I did already saw them live one time some months ago @Atelier @210 as a support act for the very good « General Elektriks ». Was astonished at that time, singing in german and all, but the venue is not made for music at all, so couldnt really say if that was worth going to see live in a full session or not. Then i saw them on the schedule of Le Botanique, one of my favorite venue ever, and wondered if i should go or not, decided not to, wasn’t sure i would be in Brussels that weekend, in the end i was, and in the end i won a ticket, because as would confess the singer on the stage that nite « got a mail last week saying there was 5 tickets sold only, so well, thx everybody for coming i guess « . Room was actually full, due to winning mailing contest or FB contest and all..

So well, here we were, arrived on the usual time, in an empty rotonde, but everyone was probably grabbing a beer or something ahah. The concept art of the band is around 4 colors, every member being dressed in one (red, blue, green, yellow), and when the first note is coming to our ears, stage lighting delivers accordingly hehe, but its difficult to have a clear view of which color goes towards whom, nonetheless, very nice and clever effect

Music is catchy, balance is good this time, as usual in the rotonde, and the 4 are really standing just in front of the stage, close to the audience, that’s always nice, even if i do need a 35mm in those cases, would realllly be helpful, but well, in the meamtime, catchy colors, no timeout, they’re just happy to present their 2nd album, and are more than willing to move and not stay at all behind their mics, you gotta love this for a photographer you know, no mouth mic at all *bliss*

I also saw the Rickenbacker bass that the bassist has, and that pretty much made me smile ahah, just reminded me of the day i saw R.E.M. live in Luxembourg, and that was actually the 1st gig they were playing again  with the Rickenbacker after being stolen on this same tour in sweden, given back anonymously few days later, but you know for REM, the Rick is their sound, we do recognise it on so many tracks that it would have been a shame to loose it, but well, i was the only one to smile at this little details, i do am probably too passionnate, sry about that

Not often we hear singing in german, but well, it turns out ok i guess, now listening to the album there’s several song in english as well, more or less looking like the style they have in their own respective bands but well, hope they’ll get better gigs after gigs you know ^^

Loved the 2nd encore, Daniel being totally honest « it was a bummer to take the huge bass in the train, so i’d better should use it you know » ahah Cya soon, on ur own bands or with this cute germanish one \o/

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In my ears :
Blur -Country house- « He lives in a house, a very big house in the country/Watching afternoon repeats and the food he eats in the country »

First thing is that it’s cold right now, -3.5c to be exact right now, brrRRrrrR

Arrived on time, but it looked more like a club than a pub or a gig venue. well.. we went slowly in, to see a bar and proper instruments -or maybe is it just a hype place, im kinda not used to those you know…- but well, with 45mn behind schedule, a martini bianco for the lady and a coke for me (11 euros for both, gosh its not easy to be a gentleman and a billionnaire i say!! #WTF)

Now the question remains : How do you shoot a Band that even if it’s cool to hear such melodies, actually have a lack of lighting, or at least a very bad ones (not very bad, lack of possibilities i’d say, 2 big colored spots…). Well, then you can’t do much actually, can’t wait for any cute rims of volumetrics (my 2 favorites things in concert photography for sure), nope, you go back to the expressions, the rythm, the movement, otherwise, it just look like a scene taken from ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas » :

They really are less stressed than the first time i saw them @le bar du matin some months ago when they launched the album, everything goes very very smoothly, and it’ll be overall something like a 45minutes gig, Sandra, even a little sick, is really capable of showing a lot in her voice, almost breaking, quiet and sweet, very swell sensation, adding the bass and slight keyboards its really cool popish songs ^^

The singer has the bad (photographically-wise) habit to pretty much never leave the mic, and bc its a small place, of course can’t make it to the side to be able to have something else than a « mouth mic », well, that kind of things happen, but its clearly a bummer.. and ill probably buy a 35mm next week to have more « space » around the frame in such small venues, cause right now with a 50mm (closer to 85mm bc im not in full frame, and im sure ive lost 93.6% of the 10 readers i have at this point…), in the meantime, you just say your doin’ photo « the arty way »

I love black & white pictures. it just gives you straight expressions, contrasts, things, that can be sometimes disturbed by beautiful colors or lack of contrast, no B&W is really sometimes what makes me love photography the most, showing the moment, this little time where something happend, no artefacts, bc, in the end, do we remember more a movement or the color of the wall that nite? True here its just a necessity, otherwise the image is pretty much not readeable if that makes any sense ^^

But sometimes people just don’t like it ahah, i’ve talked with Puggy ’s lighter, that told me that he sometimes just doesn’t get why photographer are putting their pics in B&W, that he « chose the colors of those lights, but well, i know that for you guys, red just sucks in pictures, i know ». He totally got it right, true its sometimes nice in some songs, but when it comes to photography in concert, red suxx, big time, you have no contrast, everything is burnt and all ewwwww, so usually, if u see a B&W pics in here, either there was way too many red in the scene or its out of focus ahah \o/

So well, crossing my fingers for them, who knows someday they’ll be able to hit on their own a cool venue, with sweet lo-fi like that who knows, a movie score, and ad, something, anything, but overall, very nice people afterwards « hey, i know i knew ur face! »  » yeah, ur the guy from the pics last time and that is making a concert a day! » « errr yeah, more or less ahah » but well, all the best, and ill be there next time, if they level up between each gigs like that, the best is still to come!

