lundi 5 mars 2012

Vernissage Exhibition Bob Dylan @ Cité de la Musique, paris March 05 2012

Vernissage Exhibition Bob Dylan @ Cité de la Musique, Paris March 05 2012
"L'Explosion Rock 61-66"

Cité de la Musique, Billboard & Entrance to exhibition with Pics from Daniel Kramer

Official opening of the Bob Dylan exhibition @ Cité de la Musique in Paris, lots of people tonight including some famous guests...
It's only Bob Dylan from 1961 to 1966.
Once you get there is a long corridor with fantastic and Iconic Pictures from Daniel Kramer who followed Bob Dylan for a year and made some of his early album covers including "Bring it all back home" & "Highway 61 revisited".

Handwritten lyrics, Poster & Jon Sebastian guitar & shirt

Then you have 3 rooms :
1) His musical influences
2) Woody Guthrie, NYC, Folk revival & Protest songs &
3) 1966 "Like a rolling stone"

Guitars... Buddy Holly, Elvis, Pete Seeger & Dylan

So lots of record covers from his influences, some fantastic guitars (see above) for the first time ever at the same exhibition...
In fact it's more an exhibition of his influences than Bob Dylan himself as there are very few personal documents : only a couple of his handwritten lyrics, one of his guitars, some original posters or handbills and... that's it.
None is coming from his personal collection as if he wasn't involved at all for this exhibition which is a shame.
Most of the docs are coming from the Grammy Permanent collection , Phil Ochs', Folk museums...
On this level I was a bit disappointed.
If you're into music it's great if you're a Dylan freak it's a bit short, isnt it ?
They also have a couple of small rooms where you can watch documents about Bob, interviews with people who worked with him...and some headphones to listen to the music.

Donovan & French singer Hughes Aufray who introduced Bob Dylan to the Frenchies in the early 60's

There is a basement floor with some French press cuttings and Pics of Bob Dylan in Paris and his relationship with the french music scene which is interesting and funny considering what was written in the press in the 60's.
Donovan was there as well as Hughes Aufray who did a record of Bob Dylan songs as early as 1964 (if i'm right !)
French (funny) articles in the press in the 60's
"Bob Dylan more expensive than (Maria) Callas...to sing one night in Paris"

Conference with Robert Santelli & Daniel Kramer / Afterparty

Daniel Kramer told us his meeting with Bob, how he worked with him, some secrets behind the cover artworks he made for him: That was very interesting.
Then we had a few drinks and canapés at the afterparty !
Cool evening ! but a bit of a let down Dylanwise.

Dylan for Sale...

Also on monday:
The Autumn Defense @ Fargo store (free showcase) 18h
Wilco @ Grand Rex
Tindersticks @ Trianon (sold-out)

Paul McCartney @ Stella McCartney AW 2013 collection @ Hotel de Ville, Paris March 05 2012

Paul McCartney @ Stella McCartney AW 2013 collection @ Hotel de Ville, Paris march 05 2012
Some pics from our friend Hervé M. @ Hotel de Ville this morning for the Stella McCartney fashion show.

Paul with Alicia Keys

samedi 3 mars 2012

Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) @ Surface To Air Store, Paris March 02 2012

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

Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) @ Surface To Air Store, Paris March 02 2012

booklet signed by Kim(far right)
Kim Gordon posing for our photographer Guino Patrice

Kim Gordon has designed clothes for Surface To Air.

Tonight was the launch of her collection (dresses , T-Shirts & shoes) @ the store Rue Vieille du Temple in Paris.
It's overpriced, the quality is average and the design's awful but we were glad to attend this party as Kim Gordon was here,and we love Sonic Youth @ Rockerparis, she seemed a little bit lost among the crowd, no need to tell you that the shop was packed and it was hard to make a move without spilling your glass of champagne.Too bad we didn't ask her what's the future for Sonic Youth after she split with her husband Thurston.
We didn't stay that long, as we had another party to go to @ Le Meurice hotel for the Vendôme Luxury trade show,but we had time to take a few pics of her (see above)

vendredi 2 mars 2012

Next shows in Paris for March 2012

March 02:
The Drums @ Bataclan
March 03:
Metronomy @ Zénith (sold-out)
March 05:
Wilco @ Grand Rex
Tindersticks @ Trianon (sold out)
Vernissage Exposition Bob Dylan @ Cité de la Musique
March 06:
Beth Hart @ New Morning (sold out)
Noel Gallagher @ Grand Rex (sold out)
Rammstein @ Bercy (sold out)
Fred Wesley @ La Scene Bastille
March 07:
Rammstein @ Bercy (sold out)
Snow Patrol @ Zénith
Sophie Hunger @ Cité de la Musique
Nick Waterhouse @ L'Album de la Semaine
March 08:
Fleshtones @ Petit Bain
Reza @ L'International
March 09:
The Ting Tings @ Cigale
Raphael Saadiq @ Olympia (sold out)
March 10:
Raphael Saadiq @ Olympia (sold out)
March 12:
Korn @ Bataclan

CHECK FIRST BEFORE GOING TO ALL THESE GIGS, Just in case something has changed...

jeudi 1 mars 2012

Max Von Sydow @ UGC Forum, Paris March 1st 2012

Max Von Sydow @ UGC Forum, Paris March 1st 2012

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" promo with Legendary Swedish (and now French ) actor Max Von Sydow for the projection and a Q&A.

