a few years ago ) for a second private show this week .
He already played on Sept 1st at the station Miromesnil for a mere 20 min. Very good marketing to promote his new cd as it was all over the news in France .
He will play two other gigs in the tube this week in other secret tube stations that will be revealed on the day to only a happy few.
For this second gig we have a very nice blues band opening RENE MILLER . They started around 3:00 pm as the station was getting more and more crowdy; They've played for a good forty min.

Rene Miller

Acoustic blues with a steel guitar and a very good harmonica player ( David Chalumeau ).
Videos here :
http://fr.youtube.com/user/rockingparis
Check them here :
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=133097989
Very nice introduction To Keziah Jones .
Now it's packed . For each of his 4 concerts he will play a different style of music , for this one it's his trademark bluefunk .

A solo acoustic set of his new songs with a couple of oldies thrown in including his smash hit song and last one for this afternoon "Rythm is love" .
With his shiny smile , his incredible way of playing the guitar and his songs, of course, he just played to an already conquered audience .
Very good 30 min plus afternoon show .

Here is one song :

More here :
http://fr.youtube.com/user/rockingparis

Tomorrow , There will be a private listening party ( only open to journalists ) to have a taste of
THE NEW AC/DC : " Black ice ".

Hope i'll be able to get there as it's gonna be busy tomorrow , The Fuckin' STOOGES are playing a private show in a club and The Stray Cats are playing the Zénith.
Hard to choose i'll try both ;-)))

Next KEZIAH JONES SECRET GIGS ON SEPT 4th and SEPT 6th ( all 3 PM ) in the tube.

If you wanna contact us , it's here :
irockinparis@yahoo.fr

Metallica will be in Paris on Sept 10th to play 3 songs at french tv show "Taratata" ( a french Jools Holland ). They should do another tv show " Le grand Journal " for Canal+ for a interview .
Speaking of Metallica the album has been sold by mistake in Paris' record shop Gibert Jeune in Saint Michel on Sept 2nd ( instead of Sept 12th ) . You should know about it if you're a Metallica fan , it's been all over the news . Only 50 copies have been sold.

Black Kids will do a private gig for french tv show " L' album de la semaine " on Canal+ on sept 9th

Here's a link for more pictures of Keziah Jones @ Olympiades :
http://www.lemonde.fr/culture/portfolio/2008/09/03/keziah-jones-de-retour-dans-le-metro-parisien_1091194_3246.html#ens_id=1091209

Ravi Shankar ( a lesson with ... ) Salle Pleyel Paris Sept 2nd 2008

Ravi Shankar is in Paris for what is supposed to be his last ever european shows. He's with his daughter Anoushka .
He played a "normal" concert @ la salle Pleyel yesterday which i couldn't go to .
But tonight is different , this is a Master Class with the Master of indian music in the very same theatre.
Of course, both shows are Sold Out because it's probably the last time ever that a french audience will have the pleasure to hear such a gifted musician.
For the people who don't know him , he's a sitar player from India , as a kid he was a dancer ( he first came in Paris in 1933 ) and then turn to the sitar .
He's wellknown in western countries for playing the Monterey & Woodstock festivals and for co-organising "the concert for Bangladesh" in 1971 with Beatles' George Harrison.
He's also the father of Norah Jones( yes , the one ).
I really did not know what to expect tonight. First he started talking about his life then about indian music ( what it is, where it comes from , how you play it , the different rhythms and so on ... ) I thought he would never stop . You can't imagine how complicated this music is .
After a good hour , we still haven't listen to a single note of music. He started introducing each instrument ( tabla , flute ... ) with a demonstration of each instrument by each musician ... at last.
The end was more interesting with a real song played while Ravi was leading on vocals.
Sad he didn't play at all sitar . As you can guess you really have to be into Indian music to fully appreciate this Master Class ( which is not my case ).
Nevertheless on our way home we felt that we have lived a very special event in the company of such a great player who popularized Indian music in western countries , the kind of event that only happens once in your life.
I only wish i was there yesterday to hear him play.
Olivia Harrison widow from Beatles' George Harrison was there Backstage .
Last song from the Master Class :