jeudi 4 septembre 2014

Maceo Parker @ Cité de la Musique, Paris Sept 04 2014

Maceo Parker + Malted Milk @ Cité de la Musique, Paris Sept 04 2014
Jazz à la Villette Festival
Legendary and original JB Maceo Parker is in da house tonight in Paris. No need to tell you that it is sold-out.

First we have French Funk-Soul band Malted Milk, cool set, the playing is neat, the singer/guitar player has a nice warm voice and his guitar licks are wonderful. The playing is perfect, too perfect, it's lacking a bit of Soul. Enjoyable though.
Then we have the master himself, introduced by his female wife(?)/ Manager -as usual- in James Brown style. He's walking the stage in a strange manner to the microphone... in typical Ray Charles' style for a snippet of a Ray Charles song. Then the man is grooving/ Funky-ing for the next two hours... playing saxophone , of course, and singing... and dancing.
He's wondering what he's doing in a jazz festival, saying that they do NOT play jazz and to make sure everyone understands that they are NOT playing any Jazz, he's playing a Jazz song (which was more of a "laugh at" the jazz style) so that everyone can see the difference between jazz and what they usually do: Funky Music.
He mentioned James Brown many times, I mean... he played with the Godfather of Soul for 25 years that's probably where he get his habit of  leading the band like a conductor.
Original Funky Diva Martha High is doing backing vocals and taking the lead for one song, so is the other backing vocal girl. The band has some space and each member is taking the lead even for a short moment at one time or another during the set.
Maceo is even playing the flute for a short tribute to Marvin Gaye before getting back to his Ray Charles' impersonation at the end of the gig before a nice rendition of JB's "Pass the peas".
Very nice set.


mardi 29 juillet 2014

Summer Holidays 2014 we'll be back in September...

 See ya in September...


LED ZEPPELIN Deluxe Editions Of 'Led Zeppelin IV' And 'Houses Of The Holy'

LED ZEPPELIN Deluxe Editions Of 'Led Zeppelin IV' And 'Houses Of The Holy'

"Led Zeppelin IV" and "Houses Of The Holy" will each be available October 28 from Atlantic/Swan Song in the following formats:
* Single CD - Remastered album packaged in a gatefold card wallet.
* Deluxe Edition (2CD) - Remastered album, plus a second disc of unreleased companion audio.
* Single LP - Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl, packaged in a sleeve that replicates the LP's first pressing in exacting detail.
* Deluxe Edition Vinyl (2LP) - Remastered album and unreleased companion audio on 180-gram vinyl.
* Digital Download - Remastered album and companion audio will both be available.
* Super Deluxe Boxed Set - This collection includes:
- Remastered album on CD in vinyl replica sleeve.
- Companion audio on CD in card wallet featuring new alternate cover art.
- Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl in a sleeve replicating first pressing.
- Companion audio on 180-gram vinyl in a sleeve with new alternate cover art.
- High-def audio download card of all content at 96kHz/24 bit.
- Hard bound, 80 page book filled with rare and previously unseen photos and memorabilia.
- High-quality print of the original album cover, the first 30,000 of which will be individually numbered.

"Led Zeppelin IV" track listing
01. Black Dog
02. Rock And Roll
03. The Battle of Evermore
04. Stairway To Heaven
05. Misty Mountain Hop
06. Four Sticks
07. Going To California
08. When The Levee Breaks
Companion Audio Disc
01. Black Dog - Basic Track With Guitar Overdubs
02. Rock And Roll - Alternate Mix
03. The Battle Of Evermore - Mandolin/Guitar Mix From Headley Grange
04. Stairway To Heaven - Sunset Sound Mix
05. Misty Mountain Hop - Alternate Mix
06. Four Sticks - Alternate Mix
07. Going To California - Mandolin/Guitar Mix
08. When The Levee Breaks - Alternate UK Mix
"Houses of the Holy" track listing:
01. The Song Remains The Same
02. The Rain Song
03. Over The Hills And Far Away
04. The Crunge
05. Dancing Days
06. D'yer Mak'er
07. No Quarter
08. The Ocean
Companion Audio Disc
01. The Song Remains The Same - Guitar Overdub Reference Mix
02. The Rain Song - Mix Minus Piano
03. Over The Hills And Far Away - Guitar Mix Backing Track
04. The Crunge - Rough Mix - Keys Up
05. Dancing Days - Rough Mix With Vocal
06. No Quarter - Rough Mix With JPJ Keyboard Overdubs - No Vocal
07. The Ocean - Working Mix

mardi 22 juillet 2014

Nick Oliveri acoustic set @ Truskel, Paris July 21st 2014

Nick Oliveri acoustic set @ Truskel, Paris July 21st 2014

Nick Oliveri former Kyuss & QOTSA bass player is playing a rare solo acoustic show in Paris.
It's a the tiny Truskel where we saw Peter Doherty performed so many times.
It was supposed to be a "guest list" show but in fact it's a "first come , first serve" basis.
We have a support band from Lille that is sounding like QOTSA, so it can't be bad.