Loooping was also happy because he set to cross Igmar’s path again (true its a boys name and the duck ’s got eyelashes, but i ask the lady « we told me i was in charge of the duck for the way back home so well » me « whats her name? » « errrr, no name i think or is it? nooo, dont think so, lets say.. igmar… » so igmar was named ahah ^^ and for the record, in Belgium, kiss on a chick from a guy you never saw before, very welcoming, true, but i still just dont get it (and its been 2 years that im here you know…)

To finish, the cover recorded that nite « Dock of the Bay »

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

So here I was, going to Charleville-Mézières, et tiny town in the North of the Champagne region of France, for the 5th edition of the « Cabaret Vert » Festival (green cabaret), a 3 days festival, with an ecological idea behind it. An overall very nice journey, to the heart of why I like so much what is not my daily job. Taking pictures, photos that will last as memories and moments I’ve experienced…

After a little detour to see a friend, here I was on my way to the town of Charleville-Mézières, not far from Sedan and the Belgian border. My howetown is not that far (like 2hours drive), never been there tho.. a perfect way to discover the town and region under a heavy sunny weather, what more can you ask really ^^ Thinking about it, it’s actually going to be the first festival (for pictures i mean) that i will do outside of Belgium, now looking forward to see how it goes, bc usually, the standard in a belgian Festival is quite high already

No issue at all with the photopass, and i was on my way to discover the site, site that is actually really in the middle of the city, no joke about that, yes, it’s a square at the beginning, but surrounded by buildings and everything, interesting to discover ^^ loads of security and fences, people on their way to the Camping place.. you know, the beginning of a festival It’s « only » a 2 stages festival, but it will be more than enough (Dour has 6 stages I think… ) and the sun is there, which will help a lot overall

« Exit Wounds » was opening on the smaller stage the event. One of the very nice principle is the price.  1 euro per artist, and you got the price of the 3 days festival. It’s actually very good and not oftenly we see that kind of simple mathematic explanation. Next would be the opening of the Big stage by « la grande sophie », a french artist.

« Yeti Lane » went on the Small stage and it was time to see Tricky on the main stage, and his downtempo Trip-Hop creating a perfect mood to start the evening/nite. Some tracks are just awesome in live (2nd time I actually saw him live this summer after Les Ardentes ). And this time, i really appreciated some tracks.. First, true he was the singer of Massive Attack on their first « bluelines », but he actually went solo back in 1995 (yes, dunno why, would have though it was was closer to 2000ish… wow). And now, I can say that tracks like « Hell is round the corner », the bass line from « overcome », or one of his latest « puppy toy » is really overwhelming with good intentions, quiet periods that will go slowly and slowly higher, until it blows at ur face. Francesca, the singer that is also on stage is actually helping, her feline way to move her body while sharing the mic with Adrian (yes, less exciting than Tricky right?) is just an image you wanna keep. Sensuality, and good lyrics <3

After the 3 songs, us, photographer are kicked out of the photo pit.. and it suddenly actually make sense for once, when Tricky actually decided to make people come all over the stage.. and the people actually stopped coming when there was no more room left.. wow… but well, everything went well, but my 2 cents is that it was kinda unplanned by the security lads ahah ^^ Tricky’s picture are worth seeing, tatts, floating on the music, open hearted.

Going way up North in denmark to see « the asteroids galaxy Tour », that are famous for being one of the song of the latest ipod ad… Nice sweet pop on stage, it’s during the private 2 songs acoustic session that it makes me happy to be where i’m standing, sharing a moment that only a few can say they have lived. And that is really something worth going through the lack of sleep, hurts, wasted time and all. Totally don’t care right now, just enjoying 3 guys singing for us how sweet life can be sometimes…

Then it will be time to be hit by Ghinzu once again. Saw those Belgian band (from Brussels to be more specific) live a couple of weeks ago after being one of the first belgian band i’ve known, at that time still being in France. Little did I know I was going to shoot them some years later, and feel damn good about it. Gosh now I really have to see them for a full show and not for an hour in a festival… but damn.. it’s pure power, madness, the riffs are just deadly awesome, John is doing his show, the other guys are following and spicing all of that (prop on for the guitarist). Damn, just feel like hit by a truck, but this sensation, for this week end, is a good one, and because it’s unexpected to actually be there for 3 days, then i’m even more appreciating the moment

I’ve missed « zone libre », or at least wasn’t allowed anymore to take any pics, rumor has it it was nice tho. So well, back to the main stage, to jump on the heavy electro of « Birdy Nam Nam », 4 Djs/MCs, 2002 World champion, offering an übercrowded square a way to jump and have a fun that appeared instantly on everyone’s face. Really something to discover, to be on the other side of this fence, and see everyone going crazy for a tune, or bc everyone is simply jumping and enjoying the moment. An absolute blast, and the 4 sound makers are talented, nothing to say about that, they know what they’re doing

Twas then time to head to the Hotel, true i’m not playing 100% hardcore festival style, i’m not drinking either so well ahah ^^ a very nice first day overall, 2 cameras and the gears are kinda heavy tho, but well, you get used to it and don’t feel much more at the end of the day… I’ll remember the good spirit that everyone is having despite the 30 000 people, the proximity with the artists, a shame we weren’t able to do the Acoustic Session with Ghinzu, but well, i’m happy bc i’m making pictures, listening to good people, and overall just happy, which is already quite something

