Devin Townsend @ Salle Pleyel, Paris - November 15th, 2019

After dissolving his Devin Townsend Project a couple of years ago, Devin Townsend wasted no time in recording and releasing one of the more bonkers records in his catalogue, which is both an accomplishment and a compliment. Empath is a sensory overload from beginning to end, a dizzying flux of ideas and sounds that can leave the listener a little overwhelmed. The big question was, how would this transfer to the stage?

Friday's Playlist: Awesome Covers (part two)

This is another playlist comprised entirely of covers. We did that a few weeks ago and it was a big hit, so we're doing it again. Also it buys us time while we think of new themes for future playlists. 

Friday's Playlist: Woke Songs

Here's a soundtrack for your non-violent protest against racial or sexual discrimination, global warming, what have you.

Friday Thursday's Playlist: Happy Halloween!

Yeah, I know. Today is Thursday. We usually publish our playlists on Friday. That's why they're called Friday's Playlists. I apologise for the inconsistency. But... Today is Halloween. And we figured there needed to be a playlist. So here it is.

The Wildhearts @ O' Sullivans Backstage By The Mill, Paris - October 26th, 2019

If the internet is to be believed, Rock and Roll is dead. I keep reading that there are no more killer Rock and Roll bands. The funny thing is, also according to the internet, the internet itself is to blame for that dire situation. Of course, we know better. Take, for example, the Wildhearts.

Friday's Playlist - Robert Fripp: Sessions & Contribution

This week we've decided to examine Robert Fripp's sessions and contributions (as a guitarist or producer) to other people's records, for no reason other than he's one of our fave(u)rite musicians and we felt like it. Does there have to be a reason for everything? Sometimes things just are.

Greatest Hits Live (2011-2019)

We've just updated this page with some of our most recent favorite shots. There's quite a few legends in here... Click on the captions to check out the full galleries.

Angus Young (AC/DC)

Raphael Saadiq @ Élysée-Montmartre, Paris - October 21st, 2019

Raphael Saadiq is back in Paris, touring behind his first record in almost a decade, the deeply personal Jimmy Lee, an album of dark, modern soul infused by tragedy. Thankfully the mood of the concert was a lot lighter, even when he evoked the memories of his dead brother who gave his name to the album.

Friday's Playlist: Happy Chuck Berry Day!

On what would have been Chuck Berry's 93rd birthday, we pay tribute to one of the pioneers of Rock and Roll with a playlist of some of his most famous songs as performed by some other great artists.

Durand Jones & the Indications @ le Trabendo, Paris - October 15th, 2019

The past year has seen the release of a number of great traditional Soul Music records, chief among which was Durand Jones & the Indications' sophomore LP American Love Call (check out our review HERE). Their traditional approach to the genre lends itself particularly well to the stage: like on their records, there are no tricks or gimmicks to their performances. Just great tunes performed with passion and craft.

Friday's Playlist - R.I.P. Ginger Baker

This week we got the news that Ginger Baker passed away so we concocted a long playlist celebrating his many accomplishments. Blues, Jazz, Psychedelic, proto-Metal, Afro-Beat, Funk, Post-Punk... Ginger Baker could play it all.

Friday's Playlist: Fictional Bands

This Friday's Playlist features songs that mention bands or artists that don't actually exist. Johnny B. Goode, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Sultans of Swing, the Spiders from Mars...

Friday's Playlist: Last Week's Originals

I received a couple of emails after last week's playlist essentially asking about where the songs came from. So here's the companion playlist to last week's covers: the originals. The songs are sequenced in the same exact order, so the flow might not be as good as last week's (believe it or not, these playlists are usually pretty thought out) because what worked with last week's version do not necessarily work with these. Oh, well. It's a collection of great songs and any opportunity to listen to Cosmic Slop or Bastards of Young shouldn't be passed upon! Enjoy, comment, share!

Wilco @ le Trianon, Paris - September 22nd, 2019

Wilco's concert at the Trianon was an intimate experience despite the fact that it took place before 1500 people, many of them American expats. Jeff Tweedy was his usual endearing self, still displaying the demeanour of a shy teenager despite his gray hair. 

Alice Cooper @ la Seine Musicale, Boulogne-BIllancourt - September 20th, 2019

Last time I saw Alice Cooper was just a little over a year ago in Los Angeles. It was my fourth show on the Paranormal tour after the London date in the fall of 2017 and the two Paris gigs at the end of that year (here and here). The shows were great but it was time for an overhaul. Of course, there are some staples that he can't do away with: songs like School's Out or I'm Eighteen and theatrics like the execution at the end of the second act of the show. But there is still a lot of room for change and creativity within those constraints and fans will be delighted to know that the new act is every bit as good as the previous one.