Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds @ Grand Rex, Paris March 06 2012

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds @ Grand Rex, Paris March 06 2012

The beautiful Grand Rex in Paris

Just 3 months after playing The Casino de Paris ( Dec 06 2011) Noël Gallagher is back in the French capital for another sold-out show, this time in the much bigger Grand Rex (2300 capacity).

English band FOLKS is opening tonight, another 60's influenced band with some cool songs.
Another quality support band for Noël after Electric Soft parade @ Casino.

a well behaved audience

We've never been fans of Oasis but we like Noel's band, he's a great songwritter and you can feel it and hear by listening to his solo album.He's a good singer too.
Conditions are perfect: there's a great lightshow and the sofas are very comfortable in this theatre.
Even if people stood up from the first song, no one rushed to the front of the stage and was well behaved... a bit too much, this is a rock'n roll concert for god's sake !!!

Another great show by Noel & co

The setlist is basically the same as last year, it's a well oiled show.
Some fans had some requests but Noel stuck to the setlist, as often on this tour he's having some discussions with people from the first row.

We had a very good show but on auto-pilot, it's too perfect.
We need more craziness !!!

The NME award (far right)

Pass sheet/ setlist/ merchandising

Also tonight:

Beth Hart @ New Morning (sold out)
Rammstein @ Paris Bercy (sold-out) They are recording a live DVD in Paris, tomorrow as well.
Fred Wesley @ La scene Bastille

Reminder:
Check our review of Noel Gallagher's show @ Casino de Paris last december
Oasis @ Paris Bercy in 2009
Bloc Party singer announcing on stage, Oasis breaking up @ Rock en seine festival 2009

Vernissage Exhibition Bob Dylan @ Cité de la Musique, paris March 05 2012

Vernissage Exhibition Bob Dylan @ Cité de la Musique, Paris March 05 2012

"L'Explosion Rock 61-66"

Cité de la Musique, Billboard & Entrance to exhibition with Pics from Daniel Kramer

Official opening of the Bob Dylan exhibition @ Cité de la Musique in Paris, lots of people tonight including some famous guests...
It's only Bob Dylan from 1961 to 1966.
Once you get there is a long corridor with fantastic and Iconic Pictures from Daniel Kramer who followed Bob Dylan for a year and made some of his early album covers including "Bring it all back home" & "Highway 61 revisited".

Handwritten lyrics, Poster & Jon Sebastian guitar & shirt

Then you have 3 rooms :

1) His musical influences

2) Woody Guthrie, NYC, Folk revival & Protest songs &
3) 1966 "Like a rolling stone"

Guitars... Buddy Holly, Elvis, Pete Seeger & Dylan

So lots of record covers from his influences, some fantastic guitars (see above) for the first time ever at the same exhibition...
In fact it's more an exhibition of his influences than Bob Dylan himself as there are very few personal documents : only a couple of his handwritten lyrics, one of his guitars, some original posters or handbills and... that's it.
None is coming from his personal collection as if he wasn't involved at all for this exhibition which is a shame.
Most of the docs are coming from the Grammy Permanent collection , Phil Ochs', Folk museums...
On this level I was a bit disappointed.
If you're into music it's great if you're a Dylan freak it's a bit short, isnt it ?
They also have a couple of small rooms where you can watch documents about Bob, interviews with people who worked with him...and some headphones to listen to the music.

Donovan & French singer Hughes Aufray who introduced Bob Dylan to the Frenchies in the early 60's

There is a basement floor with some French press cuttings and Pics of Bob Dylan in Paris and his relationship with the french music scene which is interesting and funny considering what was written in the press in the 60's.
Donovan was there as well as Hughes Aufray who did a record of Bob Dylan songs as early as 1964 (if i'm right !)

French (funny) articles in the press in the 60's
"Bob Dylan more expensive than (Maria) Callas...to sing one night in Paris"

Conference with Robert Santelli & Daniel Kramer / Afterparty

Daniel Kramer told us his meeting with Bob, how he worked with him, some secrets behind the cover artworks he made for him: That was very interesting.
Then we had a few drinks and canapés at the afterparty !
Cool evening ! but a bit of a let down Dylanwise.

Dylan for Sale...

Also on monday:
The Autumn Defense @ Fargo store (free showcase) 18h
Wilco @ Grand Rex
Tindersticks @ Trianon (sold-out)

Paul McCartney @ Stella McCartney AW 2013 collection @ Hotel de Ville, Paris March 05 2012

Paul McCartney @ Stella McCartney AW 2013 collection @ Hotel de Ville, Paris march 05 2012

Some pics from our friend Hervé M. @ Hotel de Ville this morning for the Stella McCartney fashion show.

Paul with Alicia Keys

Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) @ Surface To Air Store, Paris March 02 2012

Contact: irockinparis((@))yahoo((dot))fr

Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) @ Surface To Air Store, Paris March 02 2012

booklet signed by Kim(far right)

Kim Gordon posing for our photographer Guino Patrice

Kim Gordon has designed clothes for Surface To Air.

Tonight was the launch of her collection (dresses , T-Shirts & shoes) @ the store Rue Vieille du Temple in Paris.

It's overpriced, the quality is average and the design's awful but we were glad to attend this party as Kim Gordon was here,and we love Sonic Youth @ Rockerparis, she seemed a little bit lost among the crowd, no need to tell you that the shop was packed and it was hard to make a move without spilling your glass of champagne.Too bad we didn't ask her what's the future for Sonic Youth after she split with her husband Thurston.
We didn't stay that long, as we had another party to go to @ Le Meurice hotel for the Vendôme Luxury trade show,but we had time to take a few pics of her (see above)

Next shows in Paris for March 2012

March 02:
The Drums @ Bataclan
March 03:
Metronomy @ Zénith (sold-out)
March 05:
Wilco @ Grand Rex
Tindersticks @ Trianon (sold out)
Vernissage Exposition Bob Dylan @ Cité de la Musique
March 06:
Beth Hart @ New Morning (sold out)
Noel Gallagher @ Grand Rex (sold out)
Rammstein @ Bercy (sold out)
Fred Wesley @ La Scene Bastille
March 07:
Rammstein @ Bercy (sold out)
Snow Patrol @ Zénith
Sophie Hunger @ Cité de la Musique
Nick Waterhouse @ L'Album de la Semaine
March 08:
Fleshtones @ Petit Bain
Reza @ L'International
March 09:
The Ting Tings @ Cigale
Raphael Saadiq @ Olympia (sold out)
March 10:
Raphael Saadiq @ Olympia (sold out)
March 12:
Korn @ Bataclan

CHECK FIRST BEFORE GOING TO ALL THESE GIGS, Just in case something has changed...

Max Von Sydow @ UGC Forum, Paris March 1st 2012

Max Von Sydow @ UGC Forum, Paris March 1st 2012

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" promo with Legendary Swedish (and now French ) actor Max Von Sydow for the projection and a Q&A.

autograph & Motley Crue billboard in the tube