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In My ears : Depeche Mode -A Pain that i’m used to- : ♫« All this running around/ well it’s getting me down/ Just give me a pain that I’m used to/ I don’t need to believe/ all the Dreams you conceive/ You just need to achieve/ Something that rings true » ♫

Sooooooo. This time, I will not talk about a day or a special event. Nope. I’ll just show one of my photographical habit. I’ve got several, publishing more than weekly some snaps is helping, I started creating collection, about stupid stuff, about repetiting stuff, about the idea of everything seems the same but is so different. Of course i’ll cross this habit more often when it comes to Music, here it is… crowd.. yeah.. just crowd. More over actually just the chance I have sometimes to be at some spot where some of this crowd would like to be. And that is just a deadly feeling.

Of course, people are not looking at me, but sometimes, I’m really like « in front of them », and honestly, what a view that can be. Thousands of people, waiting on someone or something, just here for an artist, for a song, for a moment to share and love. That were you see there is different types of Crowd. Let’s start with an easy one, the quiet one. The one that will not interfer whatsoever, no clapping, no moving, no hands in the air. A crowd, in communion with the music, appreciating.

Then come the crowd that is more into it, that will clap, that will raise the arms, to a spanish wave, that will follow the singer that is waving the hands.. you know.. we’ve all done it, we’ve all liked it, arms to have an idea of ocean of people, feeling, happiness and moment that is never

Congrats to those who actually spotted me taking the snap ahah, there not usually a lot of people looking at the camera, but I could definitely spot a few up to you to find them ahah

The crowd is also a « i wanna touche the sky, let me touch heaven and hammer this beat so that i will never forget this moment ». I’m also like that, we all are, to physically live the experience and the music, to dance, giggle, move, anything that will express this feeling of just being well, and seizing the moment. And that is always a nice thing to remember, how much the crowd needs to get involved for the gig to be more than just « ok », luckily for me, in Belgium, crowd is great, honestly, responsive, loving music, happy, partying. Close as heaven as never. And i got a few gigs were i could say so…

My favorite as to be Arno in the Couleur Cafe Festival this summer. Singin « les filles du bord de mer », he asked everyone to raise their hands, 18 000 people  immediately did so. What a view, what a feeling. He’s a Belgian singing icon, saw him back in Les Ardentes Festival in 08, didn’t know much, learned to know, discovered a talented fellow who’s struggling with life, and a Belgian Crowd who was there for him, waiting for this moments along with two other of his classics songs. And as expected. I had a blast without knowing the 1st time I saw him. Now that I know. It’s just absolutely awesome, especially when ur the only photographer up there bc they were all somewhere else doing god knows what. My little own private moment of communion, of being happy to be there, from this year that changed a lot, that might stop as quickly as it started, but damn, what a great thing that leaves you speechless, and wirth the hours of lack of sleep, the physical fatigue after all of that. Right now i’m just happy, and kinda proud. The best way is to see it larger by clicking here to realise how this could have felt.

In the crowd, you also have got to go with the crowd surfer. This lad (oftenly, way more dangerous for a woman, saw some during the « Les cowboys fringants » concert tho) surfing on the crowd, sometimes the singer, sometimes just someone from the crowd. Never tried (who said « too heavy of course dude ».. yeah well)… i might someday, just to get snaps from up there ahah… I remember the singer from Dionysos crowd surfing to get to the other side to finish the song, i remember having someone almost falling on me in another crowd, i remember this lady under heavy substance in the Venetian Snare gig going on stage, diving, without anyone ready to catch her. That probably hurts a lot. She didn’t seemed to care ahah ^^

I sometimes just look at details, of people being above everyone on someone’s shoulder. We also all remember singing along in the crowd (confession : loved doin’ so on Hey there Delihlah, on open your eyes, on Let Love Rule, on Take Me Out, on La Ouache and so on). Those kind of moments is what makes concert so special as well.

In the end, the most important is actually who’s next to you in the crowd, i like going alone to concert, i like having some friends with me, i like to have special occasion where some friends come to concerts, and so many things to share afterwards, some lyrics, some moments, some moves, some look, some gesture. Crowds are great. Being in it is awesome. Living for it and as one for more than an hour, being a nobody in a bigger moving and loving body. I certainly never said enough to those around me in some concerts how much it was great to live that moment together. Consider this as the « i wish i should have told you so when we were there »

The best way to see all those clichés in a reasonable size is to go and see the album of almost 200 shots on Flickr as usual

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Tom waits -I Hope that I don’t fall in love with you- ♫ « Well I hope that I dont fall in love with you/ cause falling in love just makes me blue,/ Well the music plays and you display/ Your heart for me to see,/ I had a beer and now I hear you/ Calling out for me/ And I hope that I dont fall in love with you. » ♫

Of course i’m not objective on this one. They are irish, they are talented, they have published my pictures from their brussels gig on their official website, and i’m having a photo pass for their concert in Luxembourg Tonite. After driving their through the nite (4 til 6.30 am yup, after a very nice evening in Liège in belgium actually), wandering around the city during the day, it was time to reach « Den Atelier », the venue of Tonite, and prepare for what would once again be a very nice moment.

