Madness @ Olympia, Paris Sept 16 2013

Madness @ Olympia, Paris Sept 16 2013

Another great moment with MADNESS

Yeah baby, another great evening with MADNESS, the band is back in Paris just a few months after playing the Trianon theatre (on March 11 2013).

The Olympia is quite full, almost sold-out and all ages gathered to dance to the music of Madness.

As usual the band is starting the set with "One step beyond" so that everybody can get in the mood straight away by dancing like mad.  The atmosphere is lively and friendly down the front with many English ( not too drunk).

The singers are making you feel as if it was home and the guys are enjoying themselves and so is the audience, hard to do wrong with some many great songs (see setlist below for details), and a couple of newbies too.

Another great moment with MADNESS, told'ya !

 "Always look on the bright side of life" & Merchandising ( no relation)

setlist @ Olympia in Paris

Archives:
Madness @ Rock en Seine
@ Ciné Aqua

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The Clash Press Conference ( Mick Jones, Topper Headon, Paul Simonon) @ Palais des Glaces, Paris Sept 12 2013

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

The Clash Press Conference ( Mick Jones, Topper Headon, Paul Simonon) @ Palais des Glaces, Paris Sept 12 2013  5:30pm

 The Clash for the first time together. 

Since Joe Strummer died the only time the three surviving members, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon & drummer Topper Headon are in a room together is for the promo of the brand new Boxset that has just been out. They've been doing some promo in England at the BBC at the a pop-up store in Soho.
And here they are for the first time in Paris @ Palais des Glaces where the Clash performed in 1977 (?) -correct me if I'm wrong-

The original poster from "Nuits Punk" @ Palais des Glaces in Paris (above)

The Press conference in Paris @ Palais des Glaces

Thankfully we were allowed to take some pics at the very beginning (sorry no video), The record Cie should provide some footage later.
The French journalists seemed to be a bit intimidated at first, no one daring asking a question then things started to relax with Mick, Topper & Paul answering nicely to everything for an hour.
Not that much about the boxset (This on is the definitive & remastered perfectly") and more about their history (influences...), a few anecdotes about what happened when they played in Paris (Tear Gas, Gangs...). I can't remember Joe being mentioned or very elusively.

- They won't reform of if they played together it won't be under The Clash moniker
- Topper Doesn't play any music for years, he only "reformed" with Mick & Paul for the release and promo of the boxset
-The London exhibition will also take place in Paris and maybe NYC
-The Clash in France: almost killed by a gang in Paris when they thought they were another gang, tear gas and almost riot at Fête de l'Huma & meeting Vince Taylor
- Discovering Rap in NYC ( rapper's delight/ Grand Master Flash) and its graffiti
- Preferring playing several shows in a city in smaller venues than one gig one
- Bo  Diddley
-The new boxset is the definitive thing about The Clash

Here's the full audio of the conference

The people rushed to the stage to get their records signed, the band kindly obliged and were friendly and chatty to anyone.
 Great moment

 Topper Headon, Mick Jones & Paul Simonon

 "Press Pack" and my boxset signed (only the tee-shirt is missing, couldn't get one )

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Arctic Monkeys @ Album de la Semaine Canal+ , Paris Sept 11 2013

Arctic Monkeys @ Album de la Semaine Canal+ , Paris Sept 11 2013

 We listen to the album before going to see Arctic monkeys perform it live @ canal+ tv show in front of less than 200 people, we like it even though there are many slow songs.

I have to say that after seeing the band playing those songs for an hour, it's boring, boring and boring...
Even more unbearable is Alex' attitude on stage trying to impersonate an American crooner, this is so ridiculous when someone is trying so hard to be cool. Josh Homme IS cool but he's naturally cool without playing a part. The guitar player IS cool but Alex , come on man, specially with his ridiculous American accent.

Almost all the songs played tonight are in slow motion, the new single sounds very good and as soon as the band is bringing out the guitars ( for one song) it sounds terrific unfortunately only one song.

So Alex, stop impersonating Elvis with some ridiculous poses and bring back the heavy stuff !!!

Here's a link to watch their latest show @ RoundHouse in London Sept 09

Archives:
Check our reviews of Arctic Monkeys @ Casino de Paris Jan 31 2012 (With Miles Kane), @ Olympia Feb 03 2012.
@ Rock en Seine 2011, @ Cigale on June 16, @ L'Album de la Semaine on June 15 2011 & @ Zénith in 2009

Check also Check our reviews of The Last Shadow Puppets @ Olympia on August 26 2008 & @ Album de la Semaine for Canal+ the day after.

Chic feat. Nile Rodgers @ Jazz à La Villette, Paris Sept 10 2013

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

Chic feat. Nile Rodgers + Antibalas @ Jazz à La Villette, Paris Sept 10 2013

Antibalas (above) opening for CHIC Feat. Nile Rodgers

It's packed tonight to see the return of Nile Rodgers in the French Capital. Since he worked on the latest album by Daft Punk, he's the media darling.

First we have Afrobeat band ANTIBALAS, lots of brass, very groovy with long songs, a bit as if the JBs (James Brown's famous band) were back from a trip to their African Roots.

Tony Allen was the surprise guest for the last song
Very groovy 75 min set.

Nile was on a side of the stage to take a few pics.

Tony Allen special guest on drums with Antibalas

After a short intermission Nile is back on the stage smile on his face, very cool he's saying hello to people , shaking hands, signing autographs and then goes center stage to tune his guitar checking microphones. "Hello Paris, this is CHIC " Let the show begin!

 We're not in Paris but at New York's studio 54, starting with "Everybody dance", hes' dressed in white so is the whole band. Great lightning and sound is perfect. Lively atmosphere down the front.
The band is tight and Nile si entertaining us always with a BIG smile on his face.
Tonight he's letting people who don't know him that he's the master behind some of the biggest hit of the last 40 years so we have a Best of setlist of the songs he co-wrote or produced with Madonna, Sister Sledge, Inxs, Donna Summer, Duran Duran, David Bowie and even our French Sheila. And of course we have the hits of CHIC. See setlist below for details

Can't go wrong with all these great groovy songs, the backing vocals girls (who are also taking lead) are hot as hell so is the atmosphere in the audience.
Nile is inviting people to dance on stage for the last song, Let's party !!!

hard for the band to leave the stage while the PA is playing daft Punk's latest single to full volume and Nile to thank the audience for the 10th time tonight for the great reception he had.
Great gig !!!

 setlist

"Le Freak" (click on link for video)

Archives: 

Nile Rodgers @ Fnac Store June 2013

Chic Feat Nile Rodgers @ Elysée Montmartre July 2008