John Butler + Tété + Nicky Bomba @ Folies Bergere Paris july 10th 2009

John Butler +Tété + Nicky Bomba
@ Folies Bergere Paris July 10th 2009

First on stage is Nicky Bomba on guitar and different percussion and samples , We just arrived for the last 2 songs as he started playing very early, the whole seated theatre is already packed.
His set went down a storm, he had a couple of people from the audience to play with him on stage, very fun and lively.
Then we have French singer Tété ( pictures above ) .
He had a couple of hits in France with his acoustic-soul music. The songs are good, people like him a lot here. Unfortunately he's trying to be funny between songs ( he had to tune his guitar each time ) it's ok once or twice but it the end it started getting on my nerves maybe he should stick to the music. Or maybe I didn't get it as everybody was having fun.
Maybe I should stop moaning all the time.

John Butler is very popular in France , his concerts have allways been very lively and fun, he's playing tonight on his own for most of the first part of the gig , he will be joined by Nicky Bomba on drums for the second part.
You think that someone seated playing acoustic guitar on his lap might be boring : WRONG.
Once again John Butler proved that he's a great artist , songs are fun , he's using lots of different effects on the guitar ( from acoustic to electric to indian sitar ) to great results.
How many people can play a instrumental guitar song on his own for 9 min without being boring ? He can do it and it's FUN.
They ended the set with Nicky Bomba ( a great showman ) by using every kind of percussion they could put theirs hands on to ( including a chair ) and had the audience split in 3 to sing each one a different melody while Nick & John were conducting it.
Of course they didn't forget Mickael Jackson by playing ( with Tété as a guest on vocals ) the Jackson 5's " I want you back ". Here on video.
NOTE: They may have changed the setlist or maybe play one song before the other. (He introduced a song about the Prime Minister of Australia and played ... another. )

setlist

Jackson 5's " I want you back " with Tété:

Madonna@ Bercy July 9th 2009

Madonna @ Bercy
July 9th 2009

Same show as in September 2008 @ Stade de France
See our Pictures HERE ( First show) and HERE ( Second Show ) from the Stade de France.

Bercy is really packed even though there were still tickets left a few days ago.
The promoter even put people on both sides behind the stage , Bastard.

Lots of backing tapes for the vocals

After seeing Britney Spears in this very same place 3 days ago ( see our review and pictures HERE ) you can really tell the difference between someone with talent and who knows how to dance and entertain and a lousy " singer".
Just imagine a boxing game between Myke Tyson vs Prince.

Britney is KO.

Tribute to Mickael

ALL PICTURES, Courtesy of PATRICE GUINO

Lie down baby

-Click on each Picture for the Full size-

Rock & dance

Some Fans

Some Girls

SEAL @ Paris Bercy July 8th 2009

SEAL @ Paris Bercy
July 8th 2009

Opening Band ?

3rd show in 3 days in Bercy for our team at ROCKERPARIS , we should be back for Madonna tomorrow ( or maybe we'll go to see Canned Heat @ Bataclan or Anthony & the johnsons @ Salle Pleyel or Chris Cornell @ Black Calavados , we don't know yet )
Almost sod-out tonight , Seal is VERY popular in France , he sold more than 1 Million of his last album " Soul".One third of the woldwide sales of his last cd were in France.
I saw him before chritmas at a Canal+ TV show " La Musicale" ( click on link for the review ) and I thought he was brilliant.

Can't tell you anything about the folk - rock support band ( even their name ) we just saw the last song , people seemed to have enjoyed it

Lots of soul cover in the first half with SEAL ( "Papa was a rolling stone" , "a change is gonna come" , "I've been loving you too long" , "Knock on wood" + one from Al Green , The Impressions ... )
Songs are great but when you're singing Soul music , you need SOUL and there isn't any SOUL in Bercy tonight , it sounds more like an easy-listening version of soul covers.
He's not helped by some totally uninspired musicians.

The second part is more focus on his songs which are much more electronic and dance than I thought , it's better but far from being fantastic.
He stayed most of the time on a small catwalk to be in contact with his fans shaking hands with them very often and even taking request ( He did " Ne me quitte pas" in English and a cappela ) and is also making the effort to communicate with the audience.

Nevertheless it was a very disappointing concert

Sorry the pictures are crap Patrice Guino our photographer didn't bother taking any for this one.

" Crazy " probably the best song tonight :

Leonard Cohen @ Paris Bercy July 7th 2009

Leonard Cohen @ Paris Bercy
July 7th 2009

On his knees

Back to Bercy for a very different concert than yesterday ( Britney Spears ) , this time we have a real composer & a real singer.
I' m not too familiar with Leonard's catalogue apart from his most famous songs , the place is packed but not sold-out in this all seated arena.
So there's around 12-13000 people.
Leonard is playing over two sets for almost 3 hours.
He has a deep and low voice, he's dressed smartly and is with 7 musicians and 3 girls on backing vocals.
Maybe some songs are sounding the same if you're not too familiar with his songs like I am.

SETLIST ( Courtesy of Leonard Cohen site & 1heckofAGuy )

• Dance Me To The End Of Love
• The Future
• Ain't No Cure For Love
• Bird On The Wire
• Everybody Knows
• In My Secret Life
• Who By Fire
• Chelsea Hotel #2
• Waiting For The Miracle
• Anthem

Second Set

• Tower Of Song
• Avalanche
• Suzanne
• Sisters Of Mercy
• The Partisan
• Boogie Street
• Hallelujah
• I'm Your Man
• Take This Waltz

First Encore

• So Long, Marianne
• First We Take Manhattan

Second Encore

• Famous Blue Raincoat
• If It Be Your Will
• Closing Time

Final Encore

• I Tried To Leave You
• Whither Thou Goest (tutti a cappella)

The best is to , Watch this :

" Suzanne" :


"The Partisan"

Blur NOT PLAYING @ Parvis Hotel de Ville Paris August 5th 2009

UPDATED JULY 9th:

BLUR HAS OFFICIALLY DENIED PLAYING IN PARIS ON AUGUST 5th
Sorry , you should never rely on French journalists especially in music.
These morons don't know shit.

BREAKING NEWS :
BLUR will play their last ever show In Paris on August 5th 2009
This will be a free show on the Parvis de L' Hotel de ville.

Updated July 8th:
Hold on baby ! NOTHING has been confirmed so don't buy your eurostar tickets to come to Paris before it's confirmed officialy.
I tried to get more info and got nothing , the journalist who said that might have been confused with Damon Albarn 's african project with Amadou & Mariam who are playing that day.
Paris Match original news