samedi 15 octobre 2011

Crosby & Nash @ Olympia, Paris Oct 14 2011

Crosby & Nash @ Olympia, Paris Oct 14 2011

Crosby & Nash are back in Paris for the first time since their show @ Casino de Paris in 2005.
Of course we saw them last year with CSN in this very same théatre ( scroll down for links to previous reviews).
We've always prefered CSN to C&N but we're not too sure after seeing tonight's performance.
They opened the first set with a great rendition of The Byrds' "Eight Miles High".
The sound is terrific, it's like listening to your stereo at home, we have some nice seats, 4th row on the right on David's side.
These guys might be (very) old they still have the same voice.Incredible.
David is on top form tonight making lots of jokes between songs, there are also lots of very serious talks on politics and nuclear energy.
All along the show to keep things interesting the band is alternating classics and more recent songs, Crosby songs and Nash songs, acoustic and electric, full band or just the duet ... so it's always something different.
The first set is 60 min long then we have a intermission.
After this first part, all the audience is rushing to the merchandising stall to get a card so they can download, next week on the official website, tonight's show.(25 Euros).

The second part of the show will be as terrific as the first one.
More classics are played, they do have a fantastic guitar player Shayne Fontaine that is taking Steven Stills guitar parts when needed. Reproducing his sound and soli perfectly.
James Raymond , David's son, is on keys and backing vocals; Kevin McCormick that they stole for Jackson Browne's band is on bass; Steve DiStanislao on drums and vocals.
Hard to get things wrong with such a tight band and so many fantastic songs.

The end of the gig is stunning with "Cathedral"-"Deja Vu"-"Military Madness"-"Wooden Ships"-( with terrific soli by each member) and last :"Teach your children" (see full setlist below)
When they are leaving the stage , they've been on for 2h30 min, it felt like just an hour.

One of our best gig for 2011.
Merchandising
setlist

"Our House":


Check our previous review of last year's concert @ Olympia ( Part 2) on July 12th.
CSN in 2009 @ Olympia (with live video) Part 1 & Part 2 & Stephen Stills @ Olympia 2008.

jeudi 13 octobre 2011

Alala Diane @ Trianon, Paris Oct 13 2011

Check Oliver's website for review (In German), SETLIST with nice Live Pics on stage & Backstage.

Some Girls remastered re-issue: everything you want to know about...


Promotional t-shirt (without Bill Wyman)

For formats ( editions, box set, memorabilia included, unreleased songs, prices...)
It's HERE

Van Halen have cancelled their planned 2012 Summer Tour of Europe before the dates were even announced
More HERE (scroll down when on page)

mercredi 12 octobre 2011

Joan Baez @ Grand Rex, Paris Oct 12 2011

Joan Baez @ Grand Rex, Paris Oct 12 2011
Joan Baez has never been so popular in France, that's her fourth and last show @ Grand Rex (two shows in June and yesterday & Today) all sold out. 10 000 people in all.
She played last month @ Fête de L'Humanité in front of more than 50 000 people.
She also did a few shows in France.

Last time we saw her, was @ Palais des Congres in 2008.
At the time she was playing with a full band, tonight there's just a banjo player , who's also playing acoustic bass and piano.
When you have good songs like she does, an acoustic guitar is enough, you don't need much.
Suzanne Vega is doing the same and her gigs ( @ Alhambra in 2008 & Théatre Marigny in 2010 ) are just great.
Joan with Marianne Aya Omac (far left)

She started the gig on her own , center stage with her acoustic guitar, sound is perfect: clear and not loud at all and the lightshow is minimal.
She's playing most of her hits, covers of Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan... check setlist for details.
She's joined on a couple of songs by Marianne Aya Omac for a couple of Spanish songs which had the audience singing some "OOOOOlllléééééééééééé".
She (Marianne) has a great voice and the Spanish-style guitar playing is stunning but you really wonder what she was doing here.
Joan Baez took the time and made the effort to introduce many of the songs in fluent French even.
She did "le Deserteur" in French without guitar and played a John Lennon cover.
Of course most if not all songs were political.

Great gig, Great conditions to attend such a gig, confortably seated in the sofas of the Grand Rex.

See ya there on sunday afternoon for the Première of the Martin Scorsese documentary on George Harrison : " Living in a Material World", Olivia will attend.
setlist ( may not be accurate ) and Konny Steding's painting @ Moretti (far right)

There was a vernissage tonight @ Galerie Moretti between Bastille & Place des Vosges for Konny Steding, we arrived there after the war, everything was closed.
Only was left her painting on the door.
It's open from tuesday to sunday from Oct 13 to Nov 19.

"Here's to You":