Friday's Playlist: Concerts of 2022

As we're about to wrap up this year, we're bringing back our Friday's Playlist for one more installment. In this one, we look back at all the concerts that we've attended in 2022, including some of the most memorable opening acts. It was a truly memorable year for live music, especially in contrast to the previous years which were plagued by lockdowns, cancellations and postponements.

The Rest of 2022

These are some of the concerts we've attended that didn't quite make it to our Best of the Year's list, but that we feel should still be mentioned, as they were also fantastic. These lists are hard and not very fair.  We've left some very worthy concerts off of this list as well, but that's the deal when making a selection: it can be heartbreaking. After all, we can feel one way about a show the minute it's ended and feel differently the following week... Nothing is really definitive, and everything is subjective.

Again, these are presented in no particular order whatsoever. Click on the titles or on the photos to access the full gallery.

Enjoy, comment and share!

The Worst of 2022

Yesterday we posted an entry about our favorite concerts of the past year, so this is the counterpart. We don't like being negative but what can you do?

Now, we're not going to list the worst concerts of 2022, for one main reason: we did not attend any bad shows. Some were better than others, some were not necessarily our preferred style, but we haven't seen a bad gig. 

What we're going to do is list the (probably) awesome concerts that we've missed. And there have been a few. Again, these are presented to you in no particular order.

The Best of 2022

It looks like we've covered our last concert of 2022. What a fantastic year it's been! Legends, veterans, and newcomers... Rock, Pop, Metal, Jazz, Blues or Funk... They are presented to you in no particular order: it was hard enough having to pick out five out of the nearly fifty we've attended. Click on the artist name to access the full gallery.

Ride @ Élyée-Montmartre, Paris - December 18th, 2022

On this last date of their tour celebrating 30 years of Nowhere (with a two year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Shoegaze legends Ride played their debut masterpiece in full and in sequence, including the bonus tracks. 

Bryan Adams @ Palais des Sports, Paris - December 12th, 2022

It's a glacial December night in Paris but things are about to get hot in the 15th arrondissement, as Bryan Adams is in town, touring behind his new album So Happy It Hurts. At 8:20, John Cleese's voice starts resonating in the arena, announcing the band's entrance on opener Kick Ass, the appropriately-named  second single from the new record, and we're off for two hours of killer songs and tight musicianship.

Saxon @ Trianon, Paris - December 9th, 2022

Saxon finally returned to Paris, nearly two months after having had to cancel at the last minute because a pipe burst and flooded the venue... And we all know what water does to Metal. Thankfully, any notion that Saxon might have been rusty quickly dissipated when the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal veterans took the stage by storm with  the opening track of their excellent new album Carpe Diem.

Friday's Playlist: Odes to Onan

This Friday's Playlist concerns itself with matters of a very private nature.

Ahem.

The theme here is, uh, solitary pleasure.

Onanism.

Y'know, spanking the monkey. Flogging the dolphin. Wrestling the one-eyed trouser snake.

Ladies, diddling your skittle. Flicking your bean.

Anyway, a classy, elegant playlist. You're welcome.

Enjoy, comment and share!

Dio: Dreamers Never Die

We were finally able to get a screener of the documentary on legendary Heavy Metal singer Ronnie James Dio. The movie has been out in the U.S.A. for several months, and Universal is supposed to be releasing it in Europe at some point, but the date is still up in the air and France doesn't seem to be included in their plans...

Check out Brooks & Bowskill's first single here.

Jimmy Bowskill was already well-known in country and blues-rock guitar circles before he joined the Sheepdogs, but that gig certainly helped raise his profile. These two covers are the first songs he released since leaving the band earlier this year, mere months after we saw them bring the house down at la Maroquinerie. The full album is due to be released January 2023.

Enjoy, comment and share!

Friday's Playlist: R.I.P. Christine McVie

Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac passed away a couple of days ago at the age of 79, so we thought we'd pay a little tribute by compiling this playlist of numbers she's written or sung on.

