" les indépendants montent le son " Free concert Palais Royal Paris Oct 24th 2008

To celebrate the end of "les Arènes européennes de l’indépendance" ( i won't translate i don't know what it is ), the French Ministry for Culture ( Ministère de la Culture ) is organizing a free concert in the gardens of Palais Royal in the heart of Paris.
Tickets were to be collected this morning. there's around 1000 people here.
Each band is playing 3 or 4 songs.

The Courtyard with the "Big Balls" statue ( left ) French band Grégoire ( right )

Grégoire did a very decent job opening the free gigs at 7:30pm on the second stage in the gardens - Jardin du Palais Royal-.

Bloc Party

Bloc Party :1st band on the main stage in the main courtyard - Cour d' Honneur- , they look a bit tired , too much promo for their new cd ? they were ok

Keziah Jones

Very good set ( 4 songs ) then they rush to play Star Academy ( french Pop Idol ) tomorrow they are recording french tv show Taratata

Amadou & mariam ( left ) Time tables ( right )

I didn't really saw them as i was hanging backstage with a couple of friends, just the last song , people like them over here , they are from Bamako.

Time tables for make-up ( left )
The office of the Minister for the Culture Christine Albanel all set up for a performance

Christophe praying the Lord( left )
Wristbands :Red = all access . Black = cocktail upstairs. Yellow =aftershow party upstairs
I HAD THEM ALL !!!

Christophe did a decent set but refused to play his big hits and stick to the new songs, everything was recorded for a tv show to be broadcast next month on France 2
We missed Vincent delerm as we were having a few drinks upstairs in the main lounge, but i don't give a shit of him at all.

Travis

Travis ended the concert ( only 3 songs ) with a couple of new songs .
Then the audience is asked to leave the gardens and we made our way upstairs for the AfterShow in the office of the Minister for the culture and the lounge next door.

Camille performing IN the office of the Minister for the Culture

French singer Camille performed a couple of songs, we were a bit late so we could not get in ( sold -out : 15 people in there ) but we saw her as they left the doors open.

AYO performing in a lounge nextdoor - salon Jérome-

Tv Crew set up the cameras then Ayo rehearsed a bit so we were asked to go on the balcony ( it's getting chilly now ) for 15 min then called back to take a seat ( for only 20 people )and she did ONE song ( WHAT THE FUCK ??? ) All this shit for just one song !!!

Then we went into the office of the Minister for an interview with 2 french shitty writer who are telling us that they are independant because they have signed to a small publisher, so they only have to deal with a couple of people, even tough this publisher is owned by a company as big as Universal and they enjoy the huge distribution and publicity because it's a huge company, but they are still "Indie"
I' ve never heard some much crap is such a short time . These people are in the twilight zone.

Napoléon ( left ) and Julius Caesar ( ? ) were among us tonight !!!
Correction : In fact it's not Napoleon but his little brother Jérome Bonaparte and
the lounge is called - Salon Jérome-

FANTASTIC NIGHT !!! Bands were playing one after another so we didn't wait at all ( well almost ) Nice cocktail upstairs but i missed most of it as i was rocking with the crowd.
Nice aftershow "gigs" upstairs , in a hour we just had 3 songs but you're not invited every week In the office of the Minister for the Culture. So we won't ask for our money back .

"Melody Nelson" by Serge Gainsbourg @ Cité de la Musique Paris Oct 23rd 2008

UPDATED OCT 25th WITH 2 NEW PICTURES with BRIAN MOLKO

UPDATED OCT 24th with new video featuring Daniel Darc !!!

Jean Claude Vannier conducting the whole orchestra

Special Night @ La Cité de la Musique as we're gonna hear , at last , Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg live in its entirety for the second time.

First time was at the Barbican Center in London on Oct 21st 2006.
In 1971 when the album was released it had no success at all .
This album is credited only to Serge Gainsbourg but it is as much the album of Jean Claude Vannier as he wrote all the music and did the arrangements. Some music were written even before Serge put a pen to paper.

The concert was divided in 3 parts :
1st : 9 songs are played with JC on piano and vocals or instrumentals with JC conducting the orchestra ( see setlist for details ). Instrumentals were top .

2nd : JC is playing his unreleased and now cult album " L' enfant assassin des mouches" for which Serge Gainsbourg wrote a few lines. Some parts were very good others average.

3rd : we had " Melody Nelson".

The whole cast

See complete setlist for details :
French actor Mathieu Amalric didn't sing as he had the spoken parts , his voice matched perfectly the original version same with Martine Topley Bird ( who's playing Melody ).

