Norah Jones @ France Inter Studio 104 Paris Dec 7th 2009

Norah Jones @ Radio France Paris
for France Inter studio 104

Billboards in front of Radio France

After going, yesterday to the shittest concert of the year with Devendra Banhart tonight we're going to see another artist playing soft songs : The lovely Norah Jones.

Lots of posh people & guests from France Inter & EMI as it's an invit' only private show in Studio 104 ( 1500 capacity ? ).
This show is broadcasted live on the France Inter radio, in a couple of days it should be in streamin on the website.

Conditions are perfect once again at Radio France ( Black Sessions are also here in a smaller studio ) as we are seated in confortable red sofas like in a movie theatre.

Norah on Wurlitzer

9:00 Pm Norah Jones and her new band is making her way on stage.
Don't expect jazz this time as she's playing lots of songs from her new cd, to be out shortly.
It's much more 'rock'. Well it's pop-rock with some country influences.
First , she's now playing the guitar , she's not that good , only playing simple rythm ( a bit like Madonna) but she's not that bad either.
The voice is ... you know her voice : warm , soft and... strong when it needs too & always a gem.
And she's very sexy in high heels, black dress, red top and short hair.

She's standing up most of the time on guitar or on electric piano playing soft rock mid-tempo songs some a bit country others a bit jazz.

Even when she's seating down at the piano on her own for a couple of " western songs" it's not a grand piano but an upright-piano.
She did two covers ( see complete setlist below ) one by Tom Waits and one by Wilco and she didn't forget to play " come away with me" to the audience delight.

Very good 90 min set.
After show party at the bar upstairs but we didn't go ( in fact we were not invited this time ).

On guitar + Norah's personnal setlist & invitations

Pearl Jam summer European Tour 2010

YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHh !!!!!!!

PEARL JAM'S 2010 EUROPEAN TOUR DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

22-June Dublin, Ireland 02 Arena

23-June Belfast, Ireland Odyssey Arena

25-June London, England Hard Rock Calling (Hyde Park)

30-June Berlin, Germany Wuhlheide

3-July Arras, France Main Square Festival

4-July Werchter, Belgium Rock Werchter Festival

10-July Oeiras, Portugal Optimus Alive Festival

Devendra Banhart @ Cigale Paris Dec 6th 2009

Devendra Banhart @ Cigale
Paris Dec 6th 2009

La Cigale is Sold-out, we get there early and we couldn't find a seat at the balcony ( Well Patrice could secure one ).
Just in time for the support artist , a folk singer on his own, all dressed in white with projections all over his white suit: nice effects but the music is soooo boring.
I mean really boring

But nothing could prepare us to the Devendra Banhart performance.
He played the whole set with only red lights on him and almost completely in the dark.
First song was ok but after this ....
Probably the most boring show I have been to this year so far.
Songs are lame and so ssssslow ( I should write zzzzzzzlow ).
He played with his band for the first 5-6 songs then solo on acoustic guitar ( with a Johnny Thunders ' cover " You can't put your arms around a memory" ) or keyboard , later the band joined him back for some more very boring songs.
I almost gave up when he took the bass and the bass player took the mic to sing one.
Fortunately the last 5 songs were quite heavy with some nice heavy guitars.

One of our worst show this year , sssso bad after the gig of Them Crooked Vultures @ Canal+.

setlist & merchandising stall

Ringo Starr is in Paris

Just before Paul McCartney live @ Bercy next week on Dec 10th.

Ringo Starr arrived in Paris a few days ago , he will stay for a few more.
Some Promo for the next record ??? Maybe...

He will leave Paris Tuesday night ( 8th Dec )

UPDATED MONDAY DEC 7th :

Bad news
Ringo had to rush back to London so the Press conference is (probably) cancelled.

Them Crooked Vultures @ L' Album de la Semaine Paris Dec 4th 2009

Them Crooked Vultures @ L' Album de la Semaine

Paris Dec 4th 2009

Rehearsals by Francis Zégut ( check his website for more )

Well well well, lots of expectations for this private gig @ Canal+ .
We get there early as we were to attend the soundcheck @ 5:00 PM.
Met a couple of friends and made our way into the tiny studio ( capacity for tonight 250 people ) Patrice Guino , our photographer couldn't take any pictures because of one bitch from Sony Music France. Too bad. this fuckin' bitch had nothing better to do !!!
Anyway the band jam a bit , had fun for more than 30 min , then they did an interview but people were asked to leave the premises just before.

Dave by Francis Zégut ( Thanks man )

Soundcheck setlist ( tbc ):
Scumbag blues
No one loves me
Caligulove
Reptiles
Interlude w/ludes
Highway 1 (tbc )

We were told that the band was playing a proper set , which means playing 90 min.
Most of the tickets have been booked by Sony Music France for the Press & relatives but there were a few fans including the two maniacs behind me who headbanged for the whole set.

The record is OK, I thought that their show at the Rock en Seine Festival last August was kickin' ass (click for GREAT pics & Video from the set ).
Seeing them in such conditions was perfect , once again in this studio.
Songs on records are just Ok but LIVE they're masterpieces ( well, apart from a couple ).
Dave Grohl is a fucking KILLING MACHINE !!! Smiling all the time to John Paul Jones.
He's like a kid in a candy store.
Funny to see John Paul Jones playing with those guys , funny to see him asking Josh Homme for a short break between two songs as Josh was introducing the next one as they've barely finished the previous.
Josh Homme was as cool as ever, he was the only one ( with Alain ) to stop to sign autographs to fans on his way in.
Alain Johannes was also very nice , he's fluent in french and is playing bass, guitar & keyboards for the band.
They've played a new song and Josh told us that they have plenty more.
A second record in the can ?

Great set , in my top 5 for 2009
It was Ze one not to be missed.

Setlist & John Paul Jones