mardi 24 janvier 2012

Rock Meets Classic with Ian Gillan & Steve Lukather & Others @ Zénith, Paris Jan 24 2012

Contact: irockinparis((@))yahoo((dot))fr

Updated Jan 25 with links to videos

Rock Meets Classic
@ Zénith, Paris Jan 24 2012
Feat: Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Steve Lukather (Toto), Chris Thompson ( Manfred Mann), Robin Beck, Jimi Jamison (Survivor) + Matt Sinner Band

Jimi Jamison (Survivor)

"Rock Meets Classic" What's this ? A few years ago there was the British Rock Symphony with singers like Roger Daltrey, Paul Rodgers, Alice Cooper playing pop-rock covers with a classical orchestra, I guess it's the same concept, we shall see...

Apart from Deep Purple's Ian Gillan and Toto's Steve Lukather the other singers are completely unknown over here so it's not a big surprise to see when we get into the Zénith that's it's a (very) small Zénith (2500 capacity).
Literally there's no standing pit and only a few rows on the floor and the stalls are half empty.
In fact from what people told me they only sold around 800 tickets. Hard to believe.
Maybe a lack of publicity or the tickets were too expensive, in Germany this Rock meets Classic is playing in front of sold out arenas.
There's a classical orchestra in the back (30-40 musicians) & the Matt Sinner hard rock band.

In fact there's almost no classical music at all apart from a couple of intros, after a a good version of "Jump" sung by one of the backing vocalist we have the first "star" of the night Jimi Jamison singer from Survivor who was consider very seriously to join Deep Purple but his managers didn't wanna let him go so Joe Lynn Turner was hire.
The man has a great voice he's playing His songs (AOR music) with some classical arrangements for the orchestra, it will be like this for the whole show.
Cool set


SETLIST:
Intro "1984" + "Jump" from Van Halen
1) Burning Heart 2) Didn't know it was love 3) The search is over 4) I can't hold back 5) Eye of the tiger with Jimi Jamison
Robin Beck
1) Hide your heart 2) Tears in the rain 3) First time

Female pint-size american singer Robin Beck is playing a few songs, she's sexy and has a great voice but she's dressed like shit and looks more like a (sexy) house-wife who's been ask to sing a couple of tunes.
Another soft rock singer that would please american audiences but here in Paris ?

Chris Thompson

4 songs :You're the voice,Davy's on the road again , Blinded by the light ,The mighty Quinn

Then we have Chris Thompson , Chris Who ? Another completely unknown singer in France playing songs that nobody knows.
He's doing his best to get the audience of 40 something standing up, it's not bad but it's difficult to appreciate songs you've never heard from a guy you don't know.
Overall good first part before a 20 min intermission

Intermission
Steve Lukather

Intro 1) Rosanna 2) While my guitar gently weeps 3) Africa 4) I'll be over you 5) Hold the Line (here on video)

Luckily Steve Lukather is rocking with his Toto covers and the guitar playing is neat, nice George Harrison cover too
Great set

full review in the morning
Ian Gillan

Last in line is Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan for some Purple songs, Ian looks a bit tired and his right foot is in a cast but he's gonna deliver a great performance, can't go wrong with songs like this. Great to hear "knocking..." at last(here on video),Deep Purple should play it.

1) Highway Star 2) Knocking at your back door" 3) Perfect Strangers 4) When a blindman cries 6) Woman for Tokyo 7) Hush Encore 8) Smoke on the water (with everybody)



For the last song all the singers are joining Ian for a very good rendition of "Smoke on the water".
"Smoke on the Water" (click for video) with everybody

A/S with Steve Lukather

Good show with some great songs but I'm not too sure about the concept.
Rock Meets classic it's more Classic rock with some classical musicians for extra flavour.
This might be popular in the USA or Germany but over here in France?
Or maybe with other singers because who knows jimi Jamison, Robin Beck & Chris Thompson ?
Overall good first part and great second part but it sounded more like a rock version of "Age tendre et tête de bois"


Letz Zep (led zeppelin cover band) is also playing @ Olympia on Feb 1st
The Musical Box (Genesis cover Band) is playing @ Olympia on Feb 26

Don't forget to check our reviews of:

  • Deep Purple @ Zénith, Paris Nov 10 2010 ( With LOTS of great pictures) Part 1, Part 2
  • DEEP PURPLE @ Fete de L'Humanité on Sept 12 2009 in front of more than 60 000 people (with Pics FROM the stage, setlist & videos)
  • Ian PAICE clinic in Paris @ Trianon Hall on Sept 20 2009 with once again Pics from he stage (with Video)

Madonna to play @ Stade de France, Paris July 14 2012

It's NOW official:

SdF 2008 (far left) Bercy 2009 (right)

Madonna to play @ Stade de France in Paris on July 14 2012
Rockerparis announced it to ya all in November last year

Check our review & Pics of
Madonna @ Stade de France,Paris on Sept 20 2009 & Sept 21 2008
Madonna @ Paris Bercy July 09 2009
We also have some nude pictures from 1979.

lundi 23 janvier 2012

Without the dead ! album artwork


More covers including Ramones, Nick Drake, The Beach Boys, Johnny Thunders, The Who, Nirvana... HERE

vendredi 20 janvier 2012

Next recordings for Canal+ TV show L'Album de la Semaine for February 2012

Updated Jan 26: Mark Lanegan date change

Next recordings of L'Album de la Semaine tv show
Michael Kiwanuka/ Skip The Use/ Mark Lanegan

Feb 06
Michael Kiwanuka : He's English a soul man,He has been compared to Bill Withers and Otis Redding,[2] as well as Van Morrison and the Temptations.[3]

Feb 07:
Skip the Use: French rock band with a first album out the day before

***Feb 22 [May be on the 21st]***
Mark Lanegan: the man doesn't need any introduction, he's promoting his first solo album "Blues Funeral" since 2004's "Bubblegum".
For the moment this private show will be his only one in Paris on the European Tour and the very first of the tour.