Brian Molko did the vocals for " Ballade de Melody ..." he sung it his own way ( with his high duck voice ) but did a very decent job on it ( see video )with a punchy version.
French singer Brigitte Fontaine was out of it for " Valse de Melody", sometimes out of key. a let down .

Daniel Darc was Perfect on " Ah Melody" , the best performance of the night for what is probably my favorite song on this album.
French singer Alain Chamfort, considering his voice, did well on " l' Hotel particulier".
Seaming To "sung" like Yoko Ono on "en melody" but the original version has screams and gasps like Yoko Ono would do so it was perfect.
French actress Clothilde Hesme probably had the longest part to " sing" and did well too on " Cargo Culte".
In fact the whole cast did very good apart from brigitte fontaine , they all stick to the original version excluding Brian Molko who sung his song in a different key ( much more higher ).
It's funny to see that 2 years ago he had short hair and was starting getting bald on the top and now he has thick long black hair !

Seaming To , Alain Chamfort, Daniel Darc ,Martina Topley Bird, Brian Molko

Mathieu Amalric, Brigitte fontaine & Clotilde Hesme

UPDATED WITH NEW VIDEO :
" Ah Melody" with Daniel Darc :
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=d31eM7pPxS4
Updated Oct 25 th with 2 new pictures below:

Herbie Flowers backstage : Bass on Melody Nelson & countless other records ( left )
Complete Setlist + program signed by Brian Molko , Melody Nelson cd signed by Herbie flowers & JC Vannier (right )

"Ballade de Melody Nelson" featuring Brian Molko" :

Jacques Higelin @ Studio SFR Paris Oct 22nd 2008

Private showcase @ Studio SFR in Paris to promote a new book on french singer Jacques Higelin by photographer Laurence Leblanc , words by Clémentine Dérouville.

Jacques Higelin with Laurence Leblanc ( left ) and
Clémentine Déroudille ( right )

First there is an interview, well... hard to say it is an interview as Jacques is fooling around all the time, the girls could hardly say a word. Clémentine is laughing but Laurence is clearly pissed off by the situation .
Note: Clémentine is the grand-daughter of famous french photographer Robert Doisneau.
Then, there is the concert : Jacques is still in high spirit and is still fooling around a lot.
He's playing a few songs in between reading his texts including a very long, and unreleased , one ( 15 min ).
First time i was seeing him and he was fun.
It's not really my cup of tea when he's reading texts but when he's playing on guitar or on piano , he's very talented musically ( and lyrically ) .
Good evening but lousy cocktail after.

"Chinese Democracy" tracklisting revealed ... GUNS 'N ROSES

GUNS ' N FUCKIN' ROSES IS BACK

The album will be out on Nov 24th.

"Chinese Democracy" tracklisting revealed :

'Chinese Democracy'
'Scraped'
'Shackler's Revenge'
'Street Of Dreams'
'If The World'
'Better'
'This I Love'
'There Was A Time'
'Riad N' The Bedovins'
'Sorry'
'I.R.S.'
'Catcher'
'Madagascar'
'Prostitute'

Lou Reed @ Virgin Megastore Champs Elysées paris Oct 21st 2008

Lou Reed has just released a book and he's here at the Virgin Megastore tonight to sign it , and only the book ... so they say !

A book of his lyrics has already been released a few years ago, how to make something new with something old. The french publisher needs some extra bucks.
This new book is crap , they did some effects on the text , like the one i was doing 20 years ago on my Amstrad computer , COMPLETE RUBBISH .
Lou is very late but is nice and takes time to speak to everyone, you could get your cd or vinyl sign too.

Tomorrow night Private party and concert for the launch of a new Jacques Higelin book at the Studio SFR near Madeleine in Paris.

Gainsbourg Exhibition @ Cité de la Musique & Lou Reed reading @ 104 Paris Oct 20th 2008

First we went to the Varnishing-day of the Gainsbourg Exhibition @ Cité de la Musique.
Lots of hangers-on as always, awfully crowdy it was hard to see anything,
We spotted Jane Birkin & daughter Charlotte surrounded by so many cameras and security that it was ridiculous, Poor girls they were so scared by all this mess that they made a quick exit by a side door.

