Sonic Youth @ Palais des Congres Paris Oct 25th 2009

SONIC YOUTH @ Palais des Congres

Paris Oct 25th 2009

Lyrics to one song

Strange place to see Sonic Youth , The Palais des Congres is a concert hall situated in a posh area with confortable red seats like in a movie theatre , 3500 capacity all seated.
The place is packed.
I won't tell you anything about the support band as they've probably play side 1 of Lou Reed 's "Music Machine".

As soon as Sonic Youth took the stage people get down to the front so everybody had to stand up.
Sitting down at a SY concert : NO FUCKING WAY !

They've played almost all the new record ( see setlist for details ) and a few oldies.
They don't talk that much with the audience but we're used to.

Some people complained that the sound wasn't that good in the back , vocals were not strong enough. Performance was neat the band wasn't as wild as it used to.

It took me some time to appreciate the new cd and by playing most of it tonight it gave ( me ) another dimension to those songs.

Kids wanna rock

Hope to see them soon in Paris ( at the "104" in January ? )
Of Course they're playing " L' Album de la Semaine" on tuesday ( oct 27th ) for a 30 min+ gig of new songs.
Another Great set ! YO !

Setlist

Soirée burlesque @ Les Taulieres Montmartre Paris Oct 23rd 2009

"Soirée Burlesque" @ Les Taulieres bar in Montmartre Paris
oct 23rd 2009 midnight

More Pics soon

After seeing Kasabian @ Bataclan nice way of ending the night with some sexy girls almost stripping & dancing on tables in this tiny bar in Montmartre over the music of DJ Jud.

Kasabian @ Bataclan Paris Oct 23rd 2009

Kasabian @ Bataclan Paris

Oct 23rd 2009

After seeing Kasabian yesterday night for the " One Shot Not" tv recording for Arte (performing 3 songs acoustic ).
We are back for another dose of Rock'n Roll this time @ The Sold-out Bataclan.
They will be playing the bigger Olympia next year on Feb 08th 2010.

Lots of English in the audience, they're quite popular across the channel , they've opened this summer for Oasis on their Stadium tour.
And like Oasis they have great hymns to sing to.

The singer is the main attraction with a bright spotlight on him for the whole set while the others are concentrated on their instruments.
When you have the right songs you don't need that much and Kasabian has some great songs that you can sing with your mates on a friday night after a couple of lagers.

Great show, see setlist below for details.

Setlist

" shoot the runner":

AC/DC Ltd edition Amp Backtracks @ home sweet home

AC/DC Backtracks Limited Edition Amp

Just 3 days after ordering it on the website , the box set is at home sent from Nashville TN, USA
That's what I call being efficient.

I won't tell you about what's on the cds , already have it ten times , nothing new AT ALL !
I won't tell you either How much it cost me inclusing taxes and shipping,
my ass is hurting so bad !!!
But I had to have it , why do I have the feeling of being gypped.

"One Shot Not" recording with Madness, Kasabian, Archie shepp, Skunk Anansie, Charlie Winston, Nouvelle Vague, Peter von Poehl Paris oct 22nd 2009

Arte tv show " One shot Not" is doing a recording just outside Paris.
Once again a real mess to get in, we had to wait for an hour.
Lovely studio ( 300 capacity ) there's no proper stage, people on the front are siting down on the floor around the instruments , a few others are standing up in the back.

• Archie Shepp did 3 songs , the first one on sax , he sang the other two. Great mix of Jazz hip hop or blues. 20 min set ( "dig", "trippin", "Revolution" )
  
• Skunk Anansie were next , they also did 3 songs of powerfull Heavy pop-rock. Skin is as sexy as ever. ("Because of you", "Hedonism","Tear the place up" )
  
• Madness broke the house down once again by performing 4 songs ( " Our House", "Forever young", "Dust devil", "Night boat to Cairo" ) Suggs seemed completely drunk.
• Charlie Winston did two on the piano plus one on the guitar with Manu Katche on drums, well a bit boring to me ( " i love your smile", "My name", "Kick the Bucket" )
  
• Nouvelle Vague was a nice surprise , two girls on vocals ( one american and one french ) plus musicians. First song was nice with share vocals between the completely wild american vocalist and frenchie Melanie Pain ( who looks like the elder sister of Emilie Simon ending with a silly song with just the american girl and drummer.( "Blister in the sun", "Metal ", "sex beat" )
  
• Kasabian performed 3 songs acoustic , great but it lacked power. I prefer when they are electric, I'll see them tomorrow @ Bataclan. ( "Underdog", "Where did all the love go", "Thick as thieves" )
  
• Peter von Poehl was the last artist but as it was getting very late i had to leave the set. ("28 paradise", "Forgotten garden", "Moonshot falls" )
• Peter Von Poehl & Nouvelle Vague : " can't get you out of my head" ( Kylie Minogue )
  

Very nice evening , the technicians only took 5 min between sets to change everything so it went very smoothly.
I don't know when it's gonna be broacast.
There's another recording tomorrow night with Alicia Keys & Pink among others.
I won't go as I'm @ Bataclan for Kasabian.