Went there with 3 friends, that didn’t saw the gig in Brussels I saw. « How are they live? » would ask one « honestly? a lot of fun, energy, passionnate by what they are doing and singing, why do ya think i’m here once again ^^ « . And that would sum up perfectly the mood of the nite. Support Act was SpLeeN, a luxemburgish act. Nice, not as was Gary Go though (once again twas one of the best support act i’ve seen so well). But let’s move on to the St James Street Natives we all want to see. This time, i’ll be ready to shoot Glen (the drummer), because on stage, the drums are on the right and not « as used to » on the dead center back of the stage, so i barely saw him the first time, a shame considering that he’s a good drummer!

Fade to black, crowd (not sold out though   ) screams, Glen is coming on Stage and style in the dark starts the show, Mark (guitar is coming as well), obviously when Danny (lead singer) arrives, I lost my right ear once again ahah, but damn this feels good to have a crowd that responsive! The piano of « before the worst » starts all.. and then i became an Irish again… I remember why this country changed me, changed my life, and still haunts me from time to time, the exact place where I change to fall from teen to a man that will handle is life. Remembering the spire, the pubs, the people I met, and it feels damn good. And Grafton street, sweet grafton street with his BK, HMV and so on … *dream face*(tickle me everytime i look at the movie « once » as well don’t worry).
♫ « It was Dublin city on a Friday Night/ You were Vodkas and Coke, I was Guinness all Nite/ […it was grafton street on a friday nite/ I was down on one knee and you were mine for life« ♫

« Talk you down » gives a little bit uptempo (love the drums on this one), the voice of the singer seems more calm than in Brussels even if they were tired : (you should hear the cute irish accent) « Man, we litterally just came out of the plane, we’re like so exhausted… and we’re surprised, we were expecting like ten people here ya’ know » *crowd shouting* then the guitar of « Break even » splits the venue in a nice mood, and the crowd -young yes, but nonetheless- jumping, claping and singing. <3 those moments, the exact reason why i like concert, why i like photography concert, ’cause in those kind of moments, we see how good people can be, how they can be passionnate and be there for stuff that others can not understand.
♫ « I’m still alive but I’m barely breathing,/ Just prayed to a god that I don’t believe in,/ ‘Coz I got time while she got freedom,/’Coz when a heart breaks no it don’t break even.« ♫

« The end where i begin » will remember us how much his voice can go high pitch (there we can see a little bit of pushing for the high notes but no biggie), and will just be the opening for « This is the reason why we are here, it’s called We Cry ». And yes, it’s good for radio, but the lyrics are just so much more. Talking about James Street, the neighborhood where the Guinness brewery is. When i used to live in dublin, i was south side, next to Rathmines in the Griffith College (17 2B, the number of the flat, numbers that will always be with me), where as James Street is more north compared to where i was. How i remember walking in this city, loving it, so many nationalities, accent in the language, attitude even under the influence of booze, ahah, i’m back there just with a song
♫ « Sometimes we don’t learn / from our Mistakes/ Sometimes we’ve no choice/ But to walk away, away« ♫

« If u c kay », « fall for anything » and « man who can’t be moved » seal the deal… This is some artist we’re having in this small venue, and everyone is loving every single note coming from those leprechauns « rusty halo » with his hip hop accent and rythm (the bass ahhhhh) will close the flow of this very tight main set. They will be back with 2 awesome encore « i’m yours » and « we can be heroes ». Security tried to pull me out around this time (they’re just doing they’re job, i agree… nonetheless… keep your head on ur shoulder will you?), and once they cleared the fact that i had a photo pass and everyone was ok for me to take picture, i was able to come back in the place, of course behind and way too far to take the slightest good clichés grrrrr :/
♫ « Yeah I’m looking for the right type of pleasure but all I find is pain/ Now there’s no light to guide me on my way home/ now there’s no time to shine my rusty halo« .♫

The time to come out, happy once again of a fairly consistent set (i’m now willing to hear some new songs, dunno what we can expect actually). Big up for the « i’m yours » intro when Danny explains « this song has been wrote after a nite we had a lot of wine… we’ve all been there you know what i mean » ahah when i think about it and this song is just *sigh*
♫ « I may not have the safest touch/ I may not say the words as such/ And though I may not look like much/ I’m yours« ♫

Eveyrone loved it as usual, i took the time to bought buttons (yeah, i’m like that, even with a photo pass i got to get something, just like that when i love the concert i saw.. might sounds stupid, but don’t feel ashamed at all to show artists i like how much we like them) that i will offer to my friends that were there time to hit back the road after 40 hours, 3 countries and a memory full of nice moments. But before, i’ll wait for them to come out, just to take some clichés out of stage, to show how much they actually are human you know, they are loving what they’re doing, they’ll thank everyone that stayed an hour after the end to see them, they’ll sign, take pictures, smile, talk.

Gave a moo card to Glen and to Danny « do you want me to sign it or are you giving it to me » they will both say actually « don’t really know, the thing is that i don’t have anything to make you sign, but once again, impressive gig, thanks a lot ». Danny to wrote « to vince then right » when i said i was the photographer from the brussels gig.. But i suspect he just remembered from the card with my name on it I just gave him hehe I truly and sincerely hope to be able to see them again, even if they are touring in some festival this summer, but on dates that i’m already booked by other artists elsewhere (eg  while i’ll shoot peaches in july :/ ). Farewell in the meantime, and once again, thanks to Mark who saw the pics from brussels, Tom who contacted me to put them on the site and gave me with Quinner a photo pass

Exhausted, but worth it every second of the way. Now having red bull instead of blood in my veins… Slainte!

