Le Prince Miiaou @ Fnac Montparnasse, Paris Nov 04 2011

showcase of Le Prince Miiaou @ Fnac Montparnasse, Paris Nov 04 2011
4:00pm

Patti Smith @ Eglise St Eustache, Paris Nov 04 2011

Patti Smith @ Eglise St Eustache, Paris Nov 04 2011

Long queue on the pavement of Les Halles quarter in front of the Church St Eustache to attend Patti Smith's acoustic show.
All the VIPs got in by a side entrance and before normal punters so they had the best seat down the front, but everybody is seating on the very uncomfortable little chairs of the church.
I've spotted lots of journalists and people from the musical business in the audience.
No need to tell you that this special gig was sold-out ages ago.
It's not the first time that we're seeing Patti Smith playing in a church as she did 5 sets from 9:30 pm to 4:40 am on the "Nuit Blanche" ( White night or sleepless night) of 2008 @ Eglise de St Germain des Pres (click for review) and we went to ALL of them.

The Priest in charge of the church introduced her ( He's English ?!?) but we had to wait another 15 min before she appeared on the tiny stage with her daughter Jesse on piano and Lenny Kaye on acoustic guitar.

She started the concert by reading a poem "Tiger" and then the show started with "Wild Leaves".
The audience listened religiously, you could hear a pin drop. The Sound wasn't too loud, you can't play loud in a church because of the echo and the lightning was ... not very bright so... sorry for the lousy Pics and video.
Before each song she took the time to introduced it or dedicate it to the ones who left us too early ( Robert M, Fred Sonic Smith) or talked about french poets and writters like Rimbaud or Genet.
Lenny Kaye played a song on his own, while Patti was seating on the side of the stage, for his uncle who died recently.
She played some of her well-known songs (see setlist for details) but also did some songs that she's rarely playing like "Cash" or Bob Dylan's "Spanish Boots".

She had to re-start "cash" four times as she messed up the beginning of the song, she was reading the lyrics on a paper, but she took it with a laugh AND a good word :"Robert Mapplethorpe was the perfect artist, Frederick was the perfect man, an un-perfect woman stands before you celebrating them" (Laughs).

She kept her more famous songs for the end with "Because the Night" (Here on video) and first and only Encore "People have the Power".
Great short set (75 min).

Handwritten lyrics to song "Cash" (left) & William Blake Poem (right) / Setlist (far right)

"Because the night":

More Patti Smith @ L'Arbre à Lettres on Oct 21 2010 for an acoustic performance to promote her book & @ Virgin Megastore on Oct 20 2010.
Patti Smith "Unplugged dreams" @ Cité de la Musique Paris Jan 20 2011
Patti Smith @ Cité de la Musique "Picturing Robert": Poetry & Music Paris Jan 18 2011
Patti @ Fondation Cartier in 2008 & in June 2009

Other Lives @ Studio 105, Maison de la Radio for Le Mouv' radio, Paris Nov 03 2011

Other Lives @ Studio 105 , Maison de la Radio
Le Mouv' radio & Arte Live Web, Paris Nov 03 2011

Another day, another concert for ROCKERPARIS.
Other Lives played yesterday night @ Casino de Paris for Les Inrocks Festival we liked what we saw so we're back, this time in the cozy studio 105 of La Maison de la Radio (300 capacity).
This gig is broadcasted live on Le Mouv' rock radio (for the sound) and on Arte Live Web ( for the video).

Very laid back cool atmospheric ambient pop-folk-rock with cello, piano, trumpet and even flute. All the musicians are playing several instruments.
Tonight they've played a much longer set than yesterday ( around an Hour) with a very soft and quiet version of The Ramones' "I wanna sniff some Glue" (?!?) and they ended the set with Leonard Cohen's "The Partisan".
Great gig even though i'll probably add some more up-tempo songs with more electric guitar because we like when it fucking rocks from time to time.

Wu Lyf @ Cigale, Paris for les Inrocks festival, Nov 02 2011

New sensation @ Les Inrocks, Here's the video of the gig:

If you're buying a collector vinyl of Wu Lyf there is a Scarf with it and this scarf is getting you at any of Wu Lyf concert for just 1 Euro, isn't that great !!!
Some of the shows of Les Inrocks Festival are broadcasted HERE

Lou Reed/ Metallica @ Album de la Semaine tv show shelved

Lou Reed & Metallica will be in Paris next week to record tv show Taratata on Nov 09, they will be playing two songs.

