Monday, October 30, 2017

Gov't Mule @ le Trianon, Paris - October 30th, 2017


For some dubious reason, Gov't Mule is associated with the jam band scene of the nineties. Sure, they formed in the nineties. And sure, they jam like motherfuckers. But at its core, Gov't Mule is a classic rock band. But even more than that they are musicologists and rock historians.

Sunday, October 29, 2017

W.A.S.P. @ Élysée-Montmartre, Paris - October 29th, 2017


Five years ago W.A.S.P. (now a vehicle for Black Lawless and a bunch of sidemen) embarked on they 30th anniversary tour during which they played their greatest hits and, after an intermission, an abridged version of their concept album The Crimson Idol.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Rolling Stones @ U Arena, Nanterre - October 25th, 2017


Last night of the Rolling Stones three-night stand at the U Arena. Since they have no concerts scheduled after that, the future is uncertain. So just in case this is it, I brought my eldest son along for his first concert. I suppose you could do worse. He is seven and when he grows up he will be able to say he saw the Rolling Stones. Unfortunately, this is not a claim many people of his generation will be able to make.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Rolling Stones @ U Arena, Nanterre - October 22nd, 2017


Back to the newly minted U Arena for night two of the Rolling Stones Paris "residency".
For the first time on this tour I think, they opened with Jumping' Jack Flash instead of Sympathy For The Devil, which led me to hope there would be some little surprises in the set-list, but those would turn out to be minimal. We did get to hear Dancing with Mr. D., a rare track from Goats Head Soup, which was both funky and menacing, with that aura of dark sleaze that permeated the Stones' recordings of the seventies.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Danny Elfman @ Palais des Congrès, Paris - October 21st, 2017


Even if you have not heard of his band Oingo Boingo, you have heard Danny Elfman's music in countless movies and TV shows. And although he wrote the theme for The Simpsons, his most famous endeavour is his collaboration with American director Tim Burton, which happens to be what this tour is focusing on.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Rolling Stones @ U Arena, Nanterre - October 19th, 2017


Last night the Rolling Stones played the first of three dates in Paris, wrapping up their 2017 No Filter Tour.

Cage The Elephant @ U Arena, Nanterre - October 19th 2017


Is there a more thankless task than opening for the Rolling Stones? It doesn't matter how good you are (and these guys are pretty good) you're always going to be just a nuisance delaying the arrival of the legends.

Monday, October 2, 2017

R.I.P. Tom Petty


Tom Petty was one of the finest songwriters of the past fifty years. Together with his Heartbreakers, or on his own, he boasted a string of hits and classics that is nearly unrivalled.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Sparks @ La Gaité Lyrique, Paris - October 1st, 2017


The Mael Brothers are back in Paris with a full band for the first time in over ten years if you discount the FFS concert at the Bataclan in 2015. Their new album Hippopotamus is as usual a fantastic collection of clever sophisticated pop songs full of rich harmonies and idiosynratic hooks.