 All the pictures can be seen in Hi Res on Flickr as usual

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In my ears : Snow Patrol -Chasing Cars- « If I lay Here/ If I just Lay Here/ Woud you lie with me/ And just forget the world? »

Surrounded by teens copycat… The belt backward (the opening is on the back) eww, the colors in pastel tones (pink, green, black, black, and another version of black hehe), lip, eyebrow, nose or tongue piercing. Right now I feel old. Yup, im back in the rotonde of the Botanique one day after the sweet Loney, Dear made me go through thousands of sweet feelings… Tonite, French rock band « Second Sex » is coming to take the stage in a pretty emptied venue… Dunno really what to expect actually… But should have seen it comin’!

In front of me, one of the teen, you know, the one with Blue converse, robbie williams haircut and nailed belt (ok, i might have just discribed a third of teens, other third being gothics, and last one « dudes & gals that aren’t really sure on which side to go »). He’s saying « I’m sure it’ll be better than The Script and Jason Mraz ». WOW. Stop right here, i saw those 2 artists… Am i still a teen or f***** what? No support act is supposed to come, so we are patiently waiting.. This group has been the support act of the über talented Muse… That must mean something!! Little did I know at this time..

And this is going to be a short post… Days after, i just remember i lost 3.5euros (the half of the ticket price, the other one for what can be considered as actual nice pictures)

I couldnt tell right now what songs i heard that nite.. Some where in French, others in english, mostly talking about sex & women (like most of rock n roll some might say…), and no THAT many differences between tracks.. Total disapointment..

Im just having fun taking pictures basically, which is already a good thing true ^^ but well… No, not for me at all… Girls in the venue are going crazy but i just dont get it (pretty much the same reaction when i see Robert Pattinson « playing/being » Edward cullen in theatre. That’s just so not happening… Emptyness…)

Maybe the fact that the lead singer actually said at some point (gosh, that means i was actually focus on them right?? Eww)  » and tonite, after midnite, our friend here on the keyboard will turn nineteen!! »… Did i just heard nineteen… Ok let me switch directly to the other concerts of this month (miss kittin  & the hacker or les cowboys fringants, where i’m sure ill feel more stuff in a fifth of a song than the whole gig tonite…)

Dont get me wrong in here, i wish them all the luck in the world and a successfull carreer, but right now, i could as well hear the Einstein’s theory of relativity in ancient greek while looking at Matt Damon’s alltime marathon filmography (and come on, this is really boring) that it will talk more to me than the hour long experience i just had..

[and yes, this is rough, but see, sometimes i see bands that i shouldn't be proud of] What can I say other than that.. I’m really freakin’tired.. really.. coming out (no, not of the closet) of the Domino Festival week (amongs other The Whitest Boy Alive, Squarepusher, or Nico Muhly), and some other concerts… Nites are short, and physically, it’s becoming a little bit difficult.. But loving it, so what can we say against that hun?

As usual, all the set can be seen on Flickr

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In my ears :  Sharko -Excellent (I’m your man)- ♫ »I’m special, excellent/You’re special, excellent/ Good in bed, excellent/I’m your man, excellent« ♫

It was going to be an average Monday you know… Barely slept to start working on the pictures of this week end while abroad, even succeeded in uploading the first ones from the cosplay before being able to say »hey.. Hiya to you too new week.. Its been a while! ». Then i had a friend who was supposed to come over from Lille bc she’s working there for the whole week. FAIL. Cancelled due to too much work (you owe me another dinner now!!). Mondays suxx, big time (nothing new in that last sentence. Fact). Then got a mail from one of the guys of DaMusic : « Anyone available for the secret concert of Sharko tonite for the release of their new album? ». In one mail (and  now that I think about it, a phone call yesterday from a country far far away) my Monday turned out just great!

The fun part is that its actually in the exact same street as my studio (yeah, « avenue « …dont be picky like that). So i’m on on my way to the Indigo Studios, which after some research is a place down town which moved to this neighborhood.
Who’s Sharko? Belgian band, never heard of them before living in the Kingdom of Belgium (as i was for Arid, Hollywood porn stars, the black box révélation and so on some might say).

But well, during a talk with a friend about how many concerts i was doing and the « quality » of my pictures (his words, not mine), we talked about the « Belgian school of Rock » (long debate about the idea of being able to call it school, trends, sound, way to do and so on…). And he happend to mention amongst others Saule that i delightly discovered live a couple of month ago, and those Sharko.