They were talks to play Canal+'s "L'Album de la Semaine" on Nov 10 but it's been shelved. Sorry !

Agnes Obel + Florent Marchet + Other Lives @ Casino de Paris, Inrocks Fest, 02 Nov 2011

Agnes Obel + Florent Marchet + Other Lives
@ Casino de Paris, Inrocks Fest, 02 Nov 2011

Very quiet night @ Casino de Paris for the first day of the Inrocks Festival, surprisingly it's far from being sold out.
Very easy to get down to the first row, lots of spaces in the pit so the conditions are perfect as it's a bit warm in this theatre.

We arrived too late to see the first band Balthazar so let's go straight to Other Lives an American quintet from Oklahoma, They are playing a very ambient psyche folk music, very relaxing. They will be perfect for a soundtrack.

Then we have French singer Florent Marchet, he's welknown for being very funny and sarcastic. Cool set of American folk-pop, a surprise guest Gaetan Roussel from French rock band Louise Attaque joined him on vocals for a cover of swiss singer Stephan Eicher.(Here on Video)

Last but not least is Danish piano player and singer Agnes Obel.
She's very popular in France and her first album "Philharmonics" sold more than 200 000 copies.
She's on the piano on the left of the stage with cello and harp players on the right.
Very soft songs, hard to believe that she's playing a rock festival but as she's headlining you could hear a pin drop during her performance as no one's speaking and is listening religiously.

Very good set maybe she could have played longer as she was only on for an hour.

Check our previous review of Agnes Obel @ Fnac Store in Nov last year.

AC/DC for Stadium Tour in 2012

AC/DC to Tour next year

I don't know how I didn't notice this before but my friend Ray from old London Town has some good news and it's dating back from early october.

From Ray's Gigs :

"08 Oct 2011.Remember where you saw it first:
I bumped into AC/DC singer Brian Johnson near Berkeley Square in London.He told me AC/DC will play 20 stadium shows all over the place in 2012 including Wembley Stadium.Chainsmoking as usual and still talking of his love for fast cars and going to car shows in America where he lives most of the time. "

Check our Pictures of AC/DC @ Stade de France Part 3, Part 2, Part 1 in 2010

Check our previous reviews with LOTS OF GREAT PICTURES of AC/DC :
Stade de France June 12 2009
Paris Bercy 1 Feb 2009 , AC/DC @ Hotel in Paris
Paris Bercy 2 Feb 2009 , Part 2

Coldplay @ Cigale, Paris Oct 31 2011

Coldplay @ Cigale, Paris Oct 31 2011

It's a gig that a lot of people are waiting for: Coldplay @ the tiny Cigale.
There was a time a few years ago Coldplay was playing theatres like the Olympia in Paris, they are so popular that they are playing arena size venues ,@ Bercy in December, and probably next year @ Stade de France.
So we know that we are very lucky to see them live in such a tiny théatre.
No tickets were sold for this event only competition winners in the pit downstairs and guests of sponsors ( Orange, Nrj radio ) plus record executives & journalists at the balcony.
We didn't go to the pre-show cocktail @ The Boule Noire nextdoor as we just had dinner so we took a nice spot on the left and waited for the gig.

It started at 9:00pm sharp, I don't know what's wrong with this band but they always had a funny look, for this tour this is worse than ever: there is paint everywhere , on the backdrop, on the piano, on marshalls on the guitars and on their clothes. It looks really awful.
The lightning's not that great either but they do have lasers to great effects.
First time I'm seeing lasers @ Cigale.
Chris Martin is a great showman with a nice voice alternating on the acoustic guitar and the piano, he still has a funny way of dancing but that's ok.

We had their first two records which were very good but after that, this band turned into crap with many "stadium songs" with lots of "OOOHHs" &" AAaaAAhhHHs" to sing to.
Lots of girls in the audience tonight and great atmosphere with lots of singing along and jumping.
In fact they turned into a second rate U2 with the same kind of silly songs, they probably won't care as they are surely laughing all the way to the bank.
The set was very short, they left the stage for the first time after just 60 min, for the encore they played a couple of minutes of Amy Winehouse's "rehab" as a tribute between "clocks" and "Fix you" (here on video).
We have mixed emotions: it was a good gig but ruined by too many average songs

See ya @ Bercy in December !

