N-E-R-D is in Paris for a few days promoting their brand new album to be out on Nov 1st, they will be playing the Zénith tomorrow with VV Brown & Mark Ronson. 5 musicians all dressed in black (including two drummers), 2 rappers and two sexy black dancers on platforms on each side of the stage with Pharrell Williams , dressed in white center stage. Is it N-E-R-D or Pharrell Williams' NERD ? They've played only 7 songs , the first 4 songs were very slow and Pharrell stuck to his mike reading the lyrics so the show really started with faster and groovier songs , the last three. They didn't seem to give a fuck, too bad. Good set but it could have been so much better.
Paul McCartney @ Stella McCartney Spring Summer 2011 Opera Garnier, Paris Oct 4th 2010
For the last couple of years Paul McCartney has always been there to support her daughter Stella for the fashion week. On this rainy monday morning at the Opera Garnier Paul was present once again with many other family relatives: Barbara Bach (Ringo Starr's wife), Olivia Harrison, Mary & James McCartney as well as other celebrities including The Gossip's Beth Ditto, Salma Ayek & the beautiful Liv Tyler.
Liv Tyler + Stella & James (far right)
Unfortunately Patrice, our dear photographer arrived a little bit late at the fashion show, it has already started, he can't party all nite long and get up at 9:00AM. He had a lousy seat in the back for the show, so sorry no Pics.
Father & Daughter
But we still have the backstage Pics to enjoy, Thanks to him.
After seeing GUNS N ROSES @ Paris Bercy and @ L'Arc Club the day after (scroll down for links to dozen of great Pics & Exclusive videos from both shows) we had to do another show on this tour. Lille is not very far from Paris, a couple of hours drive, and the Zénith is really a great concert hall, the front stalls are very close to the stage and it's like an amphitheatre , from everywhere you're seating the view is perfect. It's probably also the smallest hall in which Guns N Roses have played on this tour with a capacity of less than 7000 and is situated in the city center.
First we have Imperial State Electric for a 50 min set of good & sleazy Rock'n Roll à la Hanoi Rocks meets Kiss, much more better than those shitty Murderdolls we had in Paris. Axl is watching them from the side of the stage but it won't prevent him from making us wait more than an hour as GUNS N ROSES took the stage at 10:30PM
The more I see them the better I like them, The sound is neat and the view from the first row of the stalls is perfect. Axl Roses's voice is getting better even though there are some strange effects on his voice for a couple of songs ( "Rocket Queen" for example) it's like his voice is compressed and computerized and it sounds awful.
The Lille crowd is really into it, hard to find an empty seat even though they sold a few tickets on the door. We went into the pit for the Encore and we could easily sneak in down the first rows where Axl Rose's voice was mixed very low. The sound can be very different from where you're standing.
As usual on this tour, or at least for french shows, they never play the songs written on the setlist ( see pics). Great 2h30 min gig,
Zénith Lille aftershow & lousy official merchandise
original setlist from Lille modified & street name nearby Lille where we were staying
Bootleg merchandise better than the official
Chinese Democracy & Welcome to the Jungle from Lille:
Remember : GUNS N ROSES @ bERCY pART 1pART 2pART 3 (click on all links for GREAT Pictures, setlist, exclusive videos) GUNS N ROSES @ L'aRC Club pART 1pART 2
The Mountains & The Trees @ Oliver Peel session #29 Paris Oct 1 2010
Thanks to the lovely Chantal, The Mountains & The Trees could secure a back up plan after his show was cancelled a couple of days ago by the Truskel club. Organized at the 11th hour and it's already the Oliver Peel session #29. Jon Janes from Canada is ... a folk artist, he's playing many instruments but tonight he was on the acoustic guitar and a little bit of harmonica & guitar loops, for a really cool and long set ( for once @ Oliver, he was the only artist to play tonight). Lots of talking between songs to explain the "Genèse" of each song in a relax atmosphere, I have to say that there were only 30 beautiful people for this show. At least we could breath as last week it's was completely sold-out with more than 50 folk maniacs in the living room ( and kitchen). The evening couldn't be complete with some late pasta dinner.