Feb 27:
Trombone Shorty : Funk Soul from New Orleans

Bookings opening on L'Album de la Semaine facebook page a few days before each recording.

Lana Del Rey will be back in Paris on January 30 to play a song Live on Grand Journal @ Canal+

Chris Isaak @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris Jan 20 2012

Chris Isaak @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris Jan 20 2012

setlist

Chris Isaak tonight for a tv recording playing his brand new album of Sun records cover.
Smartly dressed as usual playing with his band of 26 years.
The gig started nicely and smoothly with his hit song "Blue Hotel" before playing songs from the new album " Beyond the Sun" including covers from Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison & Jerry Lee Lewis who was introduced a s the King of Rock 'n Roll, I don't think he would approve that.
Chris' voice is still the same: perfect
I was wondering what's the point of playing such famous songs,everybody's covering the same ones, Sun Records has such a catalogue of great less known songs.
Even though his versions are very similar to the originals, the versions he's playing are so good that in fact you don't care and just enjoy.
He played a few extra tracks that were not on the setlist ending with Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire".
Probably the best Album de la Semaine we attended in a long time.

There's a deluxe version of "Beyond the Sun" with a second cd with 11 extra songs

Chris Isaak playing @ Grand Journal on Jan 20 (recorded in the afternoon ?)
Veuillez installer Flash Player pour lire la vidéo

Echo & The Bunnymen @ Bataclan, Paris Jan 19 2012

Echo & The Bunnymen @ Bataclan, Paris Jan 19 2012


SETLIST:
1) Going up 2) Stars are stars 3)Pride 4) Monkeys 5) Crocodiles 6) Rescue 7) Villiers terrace 8) Pict on my wall 9) All that Jazz 10) Happy death Man
11) Show of strengh 12) With a hip 13) Over the wall 14) It was a pleasure 15) A promise 16) Heaven up here 17) The disease 18) All my colours 19) No dark things 20) Turquoise days 21) All I Want
Encore
22) Nothing lasts forever 23) The killing Moon 24) Lips like sugar


Erevan Tusk + The Teeers @ Colette, Paris Jan 19 2012

Erevan Tusk + The Teeers @ Colette, Paris Jan 19 2012
Colette Music Box # 11

Once a month, trendy Colette store is organizing a concert @ The water bar in the basement of its Rue St Honoré store.
It's free and the food & drinks are sponsored so there 's always quality food, this time it's homemade Marshmallows by Pain de Sucre for everyone. (& some macarons & champagne on your way in).

Erevan Tusk

First band on the tiny stage is Erevan Tusk , quality 60's influenced pop-rock, very ambiant à la Mercury Rev, in English for this french band, great songs.

The Teeers / Kids wanna ROOOOCCKKK!!!

Then suddenly the basement is getting packed by many kids, don't know where they're coming from, the oldest is probably 15 and the youngest 5-6 years old.
What the Fuck ???
The headlining act The Teeers is a power trio, hard to believe but those kids are really rocking and the musicianship is high considering that each one of them is barely 14 years old. Yes... 14 years old.
Now we understand why there's so many kids down here.
They have their own songs, good ones heavily influenced by the English pop-rock & Arctic Monkeys and they're singing... in English.

They are the Real baby-rockers and they fucking rock ! and they already have lots of groupies !

jeudi 19 janvier 2012

Bruce Springsteen new album "Wrecking Ball" tracklisting & artwork revealed

Bruce Springsteen new album "Wrecking Ball" out on March 06
artwork for single (left) & album (right)

The single "We take care of our own" is out today (Jan 19).

The album will be out on March 06.

Tracklisting:
01. We Take Care of Our Own
02. Easy Money
03. Shackled and Down
04. Jack of All Trades
05. Death to My Hometown
06. The Depression
07. Wrecking Ball
08. You’ve Got It
09. Rocky Ground
10. Land of Hope and Dreams
11. We Are alive
A special edition of 'Wrecking Ball' will also be available and include two bonus tracks and exclusive artwork and photography.
12. Swallowed Up (iTunes Bonus Track)
13. American Land (iTunes Bonus Track)

European Tour Dates are HERE

Check our review with Pics and setlist of Bruce Springsteen 's show @ Parc des Princes in 2008

mercredi 18 janvier 2012

AC/DC pinball Machine available from Stern

AC/DC official pinball machine is now available in the USA only !

Players will be able to rock out to 12 classic AC/DC hits.
More on the Official site
Check our Pictures of AC/DC @ Stade de France Part 3, Part 2, Part 1 in 2010
Check our previous reviews with LOTS OF GREAT PICTURES of AC/DC :
Stade de France June 12 2009
Paris Bercy 1 Feb 2009 , AC/DC @ Hotel in Paris
Paris Bercy 2 Feb 2009 , Part 2