The Blues Brothers Band @ Enghien les Bains, July 2nd 2011

The Blues Brothers Band @ Enghien Les Bains Jazz festival
July 02 2011

Percy Sledge (far left) The Stage on Water (center)

Another day, Another gig. The Blues brothers band are playing their first show since the death of original member Alan "Mr Fabulous" Rubin on June 08 2011.
Enghien is a beautiful and posh city with a Casino situated 15 miles north of Paris.
The stage is on the lake and the audience in front on the shores.
Lots of people as are there lots of shops and other free gigs in the area.
We came a bit earlier and could meet the musicians at the hotel that is just in front of the stage, Lou Marini & Steve cropper, funny we bumped into Percy Sledge who's playing tomorow (on sunday) night.

There are only two original members (Steve & Lou) so it's more of a tribute band that will play all thoses R'N B classics for a couple of hours with a great response from the audience.
I didn't write down the setlist but it should be the same or close to this one.
By the water it's a bit windy & chilly but we have some great music.
Great night out even if our journey back to Paris was a nightmare as the show ended way past midnight.

Steve Cropper & Lou Marini (center)

"Soul Man":

Jeff Beck @ Grand Rex, Paris July 1st 2011

Jeff Beck @ Grand Rex, Paris July 1st 2011

Back at the beautiful Grand Rex for another rock show.
4th gig in 4 days in this theatre, After Brian Setzer, Gregg Allman & BB King it's time to see guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck. Our first time for Rockerparis.
Can you believe it ? after more than 20 years of rocking for some of us , this is the first time that we're gonne see Jeff Beck.

For this kind of gig : all instrumental , or you hate it and think it's boring to death or you think it's absolutely Fantastic from start to finish.
Well, What's for sure is that he's probably the most talented guitar player we've ever seen live.
Then there are the songs : you may like some of them, love others ( Fantastic version of The Beatles' " A day in a life" here on video) or find some songs a bit too jazz-rock (meaning boring).

There's a bit of everything, most of it being great, I have to say.
But whatever the song the guitar playing is STUNNING.

We stayed with some friends outside, talking in front of the venue and to avoid fans waiting for him at the backstage entrance , he left the concert hall by the main door surrounded by 4 security guys, Hidden underneath a hood, What an asshole.

setlist & Merchandising

Good Bye Paris

"A day in a Life":

BB KING + Robin McKelle @ Grand Rex, Paris June 30 2011

BB KING + Robin McKelle @ Grand Rex
Paris June 29 2011

Robin McKelle

BB KING is playing a sold-out show @ the beautiful Grand Rex, at the tender age of 85 he's still as popular as ever.
A few years ago he played a Farewell Tour and his show at the Zénith in Paris was supposed to be his last one, probably around 2006.
He came back @ The Palais des Congres on July 22nd 2009 (click for review , Pics & video).
2011 he's still touring around the world.

First we have American soul singer Robin McKelle, she did a great job warming up the audience, it's rare to see people standing up and clapping hands for a support band.
She knows how to make the audience react and is a great singer with a soulfull voice à la Aretha Franklin.

It's 9:00 pm when BB King is getting on stage, in fact not really as his band is playing a couple of songs without him.Then he's introduced on stage, he's playing a bit of guitars and is making funny faces for the joy of photographers.
As usual lots of talking , he's barely on stage for 5 minutes that he's introducing each musician, they are seven of them.
He's talking more and more telling funny stories.
The show started 25 minutes ago that he hasn't played a proper song.
It will be like this for the rest of the show: 5 minutes of talking before, he's playing a song and then some more talking.Sometimes he's talking in the middle of a song.

He probably played 8-9 songs in all ( "Everyday I Have the blues", "When love comes to town", "Rock me baby", "Thrill is gone","key to the highway" a new song written or produced by T Bone Burnett, & a few others...).
After just an hour it's time to thank people and give away plectrums, 'gold' chains, pins and signing autographs on stage, all that is taking a good 10 min.
Less than 90 min on stage with probably less than half of it playing guitar or singing but we can't say it was bad as he's a great entertainer, and at the age of 85 he's still a good guitar player,a good singer, he's in shape even though he's seated for the whole set and is nice and smiling to everyone.
More important it's probably the last time we're able to see him until... next time.

We had a good time !

see ya Paris !

"Thrill is Gone":

Prince @ Stade de France, paris June 30 2011

Prince @ Stade de France, Paris June 30 2011

All Pics : (C) Motley Mime

SETLIST: (From Funk U: check this site for review)

1. DMSR
2. Pop Life
3. Musicology
4. Shhh
5. Everyday People
6. Come Together
7. Controversy
8. Sexy Dancer/Le Freak
9. Love Rollercoaster
10. Play That Funky Music White Boy
11. The Look of Love
12. Nothing Compares 2 U
13. Pass The Peas
14. Bass medley : 777-9311/Head/The Stick/America/Thank You For Talking To Me Africa
15. Take Me With U
16. Raspberry Beret
17. Cream
18. Cool/Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
19. Purple Rain
20. Let’s Go Crazy
21. Delirious
22. 1999
23. Little Red Corvette
24. Sampler set : When Doves Cry/Nasty Girl/Sign’O'the Times/Darling Nikki/Forever in my Life/I Would Die 4 U
25. Kiss
    
26. 
    

After show @ La Société:

1. A Love Bizarre
2. Let’s Work
3. U Got The Look
4. Misty Blue
5. We Live 2 Get Funky

Gregg Allman + Tift Merritt @ Grand Rex, Paris June 29 2011

Gregg Allman + Tift Merritt @ Grand Rex
Paris June 29 2011

Tift Merritt

Gregg Allman

First show on the European Tour for Gregg Allman & Band. He hasn't been in Paris for a very long time nevertheless it's far from being full.
Very different atmosphere compare to yesterday when we saw Brian Setzer at the very same place.
Tonight people will remain seated in the very confortable "sofas" of the Grand Rex.
First we have American Folk girl Tift Merritt for a short set. If you like Emmyllou Harris or Joni Mitchell her music is for you, great voice.

Then we have Gregg Allman and his musicians, he's playing most of the songs on hammond organ and the rest on acoustic or electric guitar.
He looks a bit frail but the voice is good. Each musician is perfect in their own field specially the guitar player.
He's playing a few new songs and some classics from The Allman brothers Band (see setlist below for details).
Can't say that it was wild as most of the songs are medium tempo, maybe a bit too slow for me.
Not a bad show but it could have been a bit better with more up-tempo tunes.
For the Encore people rushed to the stage for the last two songs, Gregg came down the front to shake hands with the audience.
Nice night out if you wanted to enjoy a gig confortably seated.

Merchandising & setlist

"Midnight Rider":