 I’d happen also to see someone wearing a sharko tee during the Brussels Summer Festival. But i didnt connect at that time… French men that I am, i thought it was something against our président Sarkozy… Little did I know..
♫ « I’m so sorry, woaw, I’m getting used to it…/I know you’ll never call me back/’Cos I don’t know how to talk to girls/I know you’ll never call me back/And I’ll be forever a lonely boy…« ♫ -Ripoff (a phone call)-

 And so here I am at the private party/concert for the official release of their new Album « Dance on the beast » (released 04/20 in Belgium, 06/01 in France). Their latest one before that « Molecule » was already really good (yeah, i tend go try to discover stuff when I’m told it’s good music!). Let’s see how they deal with live stage and new songs (tickets could be won through a contest on radio so pretty sure the 500 people gathered here are already conviced it’ll be a deadly nite).
♫ « Thank you for the sick comments/The dissidence, the fast revenge/I’ll get you on the wall /Thank you for the sick comments /The fist, the flop, the block, the fence/I’ll get you on the wall » ♫ -Mouse/Animal/Facebook/danger-

 And so they arrive on stage, on time, we can instantly recognise the blond hair of the main singer, grabbing the bass and here we go for a heavy riff…. The quality of the sound is as we could expect really average (or maybe is it just the habit of the 2 high quality standard venue i usually go to! The place is like a huge depot, with speakers that will just perfectly make the sound of the band rebound on the huge immaculate walls…
♫ « I’m special, excellent/ You’re special, excellent/ Good in bed, excellent/I’m your man, excellent » ♫ -Excellent (i’m special)-

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

 Overall its still a nice thing, the singer just thanking everybody that joined the release of their 6th disc. And the show goes on, mixing between old and new tracks. And all of a sudden, everything snapped, wasn’t aware of that but the frontman’s actually a showman!! Coming close to the crowd, shouting at us so we shout back, trying to make everyone sing on some tracks, all the crowd is not that responsive, but what would you excpect from black ties and posh people that came here bc they just were on the « vip list »…
♫ « I’ll pick the electronics/You’ll do the economic/We’ll need a larger room/For everyone to dance/I’ll pick the electronics/You’ll do the economic/We’ll need a larger room/And that’s all » ♫ -

But well, some songs are definitely very catchy, with a strong gimmick, his voice doing up & downs, and a drummer giving a lot of impact and energy to the 3 piece band. « Come on guys, like in huge concert!!! » and the singer to mimmick hands clapping, the audience to answer nicely and following how the set was evolving…
♫ « Takes you by the hand to get a new chance/When you are lost in the dark/It makes you big a bigger man/You try to understand /Rise up instead /Rise up instead and try me/ You will get the very chance to stay on my side » ♫ -Rise up-

Got to confess i just didnt get any pictures at all of the Wildest moments they had, bad lens and poor lighting.. Kinda angry at myself but well, we can’t always get what you want right?? (But if you try sometimes… You might find…).
Overall a nice evening, really amazed by the Charisma of the singer (yeah, i call that charisma, not like the semi god complex of Johnny Borell of Razorlight i saw last week…)
♫ « My mama said it’s gonna be hard many times/ But think of me and the love I meant to give/And remember how it looks super shy/ The way you grabbed molecule anyhow/ I didn’t know but our love was meant to be/ My mama said it’s gonna bleed from time to time/ My mama said it’s gonna be hard many times/ But think of me and relax there’s love ahead/ Anyhow… » ♫ -Sweet Protection-

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

For the encore « See, i even changed my shirt » will he say… Time to go home, working on the cosplay pictures of this weekend, and wanting to discover more closely the universe of this post-pop belgian band that i dearly want to see again in live (should be at Les Ardentes ‘09!). Got to check their website sharko.be, in discography part, they’re explaining stuff about each and everyone of their songs, awesome!

 As usual, all the set on Flickr!

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In my ears : Les cowboys fringants -la Catherine- ♫ »Elle n’aimait pas la routine/La margarine/ Et sa maigre poitrine/ La Catherine/Mais elle aimait sa taille fine/La poutine/Et sa vieille voisine/La Catherine« ♫

Jason Mraz. Sir Mraz was coming to sweet Luxembourg. I obviously wanted to go and see him first in the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels (Flogging Molly, Eagles of Death Metal, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc party amongst the pure enjoyable concerts I saw there), but it was soldout in no time, just couldn’t make it and had to cry. Until a friend had the awesome idea to ask « do you care to join for Mraz in luxembourg? ». Not at all, of course i’ll be there Den Atelier, a sweet and small little gig place (saw Dropkick Murphys & The Plain White T’s there). Should be intimate and very nice. What could we expect from the Jazzy Ballads that Jason is able to write and talented musicians he has…

As a support act was Marit Larsen « a fairy who’s in a tiny small globe in Norway » as Mraz would state later. Music is sweet and kind, warming up the place for the American is actually pretty easy, Luxemburgish crowd also kinda helping. A nice support act, really.

Then comes the time for the important concert of the nite to begin, we’re on the left side « well, it’s easy, when you see a hat passing by just there (a meter away on the left as I was pointing), it’s him » I said to the friends I was with. And here we were going for more than 90minutes of real talented music. Starting by « Make it mine » and the trumpets, 3 on stage, damn talented I have to confess, and it’s soooo nice to see something I don’t usually in a concert place like that, real trumpets in a jazz mood (I agree it’s not pure jazz, but it’s the best way to describe it easily)
♫ » don’t wanna wait no more/ No I wanna celebrate the whole world/I’m gonna make it mine/ Because I’m following your joy/I’m gonna make it mine/Because I… I am open« ♫ -Make it mine-