UDERZO @ Virgin Megastore Paris Oct 22nd 2009

UDERZO @ Virgin Megastore Champs Elysées
Paris Oct 22nd 2009

Uderzo , Famous French cartoonist and creator of comic book Asterix was doing a very rare signing session for the released of new book " L' Anniversaire d' Asterix et Obelix".
It's also the 50th anniversary of this french comic book , so lots of people queueing early & LOTS of press , different Tv from all over the world.

I know It' s NOT rock'n roll but I've read Asterix' books since i'm 11 years old so...
And it was probably one of my last chance to finally meet Uderzo as he's 82 years old.

It was a bit of a mess to get a ticket ( only a 100 ) to have your comic book signed as the characters from the cartoon were giving them away randomly to people waiting outside the store, I was lucky to get one and was the first in line to have it signed.
As you can see on the picture Uderzo has trouble holding a pen so it might be his last comic book.

Uderzo signing my copy ( right )

Then I left to go to One Shot Not tv recording with Archie Shepp , Skunk Anansie , Kasabian, Madness ...

Vampire Weekend @ L' Album de la Semaine Canal+ Paris Oct 21st 2009

Vampire Weekend @ L' Album de la Semaine
Paris Oct 21st 2009

After seeing Wolfmother recording for Canal+ 3 days ago , we're back in the studio 104 in northern Paris this time to see Vampire Weekend promoting their new cd , to be out in January.
The studio is packed tonight ( 200 people ) for those youngsters. I saw them at The Rock en Seine Festival ( click for Pics & review )in August and i wasn't impressed at all.
Will it be different tonight ?
They're young and looking like good mama's boys unfortunately , their music is soooo boring.
Ok they are different from the other bands with their African influences but the music doesn't talk to me at all.
see setlist for details , they came back to perform another bash of songs as they were not happy with them , They had to do a few takes of " Horchata" as the singer couldn't help from laughing.
Kids seems to dig'em , I really don't.

Up and coming band The XX will record L' Album de la semaine on Oct 26th. ( Sonic Youth on the 27th ); There's a real hype for this band in Paris.

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour + Ladylike Dragons @ La Scene Bastille Paris Oct 20th 2009

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour + Ladylike Dragons
@ La Scène Bastille Paris Oct 20th 2009

Ladylike Dragons

Wow, I haven't been to this club for such a long time but I remember it well as I saw the reformed DOORS with Ian Astbury on vocals in this very same place.
First on stage is brand new indie rock french band Ladylike Dragons , cool set with a nice guitar player looking like Jimmy Page circa '69 when he was still in the Yardbirds.
You can hear that they're quite young but they have a nice stage 'precense' .

setlist

Invite only for this OUI FM showcase to promote Danish Pop/ Soul band The Asteroids Galaxy Tour.
The main attraction is the very sexy tiny blonde girl on vocals. The band sounds like a light version of Morcheeba or a soul Cardigans but a very poppy soul with brass.
They did a cover of Marvin Gaye's " Inner city blues". see setlist for details

I've never heard of them before listening to the single on OUI FM which is ok , live they're very entertaining thanks to their singer Mette Lindberg too bad the bass player is dressed like a dick.

Nice & enjoyable hour set.

Here's the single " around the bend " on video:

Wolfmother @ L' Album de la semaine Paris Oct 19th 2009

Wolfmother @ L' Album de la semaine
Canal+ tV show Paris Oct 19th 2009

After playing the Trabendo a couple of days ago , Wolfmother is still in Paris promoting their new release and second album "Cosmic Egg", this time for L' Album de la semaine TV show in front of a selected audience of 150 lucky bastards.
As they are here to promote the new album we have 5 new songs and then 2 songs from their first opus.
If you don't know Wolmother , it is a hard rocking band from Australia a cross between Grand Funk Railroad / Black Sabbath and a stoner band.
It used to be a power trio now a quartet, the only remaining member is singer/ Guitar player Andrew Stockdale and you can hear it, his guitar was way above all the others in the mix , the second guitar player is completely useless as we couldn't hear it at all .
The new songs seemed powerfull but less groovy than the ones from the first cd.
That's the kind of classic rock that I like and Andrew seems to be a funny guy.
We can't really call it Wolfmother any more as it's looking more like Andrew with session guys.
they came back for an encore ( Andrew on vocals only & Bass/ Keyboard player Ian Peres , this time on guitar ) to play Kate Bush 's " Wundering Heigh" )
Great set.

Next Album de la Semaine recording on Oct 21st with Vampire Weekend and on the 27th with Sonic Youth.

KARO @ Oliver Peel session # 12 Paris Oct 18th 2009

KARO @ Oliver Peel session # 12

Private event near the Eiffel Tower Paris Oct 18th 2009

Karo rocking the casbah

Back @ Oliver 's ( and Cécile' s ) for this 2nd session since september , this time to see german artist KARO.
This time it's not a folk artist, Karo is much more indie -rock even tough she did a cover of Celine Dion ( I guess it was a joke... Well I hope so ! ).
Lots of people as usual with a special contingent from Asia ( see Pics ) a few germans & some frenchies.
9 songs set for KARO alone with an electric guitar and no mike for the voice & she did it !
Really cool indie -rock gig.
Don't hesitate to check her out on her myspace page ( click on her name )

Asia in force @ Oliver's ( right )

The beautiful people

Not everybody could fit in once again