Scorpions @ Fête de l'Humanité, la Courneuve, Sept 13 2014

Scorpions @ Fête de l'Humanité, la Courneuve, Sept 13 2014

French Rap band I AM

It's a bit of pain in the ass to get to the Parc de la Courneuve, first it's a few kilometers outside Paris, second it's in a shitty area with nothing around it. It takes ages to go there
Then the site is so huge that it takes more than 30 min to go from the entrance to the main stage.
Probably around 200 000 people on the site every day with 60 000 people watching the gigs on the main stage.
Good thing is that it is very cheap if you want to go : 30 euros for 3 days, yes only 30 euros for 3 days (12 for a day) with lots of concerts , political debates... remember it's the French Communist party's rally. Yes there is still one in France.
Any way, the only interesting band on the bill for this week-end is German Hard-rock band SCORPIONS, Massive Attack played yesterday night.
No time to waste for politics, probably every division  of the Communist Party from every town has its own tent with people debating and food to eat...and local bands playing, You CANNOT imagine how huge is the site.



As we're a bit early you could catch I AM 's set, which was not bad for french rappers, they're very popular over here.
After a long break, SCORPIONS are supposed to take the stage at 9:40 pm, the germans are finally hitting the stage past 10:00 pm.

ROCKERPARIS as always has the best seat in da house: on stage.

---Rudolf about to go on stage with his "Blackout" mask nearby (below far left)---

Scorpion on the P.A.
 
  Each time we came here we could attend the gigs on stage: Babyshambles, Alain Bashung, NERD The Kooks, Deep Purple...this year makes no exception.
For the first part of the show we're on Rudolf's side of the stage, with his "Blackout" Mask just in front of us. From where we are, the sound is not too great but the view is fantastic, we can see the audience from the first row till the last and feel its power, incredible.
First part of the show we were on Rudolf(s side then we moved to the other side to have a closer look at Matthias, good choice the view was better and not obstructed by PA and roadies, just the mixing desk, that's where we get the setlist (photo below this page)
Lots of pyrotechnics all along the show with fireworks and flames. The whole band is in fine form, using the whole stage and catwalk like kids running at Disneyland. They have a new drummer replacing James Kottak , who's probably in rehab for his drink addiction.

SCORPIONS are rocking, playing all the hits with only a couple of new songs, too many ballads (5 in all: "Send me an angel", "Holiday" and encore with "Still loving you", "Wind of change" and second encore and last song "When the smoke is going down" but I guess Klaus needs to rest his voice from time to time. Useless drum solo but it's probably to save Klaus 'voice as well.
Apart from that Great setlist and the band is rocking as always.

The band is rocking...
 

...like a hurricane 

Lots of guitar and costunes change for Rudolf 

 Setlist

"still loving you"

Maceo Parker @ Cité de la Musique, Paris Sept 04 2014

Maceo Parker + Malted Milk @ Cité de la Musique, Paris Sept 04 2014

Jazz à la Villette Festival

Legendary and original JB Maceo Parker is in da house tonight in Paris. No need to tell you that it is sold-out.

First we have French Funk-Soul band Malted Milk, cool set, the playing is neat, the singer/guitar player has a nice warm voice and his guitar licks are wonderful. The playing is perfect, too perfect, it's lacking a bit of Soul. Enjoyable though.

Then we have the master himself, introduced by his female wife(?)/ Manager -as usual- in James Brown style. He's walking the stage in a strange manner to the microphone... in typical Ray Charles' style for a snippet of a Ray Charles song. Then the man is grooving/ Funky-ing for the next two hours... playing saxophone , of course, and singing... and dancing.
He's wondering what he's doing in a jazz festival, saying that they do NOT play jazz and to make sure everyone understands that they are NOT playing any Jazz, he's playing a Jazz song (which was more of a "laugh at" the jazz style) so that everyone can see the difference between jazz and what they usually do: Funky Music.

He mentioned James Brown many times, I mean... he played with the Godfather of Soul for 25 years that's probably where he get his habit of  leading the band like a conductor.
Original Funky Diva Martha High is doing backing vocals and taking the lead for one song, so is the other backing vocal girl. The band has some space and each member is taking the lead even for a short moment at one time or another during the set.
Maceo is even playing the flute for a short tribute to Marvin Gaye before getting back to his Ray Charles' impersonation at the end of the gig before a nice rendition of JB's "Pass the peas".