« Only human » is more down tempo, the voice is showing how sweet he can go, the drummer is here, but on the back, barely noticable, putting the voice of our guest of honor tonite in front of everybody. And then on the chorus I finally notice that the guy on the right is actually deadly good on drumming you know, the typical cuban huge drum. And it’s even more present on « common pleasure » and the « radadam dadadam » that is part of the song, and this rythm feels good, at that point, of course the crowd has moved and i’ve been taken away from the friends that where there. A shame, I almost had to move to the other part of the place, because the back was so frakin’ crowded I couldn’t even come back close to them, a shame really, I wish I could have dance with them :/
♫ «  I remember when we used to walk together/ Used to talk together, go to the park together/ In all kinds of weather we would share/ This common pleasure with most of human kinds/ It was a kind of treasure One that I was surely glad to find« ♫ -Common Pleasure-

And that’s the point where I realise where the last album « we sing. we dance. we steal thing » is really different from the previous ones by the guy with the hat. It’s getting moving, the crowd kinda liking it, but all the musicians are really impressive. And this first part is really groovy, the brass instuments really there, I’m really stuck how it can actually melt really well with the whole crew. « Did you get my message » is obviously on the list. But gotta confess I had such a blast hearing the version from his « Selection for Friends : Live in Schubas », that this version live seems poor. But it’s just because on the record, he’s interacting so much with the crowd, preparing the chorus and special parts, and the crowd is absolutely well responding that here, because no one is actually doing the « wouuuuhouuuu ahhhhaaaaaaa » well… no goose bump.. but he’s making his job and really into it. A shame though.
♫ « Did you get my message, the one I left / While I was trying to condense everything that I meant /In a minute or less when I called to confess /And make all of my stresses go bye-bye« ♫ -Did you get my message-

I didn’t remember « unfold » when I heard it from the records I have, but I actually have it on the « Live at Joe’s » one, weird I didn’t remembered such a nice and quiet ballad. This is definitely where I like his voice the most, with sweetness and lyrics as good as usual, and the up and downs he’s doing. The acoustic guitar is such always a nice sound, really, incredible when it’s simple and efficient like that. I oftenly describe it as just a look that can say so many thinks from someone you have feelings for. Simple, direct, honest, pure. « Live high » keeps going with the sweet tempo, Jason is starting to talk a little bit, mimicing the lyrics, seems like he’s getting into it Happy to see the brass guys appearing at the balcony, that’s cool

♫ « Hands in line/ Arms close, to my side/ I’m fighting tides, of an ocean’s undertows /And I figure that I might not make it,/ And I’m waking empty /But I’m seldom speaking/And the words retreat yeah they breathing histories into these stories untold/ And my arms unfold. »♫ -Unfold-

Calling Marit Larsen (yeah, Colbie Caillat is not on the road with him hehe) and starting the delicious « lucky », so many lyrics are so true in this song, so many way to say things that we keep to ourselves usually. Marit (i’m guessing it’s more her first name than larsen right? :p ) is doing a pretty good job, close to the high voice of Miss Caillat, the 2 voices perfectly blending for the chorus (both singing with pitch notes of a different octave, not the easiest thing to do, gotta confess). Right now i’m not physically close enough to the one i’d wish i coud have whispered in the ears the lyrics, but I really wish i’d been… a missed occasion some would say…
♫ « Boy I hear you in my dreams/ I feel your whisper across the sea/I keep you with me in my heart/ You make it easier when life gets hard« ♫ -Lucky-

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

It was probably the turning point of this concert for me, the moment where I realise everything’s here to be a good nite, but i’m not at 120% into it. No big deal, just a shame, a mixed feeling, amazed by the musicians, lyrics and voice, moving my body a little bit, but overall not really into it. I know why, and well, can’t do much about it, « The Dynamo of Volition » and is speedy tempo will not leave me the time to think really, but allows me to really dance a little bit, this rythm is just so awesome

♫  « Good Job /Get ‘em up way high /Gimme gimme that high five /Good time /Get ‘em way down low /Gimme gimme that low dough /Good times /Bring ‘em back again /Gimme gimme that high ten /You’re a representation of good intentions.  » ♫ -The Dynamo of Volition-

But then, yes, he’ll get me thinking once again, why am I not into the concert as I was for Rodrigo y Gabriela or Coldplay… « I’m Yours » is totally made to be a radio billboard hit, and it’s working. But it’s also so much more. Yeap, that’s why i’m not into it. ’cause I’ve got no one right now, looking into my eyes and telling me « I’m Yours », as simple as that. As someone would say later « maybe you need to be in love to be entirely into it ». Well… maybe, dunno. This concert would probably have been awesome any other day, or so right now it’s just pleasant. Like for a movie, if ur not in the mood well… ur not in the mood (wow, philosophical!)

♫ « Well you done done me and you bet I felt it/ I tried to be chill but you’re so hot that I melted/ I fell right through the cracks/Now I’m trying to get back » ♫ -I’m Yours-

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

« boy’s gone » is almost anecdotic to what the next song represent for me. Notneed to name it, it’s just one of the best ever, I could listen to it over and over and over again. Really happy to havin’ heard it live, bc it’s just so well written that yeah, it’s the only one that will really make me dream and move me. Even better, it’s not even on the set list. Just wanted to say wow. And the ones who know which songs is it and know me will agree on that. No pity in here, just saying outloud what I think right now. And yeah, I do think so much more, but don’t say a quarter of it…

« A beautiful mess » live is just the perfect way to go towards the end of this concert, coming to an end of this moment between brackets. The polaroid moment where he’s taking his musicians and sending the polas in the crowd is actually really nice (and I have to confess i disagree with a friend who’s saying that he was throwing old photographs, i’m more thinking that the other packet he has was just stuff to reload the device), and will close the nite nicely.

