Lescop in Evreux – 9th March 2013

We missed out on tickets to see Lescop in Paris, c’etait complet. On seeing that there was a gig in Evreux which is less than an hour from our house, we thought that would work, so we visited Evreux.

I’ll post a few pictures of the actually quite magnificent Cathedral of Evreux in another post.

The gig was held at L’Abordage – Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture. The French are very good at culture and they always have these amazing spaces in most large or small towns and communes. The cultural spaces also attract many great bands, they are perfect for an intimate gig and the sound is often fantastic. You can venture out of Paris and see some greats. We’ve seen Spectrum (Sonic Boom) outside of Tours, The Rapture at Le Grand Mix – Tourcoing, just outside Lille and they were superb venues. These are to name but a few.

As ever, the venue was good, there could have been more tickets sold perhaps. Considering the Paris gig was sold out I was surprised this wasn’t too.

Wankin’ Noodles

Wankin’ Noodles were the support act. Now, I had low expectations, I hadn’t done any research and thought I’d just check them out on the night. My expectations were exceeded (this phrase reminds me so much of my old job (bullsh$t)). They were very good. They didn’t look like they sounded, they were very tidy and well groomed whereas if I hadn’t seen them I would have something different in my head. When they first started I thought they were going to be a bit like Motorhead so was wary but I got into the groove. They were quite heavy but in a good way. The lead singer has lots of energy, has perfected the scissor kick and sings really well. The band are tight, they were great. I didn’t know any of their stuff so I can’t really mention tracks I liked but I really did enjoy them. I’ll have a listen to some of their stuff over the next week.

Lescop came on after a short break. OK, I will get this out of the way first. Yes, he does resemble Ian Curtis!

The music begins, there’s a keyboard player (who plays guitar also), a guitar player, bass and Lescop. They are a handsome band.

I haven’t been aware of Lescop for too long, the music is categorised as ‘Cold-wave’ which is a genre I like. I had listened to the album and enjoyed it so thought we should check out the music live. The album really is quite unique and fantastic. You can hear the ‘good 80s’ influence. It has a little darkness and melancholy underlaying the indie pop. I would guess at any British influences he has being Joy Division, New Order, The Cure (I know these were very, very popular in France in the late 80s), Bowie perhaps…….

The band were pitch perfect, very talented, solid and very tight. They sounded amazing. Lescop asked for the crowd to move forward after the first two songs. The photographers were doing his head in and should move out of the way I think he said. The crowd moved closer and the atmosphere became a little warmer.

Highlights for me were ‘La Forêt’, ‘La Nuit Américaine’ and ‘Los Angeles’ which are predictable being that these are the tunes I’ve most heard. My French is far from perfect and I missed the title of another highlight of the night (it’s often difficult to hear singers speaking on stage with microphones in English anyway), it was a cover of a song that he loved growing up he said (I got that bit). I’ll do some research to find out what it was as I didn’t recognise it. My husband thought he did, we’ll check it out.

It was an awesome gig, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lescop live is great. He’s very talented, a superb singer with an excellent band. His album has perfectly formed songs, which live, were just as amazing. We experienced an evening of wonderfully emotional, intelligent, beautiful inspired music with great indie beats or pop, a lot of the tracks were danceable. I’ll definitely be checking him out live again. Actually, just looked, he’s playing Paris again in May –  *pressing reserve tickets online* as we speak, or I type.

On listening to the album again after the gig I loved it more. With him singing in French, which I totally love, it might put off some English speaking music lovers but I’d say that it is completely accessible, it’s great, it really shouldn’t put you off and you should check it out.

Here’s the video for La Forêt from youtube:

 

Photos from the gig 9th March 2013 Evreux

Spring where are you? What I’m listening to whilst I wait.

It was rather grey and dull when I went into Paris the other day. It still is always a pleasure, never a chore as they say. I do long for the bright blue skies to return. Now, I need to check myself – writing about the weather = very dull and boring. I did a few boring things – banking etc and then passed a few hours with a good walk around, popped into a few shops and had a quiet moment in l’Abbaye de Saint Germain des Près. I didn’t find him. I don’t think I’m ever going to really. Even though I have been to this area of Paris more times than I can remember, this was the first time I’d been inside this church. It is the oldest in Paris and the history of it is really interesting. I did have my camera with me but sometimes it just doesn’t feel right to be taking photos inside churches. Sometimes it’s just the English in me, there’s hardly anyone else around, no one else is taking photos – ‘Am I allowed?’ It is a good place to visit, it is atmospheric and I think you can feel the history. There are colourful frescoes, Romanesque paintings and the tomb of the French Philosopher René Descartes can be found here. (I’m not sure that all of his remains are here though, I thought there was a place for him at the Panthéon but after a quick look on the internet, there appears to be some confusion).