Very nice set.

Summer Holidays 2014 we'll be back in September...

 See ya in September...

LED ZEPPELIN Deluxe Editions Of 'Led Zeppelin IV' And 'Houses Of The Holy'

LED ZEPPELIN Deluxe Editions Of 'Led Zeppelin IV' And 'Houses Of The Holy'

"Led Zeppelin IV" and "Houses Of The Holy" will each be available October 28 from Atlantic/Swan Song in the following formats:
* Single CD - Remastered album packaged in a gatefold card wallet.
* Deluxe Edition (2CD) - Remastered album, plus a second disc of unreleased companion audio.
* Single LP - Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl, packaged in a sleeve that replicates the LP's first pressing in exacting detail.
* Deluxe Edition Vinyl (2LP) - Remastered album and unreleased companion audio on 180-gram vinyl.
* Digital Download - Remastered album and companion audio will both be available.
* Super Deluxe Boxed Set - This collection includes:
- Remastered album on CD in vinyl replica sleeve.
- Companion audio on CD in card wallet featuring new alternate cover art.
- Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl in a sleeve replicating first pressing.
- Companion audio on 180-gram vinyl in a sleeve with new alternate cover art.
- High-def audio download card of all content at 96kHz/24 bit.
- Hard bound, 80 page book filled with rare and previously unseen photos and memorabilia.
- High-quality print of the original album cover, the first 30,000 of which will be individually numbered.

"Led Zeppelin IV" track listing

01. Black Dog
02. Rock And Roll
03. The Battle of Evermore
04. Stairway To Heaven
05. Misty Mountain Hop
06. Four Sticks
07. Going To California
08. When The Levee Breaks

Companion Audio Disc

01. Black Dog - Basic Track With Guitar Overdubs
02. Rock And Roll - Alternate Mix
03. The Battle Of Evermore - Mandolin/Guitar Mix From Headley Grange
04. Stairway To Heaven - Sunset Sound Mix
05. Misty Mountain Hop - Alternate Mix
06. Four Sticks - Alternate Mix
07. Going To California - Mandolin/Guitar Mix
08. When The Levee Breaks - Alternate UK Mix

"Houses of the Holy" track listing:

01. The Song Remains The Same
02. The Rain Song
03. Over The Hills And Far Away
04. The Crunge
05. Dancing Days
06. D'yer Mak'er
07. No Quarter
08. The Ocean

Companion Audio Disc

01. The Song Remains The Same - Guitar Overdub Reference Mix
02. The Rain Song - Mix Minus Piano
03. Over The Hills And Far Away - Guitar Mix Backing Track
04. The Crunge - Rough Mix - Keys Up
05. Dancing Days - Rough Mix With Vocal
06. No Quarter - Rough Mix With JPJ Keyboard Overdubs - No Vocal
07. The Ocean - Working Mix

Nick Oliveri acoustic set @ Truskel, Paris July 21st 2014

Nick Oliveri acoustic set @ Truskel, Paris July 21st 2014

Nick Oliveri former Kyuss & QOTSA bass player is playing a rare solo acoustic show in Paris.

It's a the tiny Truskel where we saw Peter Doherty performed so many times.

It was supposed to be a "guest list" show but in fact it's a "first come , first serve" basis.

We have a support band from Lille that is sounding like QOTSA, so it can't be bad.

Nick is in fine spirit, doing very good, smiling , talking a lot, joking with the audience and screaming like a maniac. The guitar playing is acoustic but he's screaming as if he was playing electric with QOTSA or Mondo Generator in front of 5 000 kids.

it's hot a hell in there, those bastards have turned off the air conditioning and we're all sweating buckets of water.

We are treated with a best of setlist with a new song, songs from Mondo generator, Kyuss, QOTSA of course and some covers including a Ramones' one , a GG Alin and probably a couple of others I can't remember ( one from an English Punk band ). The setlist below is not accurate as he didn't follow it.

Nick has lots of stories to tell between songs, we're glad to know that he will be playing with QOTSA in L.A. for a reunion show on Halloween. Some funny stories involving his wife and how he fucks like a teenager...and so on...always with a big smile on his face.

As you can see on the video below , the audience participation is required... so cool...

Nick ended up exhausted and a bit drunk as well but that was worth it , great kick ass gig

Miraculously after the 90 min show ended the air conditioning was back on...

 Setlist