The Cure @ Accor Arena, Paris - November 28th, 2022

Mere days after celebrating 30 years since the release of Wish, The Cure  played an absolutely mind-blowing set in Paris, playing all of their hits and classics, some deep cuts and a slew of new songs from their upcoming album. 

Listen to Metallica's new single here

The Heavy Metal juggernaut just announced a new album and tour for 2023. Check out their pummeling new song Lux Æterna in the Apple Music player below.

Alt-J @ Zénith, Paris - November 22nd, 2022

Alt-J is touring in support of their excellent new album The Dream, their first release in almost five years, and that time hasn't eroded the public's enthusiasm. In fact, it may have played in their favor: the Zénith was packed, and the crowd went nuts as soon as the opening notes of Bane resonated through the hall, and never wavered until the encores were finished.

Richard Bona/Alfredo Rodriguez Trio @ Salle Pleyel, Paris - November 19th, 2022

Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez is on his way to becoming a household name in the realm of Jazz and Latin music. As for Richard Bona, he's been bona-fide (pun intended) superstar for twenty years now. Completed by drummer Michael Olivera, the trio plays a very funky style of Afro-Cuban Jazz where each player is given a chance to shine. 

Gonzalo Rubalcaba @ Salle Pleyel, Paris - November 19th, 2022

Fresh from a Grammy win for his new album Skyline, recorded with Jack DeJohnette and Ron Carter, as well as a latin Grammy for Live In Marciac, recorded with Aymée Nuviola, famed Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba was in Paris for a piano festival date at the prestigious Salle Pleyel.

Jethro Tull @ Olympia, Paris - November 17th, 2022

Jethro Tull has been active in one form or another for over 55 years. The current iteration of the band is in the middle of a world tour entitled "The Prog Years", which is a bit of a head scratcher until you remember that the Grammys labeled them as Heavy Metal in 1989... Which goes to show the inanity of such categorization. But while other musicians from that scene may shy away from the "Prog" label, Ian Anderson embraces it without reservation.

Alter Bridge @ Palais des Sports, Paris - November 16th, 2022

November 16th presented Parisian headbangers with a veritable Sophie's choice: Skid Row and Winger were playing in a small venue on the outskirts of town, Opeth and Voivod were playing the prestigious Trianon and Zeal and Ardor were also in town. But the Dôme de Paris - Palais des Sports was the place to be.

Alter Bridge are touring behind yet another killer record Pawns & Kings and they brought Mammoth WVH and Halestorm with them, making this date one of the unmissable hard rock shows of the year.

Halestorm @ Palais des Sports, Paris - November 16th, 2022

Lizzy Hale and her band are flying the hard rock flag high: their shows are a celebration of all things rock, from her dynamic stage presence and muscular vocals to Joe Hottinger's guitar solos. They have a leather studded boot in classic metal (references to Priest and Maiden abound) while the other one is firmly planted in modern alternative rock.

Mammoth WVH @ Palais des Sports, Paris - November 16th, 2022

Wolfgang Van Halen and Mammoth played their first French concert opening for Alter Bridge. The 35-minute, 7-song set was well-received by the crowd, who by now probably knew not to expect anything resembling Van Halen. The eponymous record that's been out for over a year is more indebted to modern rock like Foo Fighters and Creed than to the illustrious band that bore his name. That's because Wolfgang isn't just his father's son: he's also a product of Generation Y.

Tedeschi/Trucks Band @ Bataclan, Paris - November 15th, 2022

The Tedeschi/Trucks Band is one of the best bands working today. This concert at the tragic Bataclan was the last of a three-night stint in Paris, the first two of which took place at the Trianon theater. Touring behind their new quadruple (!) album I Am The Moon, the twelve-piece band played an absolutely exquisite set which was even more thrilling than the last time we saw them over three years ago.