I did take a few photos on my walk around the city – here are two:

Tuileries Gardens

Random art I found around and about

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whist I wait for Spring I’ve been continuing to read my first French novel which is taking some time, (enjoyable time) and also listening to some great tunes.

Musings on tunes:

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds new album – Push the sky away is marvellous. It is dark, beautiful and emotional. I love it. Jubilee Street is just immense, I couldn’t get over this when we saw them live. I’ve also been listening to a some of their back catalogue.

Lescop – we are going to see him tomorrow evening. I’m looking forward to it. The band on before him are called ‘Wankin Noodles’, I need to look them up before we go. This is one of Lescop’s tunes:

I have just had a look at my ‘recently played’ list and it is rather eclectic. I wonder what it says about my mind? There’s the above and then here’s a snippet:

• Knife Party – Bonfire
• Palma Voilets – Set up for the Cool Cats
• Slowdive – Blue Skied An’ Clear
• Stereolab – French Disko
• Peace – 1998
• Boney M – Rasputin
• Daft Punk – Robot Rock
• Engineers – Sometimes I realise
• Simple Minds – Don’t you forget about me (That’s because I’ve booked tickets to go and see them in November. Nothing like indulging in a bit of nostalgia every now and again I say)
• INXS – various – New Sensation, Listen like Thieves, Never tear us apart, Mystify, Need you tonight………. I’d forgotten how much I did love them at the time
• Jacky Chalard – Super Man, Super Cool
• Kendrick Lamar – Backseat Freestyle
• KRS-One – Sound of Da Police
• Johnny Marr – The Messenger
• Iggy Pop/Iggy Pop and the Stooges – I’m quite enjoying the new tune ‘Burn’
• Timber Timbre – Magic Arrow
• Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot – Bonnie and Clyde

It is all over the place. This variety of music has seen me through the last few days whilst I’ve been busy updating my CV, reading, researching, writing, thinking (philosophising I call it) and the very boring and middle-aged like inevitable spring clean!

Here’s a picture of Serge Gainsbourg we found at a gig in Rouen.

Serge Gainsbourg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quote of my day:

“To live without philosophising is in truth the same as keeping the eyes closed without attempting to open them.”  – Réne Descartes

How random is this post? Very! It’s the state of mind.

 

A quick recommendation: Maison Européenne de la Photographie – Joel Meyerowitz – Une Rétrospective

I thought I’d recommend this as something to do if you happen to be  in Paris for, or during the next month or so. The Joel Meyerowitz retrospective exhibition is on at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie until 7th April 2013: Joel Meyerowitz Une Rétrospective

This was a wonderful way to pass a few hours during an afternoon. There was quite a large queue out at the front but it went down quite quickly. The organisation was good, only allowing a reasonable amount of people in at a time ensured you could enjoy the exhibition without a lot of over-crowding. Unfortunately this often happens at some of the popular photography exhibitions.

I came out of the exhibition totally inspired. I imagine anyone with an interest in photography would do. I was aware of Joel Meyerowitz work before I visited, but to see this retrospective was a superb experience. I pondered over the photographs in awe at the detail and asked myself questions as to what was happening in that snapshot of time. It is truly marvellous.

I found an interview with Joel in the Observer newspaper from 11 November 2012 which is quite interesting. Interview – Joel Meyerowitz

The conclusion to the interview and what photography is to him is both amusing and insightful!

For him, he says in conclusion, photography has essentially been a series of questions he has tried to find a way to answer. “It’s me asking myself: ‘How interesting is this medium? And how interesting can I make it for me? And, by the way, who the fuck am I?'” Has he found a definitive answer to that one? “No, not yet,” he says, smiling, “and time is running out. But I’m getting there.”

(from the Observer newspaper 11/11/12)

I’m off out with my camera tomorrow!

Nearly the end of January….., that was quick!

This month has flown by, I’ve been really busy and will update over a few posts.  Not all of what has been busying me is that interesting – here’s a few early January musings.

I have enjoyed the French detox for January. See attached:

Detox – French style

No mention of giving up wine – just remove fruit juices, fizzy drinks, other forms of alcohol and strong coffee but not wine. This was from the Chemist. How very French!

In other news, another ‘how very French’ moment as my husband returned from work from evening. He had been given a few gifts from some of their distributors in the South. Here is one that isn’t appropriate for his office wall. It’s not appropriate for the office wall at home either! A calendar full of scantily clad women. This is one of the shots that wasn’t too bad. Again, ‘how very French!’:

I will update further with thoughts, our travels in January, music etc soon.