Rachael Dadd + Ichi + Emma & Chris @ Oliver Peel session #40, Paris Sept 24 2011

Rachael Dadd + Ichi + Emma Gatrill & Chris

@ Oliver Peel session #40, Paris Sept 24 2011

Emma Gatrill

Probably the penultimate session @ Oliver's near the Eiffel Tower before Oliver Peel moves to another place ( NEXT ONE ON Oct 06th, YES IT'S ON THURSDAY ) with Headlining act Rachael Dadd from Bristol.
The appartment is rammed tonight with lots of English & Americans and, as usual, lots of beautiful girls.
First on "stage" is Emma Gatrill, she has a tiny voice that's suits perfectly with her tunes on guitar or harp.

Ichi from Japan

Then we have Japanese multi-instrumentalist Ichi with certainely the most funny and unusual gig we ever attented @ Oliver's. He's playing lots of different instruments (see Pics) including the most unusual ones like playing with a type-writter or steel-drums with ping pong balls ... and water.
Surprising and entertaining

Rachael Dadd & friends

Last but not least is Rachael Dadd with some folk music on guitar, ukulele or banjo.
Very traditionnal with Irish influences.
She also has some guests musicians with Emma & Chris + Ichi.
She already played @ Oliver's on March 27 2010.

some of the beautiful people

Once again a complete success, lots of people , lots of food and drinks, a very good atmosphere.
It was a premiere too as we had a couple of people that nearly fainted because of the heat.

some more...& the artists (far left)

We had an after-show session down in the courtyard with Emma who played us a couple of more songs on harp.
The night ended with more drinks and pasta for all until the early morning.

Aftershow concert with Emma/ cat's getting all the attention/ en route...

Review @ Oliver's + Pics to come shortly.

Next shows in Paris for September & October 2011

Check first before going to all these shows, Thanks

Sept 24:

Rachael Dadd @ Oliver Peel Session (private session)
Sept 25
Mina Tindle + Anne Flore @ Parc de Belleville (4:00 pm - Free Show)
Sept 26
Miossec, tv recording for L'Album de la Semaine
Sept 27:
The Specials @ Olympia
Theophilus London, tv recording for L'Album de la Semaine
Sept 28
Ryan Adams, tv recording for L'Album de la Semaine
Sept 30
Black Lips @ Cigale CANCELLED
Jean Louis Murat @ Fnac St Lazare (free show)
Oct 02:
Charlie Watts @ New Morning ( 2 shows @ 6:00pm & 08:00pm)
Oct 03
Charlie Watts @ Théatre Alexandre Dumas in St Germain en Laye ( 30 km west of Paris)
Oct 05
Tori Amos @ Grand Rex
Wishbone Ash @ New Morning
Oct 06
The Goastt ( feat. Sean Lennon) @ Café de la Danse
Oliver Peel session
Oct 07
Brett Anderson @ La Machine du Moulin Rouge
Judy Collins @ Divan du Monde
Oct 09
Steve Hackett @ Cigale
Oct 10
Status Quo @ Olympia
Oct 11
Joan Baez @ Grand Rex
Billy Cobham Quartet @ New Morning
Oct 12
Joan Baez @ Grand Rex
Kitty Daisy & Lewis @ Maroquinerie
Oct 13
Alela Diane @ Trianon
Oct 14
Crosby & Nash @ OLympia

R.E.M. split up, 1980-2011

R.E.M. call it a day

Official statement:
"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening." R.E.M.

Mr Big @ Bataclan, Paris Sept 21 2011

Mr Big @ Bataclan, Paris Sept 21 2011

What the Fuck ?
When do a Rock'n Roll show start @ 8:00 pm sharp ?
We've missed the first two songs.

With Mr Big the musicianship is high, with Billy Sheehan on bass, Paul Gilbert on guitar & Eric Martin on vocals + Pat Torpey on drums.
We were standing on Billy's side and with his 6 speakers behind him (see pic below) We can tell ya that we heard some bass and more bass that you can imagine !!!!
Mr Big is the typical American Hard rock band from the early 90's before grunge.

We've been talking about Van Halen recently as they are going to play Paris Bercy on May 28 2012, Mr Big has connection with them as Billy Sheehan was considered for bass in Van Halen & Eric Martin was close of being their singer after David Lee Roth's sacking in 1985.