Jane ( left ) Self-portrait ( right )

Lots of hand-written lyrics and memorabilia, so that's very cool unfortunately this exhibition is a little bit of a mess, with screens everywhere playing TV shows , movies and images with no explanations at all, the sound of these tv-sets is also coming from everywhere so after half an hour you have a headache.
Lots of very small pictures on the walls so you need a magnifying glass to see them.
When they did this were they on fucking drugs or what ?
Maybe the conditions were not at their best for this exhibition. I'll give it a second chance and maybe some of us were a bit angry after dealing with this vermine PR.
Can't believe the attitude of this bitches.
Nevertheless we had a nice time at the aftershow cocktail but we made a quick exit to the new hype place in Paris : Ze 104 ( a french modern " Factory" )

Sculpture of " L' Homme à la tète de chou" ( left )

Alternate picture for the cover of Melody Nelson ( right )

Lou Reed 's reading at the 104.
It started very late ( 9:20 instead of 8:30 PM ) so we didn't miss that much , glad we didn't see the whole thing as hearing someone reading texts even if it's Lou reed's , it's a bit boring.
The 400 capacity hall was sold-out and listened religiously.
Thanx he answered a few questions .

We went backstage to meet him , French superstar designer Philip Stark was there , french singer Christophe too. we all stayed there for 30 min , had a chat , he signed a few things too. Then everybody went to the aftershow cocktail , a 100 people were already there drinking Champagne. Lou Reed talk to a few, signed a couple of programs and left .

First time I was going to an event there, it's beautiful and huge.

Lou Reed backstage with French singer Christophe

That's it for tonight,many things to come next week including many TV Shows ( with Kaiser Chiefs , the Killers , Franz Ferdinand , Beck , Santogold... ) Private gig ( Jacques Higelin ) and so on ... So stay Tuned

Suzanne Vega @ Alhambra Paris Oct 19th 2008

Richie Havens ( left ) Suzanne on stage ( right )

Suzanne Vega is back in Paris , this time @ the tiny Alhambra.
Needless to say that the show is SOLD-OUT.
As we arrived around 5 PM we spotted Richie Havens going out of the venue ( he's playing here tomorrow ).
This club is brand new , first time i'm going there. around 600 capacity with a small balcony.
Suzanne played in Paris last year ( June 27th 2007 ) to promote her then new cd " Beauty & Beast", i've been listening to her whole catalogue these last few days and this album is really her best so far ...
i don't know if it is because it's sunday , show starts at 6:30 Pm
Still very good looking with her hat ( and without ... ) , this is one of the last show on the tour, no full band tonight just Gerry Leonard on guitars , loops , some kind'O Bass and weird noises.
I love her music and when you have the right songs you don't need 20 musicians to enhance them.
I remember a show at la Cigale a few years ago she came with only a bass player and when i saw that i thought "What the Fuck ?!? It's gonna be boring" No way it was one of the best gig i've been to that year .
With a guitar or just on vocals (with the help of Gerry) that's enough don't need no more as she has some very good songs , she picks up some of her best plus a few from the last cd ( did i tell you that it is very good ? )
See Setlist for details... NB : Song n° 12 was " Maggie May" & She added "world before Columbus" before "Anniversary" ( here on video ) & last song was " Cracking".
Very good songs, a few jokes, a smile and you've got yourself a GREAT gig !!! Isn't that simple ?
After the show, as she always does , she came to sign a few cds in the lobby.

Setlist ( incomplete ... ) + Promotionnal cd signed

"Anniversary":

Yesterday Sony Music France organized a "hunt" in Paris to promote the new AC/DC record " Black Ice" . Hostesses were giving you clues in different part of the capital , to find cds with in one of them a ticket to go and see AC/DC in the US for the first show of the world tour .
Didn't get ANYTHING .

A beautiful hostess in front of 1 of the 6 "Black Ice", here in Montmartre.

Julien Doré @ "Pont des Artistes" Oct 15th 2008

After the sound, the broadcast was tonight on France Inter, here are the images with a video from the show recorded a few days ago on Oct 15th :

Listen to the full show ( podcast ) on their website this week :
http://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/em/pontdesartistes/

James Hunter @ New Morning Paris Oct 17th 2008

JVC Jazz festival in Paris with James Hunter @ the New Morning in Paris Oct 17th.

One of the last concert for this Jazz festival in Paris , haven't been to a lot of these as there were many other gigs this month.
But what a nice way to ( almost ) end this Fest with James Hunter.
It's not really Jazz even if you can hear this musical influence into his Soul/ R&B , even a bit of the very early rock in a time when it wasn't called Rock and was played mainly ( shoul i say ONLY ) by blacks .
If you close your eyes, this lad ( yes mate he's one of us ) sounds like a black man from the 50's-60's even tough he's as white as ... M Jackson well , a bit more !
Hard to believe that his music was made in the 21st century,
I don' t want to repeat myself so have a look at the review i wrote when he played Canal+ TV Show " L' album de la semaine" in September.
http://rockerparis.blogspot.com/2008/09/james-hunter-l-album-de-la-semaine.html

He is just FUCKIN' GREAT !!!
His new record " Hard way" is getting rave reviews everywhere and he fucking deserves it.