autograph & Motley Crue billboard in the tube

lundi 27 février 2012

Trombone Shorty @ L'Album de la semaine, Canal+ Paris Feb 27 2012

Trombone Shorty @ L'Album de la semaine, Canal+ Paris Feb 27 2012
setlist

Less than one week after playing at the White House in front of President Obama with BB King, Buddy Guy, Mick Jagger, Booker T Jones....
Lots of groovy Funk-Soul-Rock tonight, first songs were all instrumental with lots of trombone (or trumpet) then he started singing with still some groovy tunes but more like Terence Trent D'Arby used to do when he was famous.
With had some great guitar playing too.
He's playing a sold-out show in a few days @ Bataclan in Paris, don't miss him.


dimanche 26 février 2012

The Musical Box @ Olympia, Paris Feb 26 2012

The Musical Box @ Olympia, Paris Feb 26 Lien2012

Genesis Tribute band @ Olympia

Another full house for a tribute band ( After the excellent Letz Zep) in the all seated Olympia theater in Paris.
Once again it's not cheap between 40 & 90 euros.
I've never been a fan of Genesis, YES... and NOW I know why ! It's just because this music SUCKS BADLY !
I have never seen such a pretentious , pompous, boring concert.
Don't get me wrong if you're into that shit you'll love it, it's faultless and The Musical Box put on a great show but now I really understand why young kids turned into Punk Rockers in the mid seventies when this shit was all over tvs and magazines with pompous bastards like Genesis or Rick Wakeman lost on stage among giant mushrooms or skating on ice with king Arthur.
2 hours of pure pain for my ears and I'm not talking about the ridiculous costumes (see pic above).
FUCK THAT SHIT AND VIVE LE PUNK !!!

mercredi 22 février 2012

Anna Ternheim @ Café de la Danse, Paris Feb 22 2012

Anna Ternheim @ Café de la Danse, Paris Feb 22 2012

Swedish folk- rock lady Anna Ternheim is playing two sold out shows in Paris tonight (and tomorrow) @ 500 capacity club Café de la Danse.
When we make our way in , everybody's already seated and quietly waiting for the show to start.
Beautiful setting, a piano, a table, some sofas and carpets and even a stuffed dog...like my living room.

She's starting the gig on her own (@ 8:15pm) on acoustic guitar for a few songs, then on piano before welcoming on stand-up bass, guitar/banjo and share or lead vocals Dave Ferguson.
It's like "la belle et la bête" a beautiful blonde girl with a crystal clear voice and the old geezer with a very low voice à la Johnny Cash.
Lots of talking between songs and well-oiled jokes between those two.
They will keep us entertained with some great songs and a different seating plan as they've changed instruments for nearly every song.
Great 1h40 min set

mardi 21 février 2012

Mark Lanegan @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris Feb 21 2012

Mark Lanegan @ L'Album de la Semaine, Paris Feb 21 2012

setlist

Once again we're very lucky, as we are attending the first show of Mark Lanegan on this tour, to promote his latest album.
Less than 200 people for this tv recording of L'Album de la Semaine (to be played on March 10 on Canal+), conditions are perfect , great lightning and the sound is perfect with Mark's voice up front.
He's playing with young European musicians (from Belgium ?) all dressed in black and I guess that they will have to pay a 100 dollar fine if ever they smile on stage.
Mark is in great spirit: he opened his eyes once to say thank you in the middle of the short set and even wave us goodbye at the end.
For the whole gig he'll stay glued to his mike like Joey Ramones did in his time concentrated on his vocals.
Funny how the white/Green lightning that was on his face made him look like a living dead from a Romero movie.
Needless to tell you that this 7 songs set ( 5 new songs and two oldies including one from Screeming Trees) went faultless.
You don't need to do much when you have great dark songs.
I wish he would have played a proper set in Paris.

Terrific !!!

The Mark Lanegan Touring Band is: (from One Wiskey)
Jean-Philippe De Gheest - Drums
Frederic Jacques - Bass
Steven Janssens - Guitar

Aldo Struyf - Keyboards,Guitar

lundi 20 février 2012

Sonisphere France 2012... What a fucking Joke !!!

Sonisphere France 2012...UK & Spain, Spot the difference !!!
Faith No More... What else ?

check the official site for more info on each of the Sonisphere in Poland , Switzerland, Finland, Spain, UK, France...

I Know where we won't be on July 07 & 08th..................... @ Sonisphere France

reminder:
METALLICA , MEGADETH, Anthrax & Slayer @ Sonisphere 2011

The worst organized festival we've ever been to... and the most dangerous.

dimanche 19 février 2012

Beth Hart @ Virgin Megastore, Paris Feb 20 2012 6:30 pm

Beth Hart @ Virgin Megastore, Paris Feb 20 2012 6:30 pm
Beth Hart LIVE

New sensation Beth Hart is playing a free showcase @ Virgin Megastore on the Champs Elysées to promote her latest album.
Her cover of the Tom Waits' song is played on radios over here, her next show @ New Morning club in March is sold-out & another one is planned at the much bigger Cigale theater in June.
So everything's fine for Beth Hart in France these days.


setlist (TBC) & lovely reporter from BFM TV

Lots of people this evening to see Beth, she's getting on the tiny stage on time @ 6:30 for a 50 min set of blues-soul songs on acoustic guitar or on piano.
Her voice is soulful and powerful, she may have changed a couple of songs from the original setlist, she played "Monkey man" (Am I right? ) on request.
That's her second show in Paris as she already opened for Scorpions @ Paris Bercy in 1996.(on Nov 11 to be exact)
Great set

signing & smiling