dimanche 19 avril 2009

Ben Harper @ La Cigale Paris April 20th 2009

Ben Harper @ La Cigale Paris April 20th 2009

Piers Faccini Opening / Ben Harper & Relentless7

Great to see Ben Harper back in Paris with a rock band Relentless7 , exit The Innocent Criminals.
I just couldn't bare them anymore.
When was the last time Ben Harper did a decent record ? I just can't seem to remember "Diamonds on the inside" was the beginning of the end for me. By trying to please everyone he just pissed off everybody.
Now back to basics.
Piers Faccini is opening , a bit boring maybe I wasn't in the mood for this folk-rock , the cello girl is really cute.
Then Ben Harper , I haven't listen to any of the new songs and I want some Fuckin' Rock'n Roll.
And I did get it tonight , he's still alternating between his electric guitar and his weissenborn ( played on his lap ) almost only new songs tonight.
He played the whole new cd
Very rock at the beginning then so more laid back tracks.
Lots of jamming à la Jimi Hendrix Experience when the band was doing a bit of Free Jazz.
The drummer is really good and as you can see on the pictures ( © Guino Patrice ) they are playing on vintage instruments.
Many songs were more than 6 min long ( including one of almost 10 min ) but never dull or boring.
Great atmosphere as Ben is ( was ) very famous over here , lots of claping and singalong when needed .

Quiet & wild
Shake it Maaan !

Nice drumming Dude.
Ben can't face these froggies ;-)


The only thing I couldn't understand is why they did a cover of the duet Queen/ David Bowie's " Under Pressure" ?
the vibe was sooo good for the whole gig and they just RUIN everything by playing this song , don't get me wrong it's a good song but it had nothing to do here at all .
Especially considering Ben 's vocals compare to Fredie Mercury's.
14 songs played in all ( 4 for the encore )

SETLIST: ;-)

Better Way* (from "Both sides ..." )
Number With No Name
Shimmer And Shime
Lay There & Hate Me
Why Must You Dress
Shin Thin
Fly One Time
Keep It Together
The Word Suicide
Boots Like These
Lonely Day* ( from 1st record )
FaithfullyRemain
Under Pressure (Queen).*
Up To You Now

90 min
GREAT set , Ben Harper is back from the dead , so good to see ( hear ) him starting all over again with a new band for a fresh new start.
Keep on rockin' Man.

A new song "Shimmer & Shine" :



Watch Queen/David Bowie's " Under Pressure" here :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAWCcerd08c

He will also play a private show @ Studio SFR on Saturday the 25th .
There will be a private listening party on the 22nd @ EMI headquarter in Paris.

A Camp is playing @ Maroquinerie on 26th April

see ya there

samedi 18 avril 2009

Willy DeVille forced to cancel all 2009 plans because of Hepatitis C treatment

Willy DeVille is forced to cancel all plans for 2009 as he's treated for Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the blood. The infection can cause liver inflammation that is often asymptomatic, but ensuing chronic Hepatitis can result later in cirrhosis and liver cancer.

It is a disease spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person. Hepatitis C is often associated with used needles.

About 4.5 million Americans suffer from hepatitis C, which is hard to detect but can cause scarring of the liver and lead to cirrhosis

Willie is not the first rocker to reveal his Hepatitis C infection , Steven Tyler ( Aerosmith ) faught it , apparently with success , in 2006
Tyler said it wasn’t easy to deal with the disease and the treatment took a toll on his body — and his marriage
It took him 11 months of chemotherapy.

So Willy Get well soon !

Videos of Willy in Paris' Cigale last July HERE and HERE
Review with Pics HERE

mardi 14 avril 2009

Madonna buys $40M house in NY

You wanna see where it is how it looks like click HERE

Alela Diane @ L' Album de la Semaine April 14th 2009


setlist

Alela Diane is still in Paris for some promotion , this time she's playing the famous Canal+ tv show " L' Album de la semaine" in front of 200 people.
It's packed tonight.
Same entrance as a few days ago at the Bataclan ( see review pics and video HERE ).
First song with only the backing vocalist girl and her father on acoustic guitar ( he will play several guitars from acoustic to electric during the set including a bit of Dobro ) then for the second song the bass player is joining in and then the drummer for the third.
She's here to promote her new cd " to be still" but she's opening her set with an 'old' song from " The Pirate's gospel" [2007] ( she'll end it with another one from the same record).
Once again she did a fine gig , I like her soft voice and the bass player is funny to watch as if someone had put a couple of lizards in his trousers LOL

She also played a private show @ The Salle de Billard of the Olympia Theatre in Paris yesterday ( Capacity 300 ) , sorry I didn't go, It was a long & lazy week-end for me.


dimanche 12 avril 2009