Just listen to a few songs for free on his website : http://www.jameshuntermusic.com/
And this chap is funny too ...

NOW , Watch our video below you won't be disappointed.

Setlist signed with Pass

-Pictures AND review by Patrice Guino-
Here's the title track of his new cd " Hard Way" :

Thanks to Yazid

see ya folks tomorrow afternoon for AC/DC 's "Black Ice" hunt down the streets of Paris.
and don't forget Suzanne Vega on sunday at the Alhambra in Paris.

Jimmy Barnes Paris Trabendo Oct 16th 2008

Jimmy Barnes @ Paris' Trabendo Oct 16th 2008

Jimmy's sexy "little" daughter Elly- May

First we have Jimmy' s 19 year old young daughter Elly-May who 's doing a few covers including Lou Reed's " Satellite of love", Dolly Parton's " I will always love you" ( covered by Whitney Houston too ) and some others .
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=jfW2zVpK_DE
Older sister E.J sing one on her own on guitar she speaks perfect French . Both have stunning voices, and are doing backing vocals in Jimmy ' s Band tonight .
It's a family affair as the drummer is their brother Jackie.

Jimmy' s second daughter E.J

Last time Jimmy Barnes played in Paris was 14 years ago so we're glad that he's back , he's a legend down under but not really here in France .
The Trabendo isn't sold out, where are all the Australian living in Paris ?
We watch a bit of the soundcheck so we know it's gonna be rock.
And yes... IT IS ROCK !
Many people on stage 5 musicians plus Jimmy's daughters on backing vocals and Jimmy on vocals.
We are treated to a Best of ... some Cold Chisel , Jimmy's first band and many songs from his solo career ( see setlist below ). So lots of rock tunes , the 80's were fatal for many rock bands so we also have some AOR songs and a couple of ballads.So a nice balance with heavy stuff and more relax songs . He's playing a duet with his daughter Elly-May .
Jimmy Barnes still have his voice intact , he would have been the perfect singer for AC DC .
On stage He's giving it all for more than 2 hours .
He mentioned several times a fan who is following them around Europe and who's been to every show and they rehearsed a couple of songs specially for him as he asked them to play different songs . How cool is that ?
Another great gig .
After the show Jimmy went straight to the merchendising to sign cds and take pictures with fans
Cool !

One beer please !

Resurrection Shuffle :

See ya tonight ( Oct 17th ) @ New Morning Jazz club for JAMES HUNTER
http://www.myspace.com/jameshuntermusic

Christophe , Julien Doré & Phoebe Killdeer @ Pont des Artistes Paris Oct 15th 2008

" Le Pont des Artistes " on France Inter radio
with Phoebe Kiildeer , Julien Doré and Christophe.

Radio recording of the show that will be broadcast on saturday the 18th at 8 PM
http://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/em/pontdesartistes/

Each artist performing after one another ( 1 or 2 songs ) followed by interviews.
Phoebe and Julien played 5 songs each , Christophe played 8 songs

Phoebe Kiildeer

Check her myspace page here :
http://www.myspace.com/phoebekilldeer

Julien Doré

He is a french singer winner of French Pop Idol and he's trying to get a credibility.

Christophe

He started in the mid-60's and is a bit of an icon over here in France.

Aftershow with Phoebe & Christophe

Full setlist signed by Christophe to our fellow photographer Patrice

Nice 2 hour recording in this lovely studio, each artist performed nice sets including Pop Idol winner Julien Doré, Christophe and Phoebe Kiilldeer were good too. Recording started late as they were late doing soundchecks , it seemed that Christophe was, in fact late and hard to work with but the most interesting parts were the interviews between songs, Phoebe seemed a little bit lost here , even though her french is perfect ( she's australian ). There was tension in the air at the beginning and with what Christophe and Julien said, it was like being in the Twilight zone.
After the show , we met the singers , they were nice and chatty to everybody.

I'll post videos of each artist after the broadcast on saturday so stay tuned ...

Check the review of another "Pont des Artistes" with Keziah jones.
http://rockerparis.blogspot.com/2008/09/keziah-jones-le-pont-des-artistes.html

Nice day, as i spent, just before going to France Inter, 90 min with American actor Dennis Hopper ( Easy Rider , Appocalypse Now , Blue Velvet ... ) , here in Paris to promote his Exhibition at the French Cinémathèque .
www.cinematheque.fr