Nick is in fine spirit, doing very good, smiling , talking a lot, joking with the audience and screaming like a maniac. The guitar playing is acoustic but he's screaming as if he was playing electric with QOTSA or Mondo Generator in front of 5 000 kids.
it's hot a hell in there, those bastards have turned off the air conditioning and we're all sweating buckets of water.
We are treated with a best of setlist with a new song, songs from Mondo generator, Kyuss, QOTSA of course and some covers including a Ramones' one , a GG Alin and probably a couple of others I can't remember ( one from an English Punk band ). The setlist below is not accurate as he didn't follow it.
Nick has lots of stories to tell between songs, we're glad to know that he will be playing with QOTSA in L.A. for a reunion show on Halloween. Some funny stories involving his wife and how he fucks like a teenager...and so on...always with a big smile on his face.
As you can see on the video below , the audience participation is required... so cool...
Nick ended up exhausted and a bit drunk as well but that was worth it , great kick ass gig

Miraculously after the 90 min show ended the air conditioning was back on...
 Setlist


samedi 19 juillet 2014

The Rolling Stones slot machine arriving in France @ Casino Barrière

The Rolling Stones slot machine @ Casino Barrière,  Enghien-les-Bains, France, July 19 2014
French Casino Chain "Casino Barrière" has just received the brand new The Rolling Stones' slot machine ( machine à sous in French)
The first of its kind in France as The Rolling Stones is the first band to have its own slot machine in France.
We went to the Casino d'Enghien-les-Bains on this hot saturday afternoon as its the nearest casino outside Paris (there are no casinos in Paris).
it is just by the lake where we saw The Blues Brothers band in 2011, it looks a bit like Montreux without the mountains.
First floor are all the slot machines, they do have posters everywhere promoting the new machines and you are going through the mouth to get into the room which is funny.
Even in the mens & ladies rooms, mirrors are stoned. (see below)
 The Casino / stairway to heaven / Bathroom

 Stickers & Posters
 Entrance through a big tongue (sorry couldn't take a pic of the whole thing as we could see some of  the players behind and were not allowed to have players on our pic for obvious reasons)

I still had in mind the old machine with the coins like in old movies, nope it's the 21st century... They still do have the old style in the room but lots of new machines everywhere including one from "The Mummy" movie.

2 ROLLING STONES slot machines and the tongue on the floor behind the seats

Lots of pictures on the Stones' one with live footage from concerts and many different tongues from different countries, there is some music too to listen to while playing : "Start me up".

Funny experience to play on slots machines specially the Rolling Stones' one as it was the first time ever that we were going into a casino.

some of the images appearing on the machine including Pics from The Trabendo gig in Paris, France. 

Petite visite au Casino Barrière d' Enghien-le Bains, près de Paris en ce samedi chaud et ensoleillé afin d'essayer les nouvelles machines à sous ROLLING STONES. Direction le premier étage et la salle des machines. Difficile de passer à coté il y a des affiches "stones" partout, même l'entrée des toilettes est décorée de la langue ainsi que les miroirs au dessus du lavabo. L'entrée de salle se fait en passant sous un porche et en entrant dans la bouche à l' effigie des Stones puis le parcours jusqu'aux machines est "fléché" par des langues collées sur la moquette de la salle. (voir photos)
Difficile d'y avoir accès, c'est une nouveauté et comme toute nouveauté, les habités veulent l'essayer.
Tout d'abord le look: la machine est entièrement aux couleurs stoniennes, il y a deux écrans qui diffusent au fur et à mesure de la partie (1 euro minimum et jusqu'a 4 euros quand même) des images fixes de Mick, Keith, Ronnie et Charlie (dont certaines photos prises au Trabendo) ainsi que quelques petites vidéos du groupe en action sur scène alors que la musique de "Start me up " et "Iorr" se fait entendre. Sympa.
N'étant pas des pro ni même des habitués des bandit manchot, on n'a pas vraiment compris le fonctionnement, si ce n'est bien sûr qu'il fallait aligner des "langues" pour gagner en appuyant sur le bouton.
je dois dire que l'on en était resté, pour les machines à sous, à ce que l'on voit dans les vieux films avec des pièces de monnaie et à la poignée qu'on abaissait.
Désormais c'est un simple bouton et un écran tactile; plus de pièces, la machine accepte les billets et pour récupérer vos gains c'est pas l'intermédaire d'une carte à code barres permettant de se faire payer à la caisse, c'est moins fun mais plus efficace et c'est moins lourd dans la poche, comme pour la petite vieille devant nous qui est reparti avec 500 euros... on a eu moins de chance malheureusement.
Petite après-midi très sympa.
Un conseil: ne pas oublier ses boules quies

silver train a comin'... No, Tongue a lickin'
 Thanks to the Barrière team for inviting us and letting us take pictures and video of the machine
(Don't do this next time you are visiting as it's strictly forbidden.)