Friday, June 24, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Americana
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets @ le Grand Rex, Paris - June 22nd, 2022
Saturday, June 18, 2022
The Sheepdogs @ la Maroquinerie, Paris - June 18th, 2022
As a potentially deadly heatwave descends upon the country, one could think of a better idea than to join several hundred dancing, sweaty people in a sweltering underground club. But see, the Sheepdogs are back in town. Three years almost to the day after their last Paris gig, and hot off of the release of their excellent new record Outta Sight, the Canadians played a typically exciting set that transported the attendees back to a time most of them are too young to have known.
Rosalie Cunningham @ la Maroquinerie, Paris - June 18th 2022
Friday, June 17, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Stuff
This Friday's Playlist has no theme, no common denominator, no unifying thread. It also contains very little music that can be considered "rock". Just a bunch of good tunes that didn't really fit in any of our other playlists and that we felt like featuring. So grab a cocktail, put on your headphones and meet us on the other side.
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Drive-By Truckers @ la Maroquinerie, Paris - June 15th, 2022
At long fucking last. Over twenty-five years into their career and twelve years after having been forced to cancel their date in Toulouse, the Drive-By Truckers quintet finally made their French debut at la Maroquinerie. Better late than never. And to say that the quintet didn't disappoint would be an understatement. In fact, they were absolutely brilliant. Their blend of Southern Rock, Soul, Alt-Country and Replacements-style Punk Rock turned the Paris venue into a fiery furnace within thirty seconds of the opening chords.
Jerry Joseph @ la Maroquinerie, Paris - June 15th, 2022
Jerry Joseph is a veteran singer/songwriter who has been in several bands before launching a solo career. His latest album was produced by Drive-by Truckers' Patterson Hood who invited him to open for their current tour.
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Israel Nash @ la Maroquinerie, Paris - June 14th, 2022
Not only was Israel Nash's Paris date one of this year's best best concerts, it was also one of the best we've attended, ever. And we've been to quite a few...
Dylan LeBlanc @ la Maroquinerie, Paris - June 14th, 2022
Louisiana singer/songwriter played a beautiful, emotional set at la Maroquinerie opening for Israel Nash. He won the audience over with his impassioned, distinctive vocals, his exquisite fingerpicking technique and most of all his delightful songs in the vein of Neil Young , Tom Petty and John Prine.
Monday, June 13, 2022
Steve Vai @ Trianon, Paris - June 13th, 2022
Because of his image of a guitar shredder, and his stints as a sideman for party boys David Lee Roth and David Coverdale in Whitesnake, it's easy to overlook the sheer musicality of Steve Vai's output. Yes, he plays crazy-fast runs, impossibly convoluted licks and dangerously acrobatic solos, but it's a means to an end and never the end itself. You don't have to be a muso to dig his work, although it helps: Vai might be the ultimate guitarist. He has Al DiMeola's dexterity, Rory Gallagher's sense of melody, David Gilmour's nuances, Jeff Beck's absolute control of the instrument, Jimi Hendrix' penchant for exploration and Frank Zappa's zaniness.
Friday, June 10, 2022
Friday's Playlist - Elliot Easton: Sessions & Contributions
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Mastodon @ Salle Pleyel, Paris - June 7th, 2022
A tough decision faced every Parisian headbanger tonight: KISS or Mastodon? With all due respect to the elder statesmen of Hard Rock/Glam Rock, the spectacle of septuagenarians stuffed in faux-leather lip-syncing their way through their venerable catalogue is just not as appealing as it once was. This is, in fact, KISS' second farewell tour so, if fancy strikes, one can always catch them on their third or fourth one.
I always tend to think of Mastodon as a young band but they have now been active for over twenty years (with an unchanged line-up, no less!). For perspective, if they were Aerosmith, they'd be releasing Get A Grip. The Southerners are now bona-fide veterans of Heavy Metal and they have the repertoire to prove it: albums like The Hunter or Leviathan are now rightly considered classics of the genre. Yet, somehow, and despite having been a fan for a while now, I had never seen them live before.
Sunday, June 5, 2022
Upcoming gigs
Saturday, June 4, 2022
Neal Morse Band @ Trianon, Paris - June 4th, 2022
It's hard to believe it's been twenty years since Neal Morse found Jesus and quit Neo-Prog heroes Spock's Beard. Fans of the Nashville-based musicians might have been apprehensive at first, but it's worked out quite well for them since he has been incredibly prolific with his many projects like Prog supergroup Transatlantic, Flying Colors, his solo career and the Neal Morse Band, which is touring the world in support of their brilliant new concept album Innocence and Danger, a large portion of which was performed at the venerable Trianon theater last night.