We went to the after-show cocktail @ Boule Noire, the band didn't turn up but we didn't stay that long. We spotted French director & Producer Luc Besson in the corner.

Pass-sheet & setlist

"Clocks" + Tribute to Amy Winehouse with "Rehab" + "Fix You":


Check our reviews of their show @ Bercy in September 2008 & @ Tv Show for W9 in June 2008

Next gigs for November in Paris, France

Next gigs for November:
Nov 02
Ryan Adams @ Trianon
John Cale @ Centre Pompidou (sold out)
Selah Sue @ Olympia (sold out)
Inrocks fest @ Casino de Paris with Agnes Obel, Florant Marchet , Other Lives
Inrocks Fest @ Cigale (sold out) with La femme, Wu Lyf
Nov 03:
Inrocks Fest @ Cigale with Timber Timbre, Saul Williams
Other Lives @ Studio 105, Maison de la Radio (invit ? )
Nov 04
Patti Smith @ St Eustache church (sold out)
Alter Bridge @ Zénith
Inrocks Fest @ Cigale with Laura Marling, Cults
Nov 05
Inrocks Fest @ Cigale (sold out) with Miles Kane, Friendly Fires, Foster the People
Nov 07
Inrocks Fest @ Olympia with Anna Calvi, Le Prince Miiaou, Dum Dum Girls
Nov 08
Alice Cooper @ Zénith
Anoushka Shankar @ Cigale
hard-Fi @ Fleche d'Or
Nov 09
Smashing Pumkins @ Zénith
Metallica @ Taratata recording (?)
Nov 10
Lou Reed & Metallica @ Album de la semaine (???)
nov 11
Paul Di Anno @ Divan du Monde
Nov 12
The Kills @ Olympia (sold out)
Nov 13

The Kills @ Olympia (sold out)

Alice Cooper + Arthur Brown ( & New York Dolls) "Halloween Night of Fear"" @ Alexandra Palace, London , Oct 29 2011

Alice Cooper played an" Halloween Night of Fear" with New York Dolls supporting @ Alexandra Palace in London on saturday night. There was also a Dance troup doing a show.
After the NYD 'gig ( 75 min) there was a competition for the best audience outfit and then ALICE COOPER for a full 1h40 min set.
Last song featuring Arthur Brown himself on lead vocals for a smoking version of "Fire" (here on video), Pics from the show HERE.

SETLIST: (click for videos)
The Black Widow
Brutal Planet
I'm Eighteen
Under My Wheels
Billion Dollar Babies (another video)
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Hey Stoopid
Is It My Body
Halo of Flies (with drum solo and ... more)
I'll Bite Your Face Off
Muscle of Love
Only Women Bleed (Orianthi guitar solo as intro)
Cold Ethyl
Feed My Frankenstein
Clones (We're All)
Poison
Wicked Young Man
Killer / I Love The Dead
School's Out (another video)
Encore:
Elected
Fire


Check our reviews of Alice Cooper @ Montereau , outside Paris, on June 11 2011 & @ Hellfest in Clisson last year on June 19

ALICE COOPER will play a few shows in France this week: @ Lille Nov 03; Toulouse Nov 05; Lyon Nov 06; Paris Nov 08; Rouen Nov 09; Rennes Nov 10.

The Who's "Quadrophenia" Exhibition Launches At Pretty Green Carnaby Street, London, Oct 27 2011

Last night saw the launch of The Who's Quadrophenia exhibition @ Pretty Green store on carnaby Street.
The night kicked off with a scooter rally down the famous Carnaby Street walk after which guests were allowed into the store to explore the never seen before exhibition.
The Pretty Green Carnaby Street store showcases Pete Townshend's archives of notes, desk diaries, photos and original lyrics from the making of Quadrophenia alongside album artwork and outages. Also a replica Vespa PX has been made to look like the legendary GS from the album shoot.

The exhibition is now open to public (free entry) at the Pretty Green Carnaby Street store (57 Carnaby Street, London, W1F 9QF) and will be available for viewing until 31st January 2012.

The Who's Quadrophenia exhibition opening times:
- Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat: 10.00 - 19:00
- Thu: 10:00 - 20:00
- Sun: 12:00 - 18:00

Check out the THE WHO'S QUADROPHENIA EXHIBITION GALLERY over on the Pretty Green Facebook page.


Quadrophenia - The Director's Cut is scheduled for release on 14th November.