I haven't heard any of their records for many years but we saw them in 2009 at this very same venue and we liked what we saw.
Don't need to tell you that I hardly remember any of their songs, well just a few ones.
The band is impressive because of the musicianship of both Billy and Paul and between some of their songs with have some cool bass and guitar soli.
Eric Martin is also a great showman.Always a smile or a wink of an eye for a member of the audience, à l'Americaine.

Of course they don't forget to play their N° 1 slow song " To be with you" which was a huge hit in 1992, funny to see that Eric Martin hasn't changed, as young as ever. The voice is still there too with some great backing vocals by all of them.

For the Encore they're playing Deep Purple's "Smoke on the water" ( click for great video)and they are switching their instruments: Pat is on bass, Eric on guitar, Paul on drums and Billy on vocals for the first part of the song, then Eric is switching for bass, Billy on guitar & Pat on vocals.
Nice treat
Last song is David lee Roth's "ShyBoy" (here on video).

Very good 2h10 min set

setlist Mr Big @ Bataclan, Paris

Merchandising

Last song "Shy Boy":

Check our previous review of Mr Big @ Bataclan on Sept 16 2009

Brian Wilson @ Casino de Paris, Sept 20 2011

Brian Wilson @ Casino de Paris, Sept 20 2011

Girl of Paris (far left), Brian Wilson réimagine Gershwin à Paris

Brian Wilson is back in Paris after playing Le Grand Rex in 2007, I can' t believe it's already 4 years.
This time he's playing Gershwin songs from his recent album.
Almost the Same band as for the last 10 years ( new drummer and bass player and the beautiful Taylor Mills is missing ) more than 10 musicians on stage with some extra French musicians including a sexy girl on cello.
Needless to tell you that these guys are playing perfectly specially the vocal harmonies which are faultless.

Merchandising

Brian Wilson in center stage seating behind a keyboard that he will rarely play and reading his lyrics on the screen, i'm also pretty sure that his intros and chat between songs are also written down.
Brian still has a good voice even though he's not singing the high harmonies and leaves it to Jeffrey or Darian who are both singing lead vocals on a song each.

Ist part of the show is The Gershwin album from the first song to the last.
This part is pretty average, songs are played Brain Wilson style not for the best, there's something lacking. It's not swinging as it should be.

The second part is a Beach Boys best of... and it's rocking even if the audience is still comfortably seating down.
The musicians have to ask them to stand up and dance...finally !
Funny to see Brian, he sometimes looks like a big bear lost in the middle of all this but he always has been acting funny at all the shows we've been to these last few years, probably 15 in all, most of them at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

So... average first part and very good second part.

Brian Wilson's setlist @ Casino de Paris

1st Part with Gershwin songs, the album in its entirety and in order :
1) Rhapsody in blue (intro) 2) The like in I love you 3) Summertime 4) I loves you, Porgy 5) I got Plenty o' nutting 6) It ain't necessarily so 7) 's Wonderful 8) They can't take that away from me 9) Love is here to stay 10) I've got a crush on you 11) I got rhythm 12) Someone to watch over me 13) Nothing but love 14) Rhapsody in Blue (reprise)

Sorry no video for this show, the security was a pain in the ass.
We've found one here's "Surfin' USA":

Check our review of The Beach Boys @ Grand Rex in July 2011 (With Pics & video)

Neal Casal + H-Burns @ West Country Girl, Paris Sept 19 2011

Neal Casal + H-Burns @ West Country Girl, Paris Sept 19 2011

H-Burns (left) Neal (far right)

After eating at a nice Lebanese restaurant with Cécile Peel & Miss Flower we went to the nearby crèperie West Country Girl where they are organising lots of concerts.
Tonight it's a small show with French singer H-Burns on acoustic guitar for a few songs before "headliner" Neal Casal.
The place is quite small, everyone knows each-other so it's a gig between friends, 30 people in all.
Neal is playing a few laid-back tunes in front of a very dedicated audience.
Cool set.

Amy Winehouse entire show @ L'Album de la Semaine streaming , Paris Jan 29 2007

Amy Winehouse played her first ever show in Paris @ Canal+ tv show L'Album de la Semaine on Jan 29 2007.
At the time she was completely unknown, 6 months later she was a superstar.
That's the only time we saw her live, enjoy this 30 min show, it's on for streaming for a week only:

Le live de la semaine - Amy Winehouse en live