Friday, June 3, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Happy Pride Month
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
The Rolling Stones kick off their Sixty European Tour today in Madrid
Monday, May 23, 2022
John McLaughlin @ l'Auditorium de la Seine Musicale, Boulogne-Billancourt - May 23rd, 2022
Five years after his last concert in the French capital, and a few months into his 81st year, John McLaughlin returns to Paris (well, Boulogne-Billancourt, close enough) with his star-studded 4th Dimension band. This is the first night of the tour and John's first concert in a few years, having been sidelined by the pandemic like much of his peers and colleagues. His most recent record Liberation Time was therefore mostly recorded remotely, with each musician contributing their parts from different places in the world.
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Neal Black & the Healers @ Jazz Club Étoile, Paris - May 12th, 2022
Neal Black & his Healers played their first Paris gig since the pandemic at the Jazz Club Étoile with the help of special guests Janet Martin and Amar Sundy. French Bluesman Fred Chapellier was also announced but had to bow out on account of some unspecified medical reason.
The club formerly known as the Lionel Hampton Jazz Club is a somewhat hoity toity venue situated in the posh Paris Méridien hotel. For an artist who paid his dues playing seedy New York dive bars and rowdy Texas barrelhouses, this decidedly well-behaved audience with a median age averaging Medicare eligibility must have been a little disconcerting...
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Greatest Hits Live (1996-2022)
Saturday, May 7, 2022
A-Ha @ le Zénith, Paris - May 7th, 2022
Friday, May 6, 2022
Simple Minds @ la Seine Musicale, Boulogne-Billancourt - May 6th, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Last Week's Originals
Last week we published a playlist compared entirely of covers. This week, we are giving you the original versions of these great tunes. That's it. No theme, no concept. Enjoy, comment and share!
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Therapy? @ la Boule Noire, Paris - May 4th, 2022
I don't know if you guys have heard, but apparently there's been a worldwide pandemic that effectively shut down entire countries, killed millions of people and decimated businesses the world over. I guess this explains why Therapy? are celebrating their 30th anniversary as a band in their 34th year. It's a valid excuse.
Friday, April 29, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Awesome Covers (part four, but who's counting?)
More awesome covers, running the gamut from Metal to Americana to Funk to New Wave.
Check back next week for the originals. Same time, same place.
Friday, April 22, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Awesome Bass Solos (pt.3)
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Anneke Van Giersbergen @ Petit Bain, Paris - April 21st, 2021
Anneke Van Giersbergen will forever be thought of as the former vocalist for Dutch symphonic metal band The Gathering, but this shouldn't overshadow her collaborations with Devin Townsend, Ayreon, the Gentle Storm, Sirens, and of course her solo career.
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Sparks @ Casino de Paris - April 19th, 2022
Friday, April 15, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Awesome Guitar Solos (pt. 6)
Here we go again. It's been a while since we've made one of these playlists (check out the previous installments HERE). As usual, a mix of famous favorites and overlooked obscurities, in a bunch of different genres, from classical to punk rock and even a Lionel Richie ballad. I apologize for nothing!
Friday, April 8, 2022
Friday's Playlist - Ollie Halsall: Sessions & Contributions
This Friday we zoom in on another one of rock's unsung guitarists. Ollie Halsall could have been mentioned in the same breath as some of his contemporaries and the closest he ever came to fame was as a part of The Beatles parody band the Rutles, and even then he ended up being cast out of the movie almost entirely.
Friday, April 1, 2022
Friday's Playlist: John McGeoch - Sessions & Contributions
This Friday's playlist isn't an April's fool post. It's a compilation of some of John McGeoch's greatest moments. McGeoch had a short career and is somewhat forgotten today. This is criminal. Check out his work with Siouxsie & the Banshees, Public Image Ltd., or Magazine and marvel at his unique approach to the guitar.
Friday, March 25, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Gibberish Songs
This Friday's Playlist compiles a few songs that are sung in made-up languages (Kobaïan, Loxian, Klokochazian...) or just straight-up gibberish.
Friday, March 18, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Psycho Killer
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Genesis @ La Défense Arena, Nanterre - March 16th, 2022
Friday, March 11, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Celtic Rock
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Women Rock
In honor of the International Women's Day we've compiled a few of our favorite concert shots featuring women. Whether they be front women, guitarists, oboe players, dancers or music fans... They all rock.
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Friday, March 4, 2022
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Sylvaine @ Nouveau Casino, Paris - March 2nd, 2022
Friday, February 25, 2022
Friday, February 18, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Ego Bands
This Friday, we indulge in a little bit of novelty. We are featuring groups named after their leader. Not solo acts, but actual bands whose name is the same as one, or in Van Halen's case two, of the musicians in the band. Which means that it can't be, for example, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band or the Rossington/Collins Band. Even Alice Cooper is off limits as Vincent Furnier only changed his name after the original group disbanded.
Friday, February 11, 2022
Friday's Playlist: Reggae
This Friday's Playlist will take you around the world. Of course, it'll start in Jamaica but will also make some stops in England and in the United States.