mardi 4 novembre 2008

Tony Joe White @ Bataclan Paris Nov 4th 2008

Tony Joe white @ Bataclan Paris Nov 4th 2008.
Not that many people tonight , the balcony is closed and it's a seated event , so probably around 500 frenchies.
Support slot Jessica Lea Mayfield played a decent set with her acoustic guitar , she has a good voice but her songs are a bit average and are way too melancolic,

Tony Joe White is playing seated with his trade-mark black hat , sunglasses and harmonica around his neck. The lightning is... confidential.
Small band : a drummer and a keyboard player ( playing the bass part ) .
Tony has no setlist so his musicians have to be very carefull to what the 'master' is about to play.
His low-tuned voice is still doing it and his guitar playing has the 'touch' .
If you don't know his " swamp rock" maybe you'll think some songs are sounding a bit the same but it takes time to fully appreciate his writing skills. he's well-known for writing " Polk salad Annie" that was a huge hit for him and Elvis Presley who covered that song.
I don't know if i'm getting too old but it was quite loud down the front.
Nice evening

"Polk Salad Annie" :

lundi 3 novembre 2008

Eli "Paperboy " Reed @ L' Album de la semaine Canal+ Nov 3rd 2008


Second record for this young artist from Boston , here tonight at La Plaine St Denis for Canal+ tv show : L' album de la semaine .

Listening to Eli " Paperboy " Reed and his 6 musicians ( including two saxophones and a trumpet ) is like being into a time -machine stuck in the 60's while you were visiting the Stax studios or James Brown's hometown of Georgia, or maybe the pit in "Hitsville" USA.
It's full of soul music and the guy's white , young ...and from Boston.

He knows his classics : How to be introduced on stage by one of his musicians ( à la JB ), how to talk to his audience ( using the same 'old sentences )... let's not forget his stage moves .
He did his homework perfectly , maybe too much.
He's got the voice and the songs are good so i'll forgive him about the clichés he's using.
Well maybe not completely as long as he keeps wearing that horrible dark green suit.

Check him here:
http://www.myspace.com/elipaperboyreed

sorry no pictures it's Verbotten.

Next shows :
Tony Joe white @ Bataclan Nov 4th
The Pigeon Detectives @ trabendo Nov 5th
Carbon/Silicon @ Fnac store Nov 8th
Oasis @ Bataclan Nov 10th ( Gary Moore and Adam Green are playing on the same night )

dimanche 2 novembre 2008

Tsonga vs Nalbandian Masters Bercy Final

Great gig ... sorry , Great match
French Tennis player Tsonga did very good during the first set, second set was more difficult : he lost it. Third set was easier but he scared the shit out of us , a couple of times while serving he was losing 00 -40 to win the game in the end.
Nice afternoon

one laughing / one crying

samedi 1 novembre 2008

J.L Tsonga vs J. Blake Semi-finals Bercy Masters



Went to see the semi-finals in Bercy:
First match was Davydenko vs Nalbandian , very strange first set as if the russian refused to play at all , then suddenly he woke up ( enough illegal bet on this one ? )and did a good match but Nalbandian was stronger.

Second match was French JL Tsonga vs American James Blake , this game was much more powerful and Tsonga was great , Blake couldn't do anything today to defeat the french player who's the local here. great atmosphere too.

If you compare the level of both matches , Tsonga should win tomorrow
Good luck mate !