♫ « And what a beautiful mess this is/It’s like we’re picking up trash in dresses/ Well it kind of hurts when the kind of words you write/ Kind of turn themselves into knives/And don’t mind my nerve you could call it fiction/ But I like being submerged in your contradictions dear/’Cause here we are, here we are« ♫ -A Beautiful Mess-

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

Overall, not disapointed, just not the concert I needed tonite, but the guy is definitely talented that’s for sure, will need to see him one more time when i’ll be more up to it. Owww and I phoned a friend during a song, sweet to be able to make someone happy who’s in an other country, we haven’t seen each other in years, we had a fling, i’m guessing it would have been much more but well, the time wasn’t the proper one, life’s life hehe overall, thanks luxembourg for being full of moments and people I truely love.

And as usual, the whole Set can be seen on Flickr.

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In my ears : Phoenix -Girlfriend- « because visible horizon, right where it starts it ends ohh and then we start the end, because, visible illusion, ohh, where it starts it ends, burn like a sunset » (lyrics quickly taken from the audio, might be wrong though hehe^^)

That was quiet unexpected. I can’t remember how I heard about Girl Talk (his real first name is « Greg », but na, Girl talk will be more than fine). Just remembered that I’ve downloaded his album (no, don’t « bouhouhouhou me », we can download it under Creative Common License aka « i give what i want, even 0 bucks ») and kinda liked it. Looked out and, at that time, he just wasn’t touring outside of the US. Someday while surfing the schedule from the Botanique (saw Metronomy, Puppetmastaz, Woodpigeon, Bob & Lisa, Saule et les pleureurs, Pascale Picard down there…), the one that made me liked hearing -again- some binary beats again was coming to the sweet Brussels. Couldn’t miss it, especially for 9 bucks! Didn’t know much what that would give in live, but it turned out to be a real messed up, fun, jumping nite.

For once I arrived early (don’t want the « Rachael Yamagata incident » where I was way too far from the stage happen again. evaaa!), doors are closed, shirts are there waiting to be sold, no buttons, a shame, would have loved a button ^^ we’ll see for a shirt if it’s as fun as I imagine it. So here we, this time it’s more crowded than for Bob & Lisa, younger as well.

[My 2 cents, start the video at 30 sec, infrabass before that!, but it's the moment where he's going into the crowd]

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

Smoke fest is starting. Always a good sign, and here he comes, hoodie on, purple trousers… 2 laptop in front of him, 2 speakers, one mic. Don’t need much else. And for all the apple lovers, no, he’s not using a mac (hehe *victolllllyyy is miiinnneeeeuuuuuhh*), but 2 panasonic windows laptop and  here we were going, first loop, first beats, everyone starts jumping and shouting.

2nd loop, he’s sending the confettis, which is, when you know it, the signal for « come on, get on stage with me and have freakin’ fun! » of course a dozen of people went directly on stage dancing around him and the mood of the evening just tended to get even better than better.

Smoke is all around, temperature is going of the roof, sweat is everywhere, and it’s only the beginning of his set list. He starts jumping in front of his computer, goes into the crowd (he even went out to drink out of a ladies glass at some point and litterally jump on a guy’s back) and starts dancing with people. Gosh it’s just nice to see. Someone that is just having so much fun, in communion with the crowd that came to see him.

I remember I sang some Kelly Clarkson (siiiince you’ve beeeennn gonnnneeeee!), reminding me of this summer in ireland when this song came out, I also jumped on « Song 2″ of Blur (this was more london period, but damn as good and as enterteining), i’m having a recap of my good moments in clubs right now… just like woooowww.. i remember that nite at the bob’s in dublin (the « don’t roll ur eyes at me » episode… *sigh* ), i remember the « on anon » on picadilly circus (the « I like the way you move » incident) and so on and so on (note to self : I could talk more about those moments of my life, but because no one is litterally comenting on what i’m saying, why bothers hehe -fake excuse inside.. or not- :p )[Video : start at 50sec, just to hear the "song2" by Blur  *goose bumps*]

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

Most and foremost here’s the gimmick (almost as I was expecting it) from « Come on eileen » of the Dexys Midnight Runner, and this is just a brain blaster. This is exactly why I used to love electro, because with simple beats you are like travelling far from everything, far from the botanique, far from brussels, from your daily life, and going to memories, pure memories, the only thing that matters in the end once again, what you remember of the moments you’ve lived. And this is just awesome.

Right now, i’m French, in a belgium gig place, in front of an American artists, singing an Irish band. The perfect sum up of what goes on in my life right now. I’ll never be belgian, but I kinda love this country, I grew up, or at least started to became an adult in england and in ireland, and this is why everything related to this is directly going in my open’s heart. No wonder why I tried to offer irish stuff to my closest friends (even if i never saw them wearing what i bought, who really cares ;p ), just because I have faith in the idea that some moments of our lives are worth sharing, even if this is nonesense to the people we’re sharing it with.

This mix is just extraordinary, worse « incendiary » (good luck to the person who can comment with the name of the awesome movie where this « incendiary » comes from, should give a prize, but dunno which one ^^ ), coming up on stage, going down, dancing with people I’ve never met in my life, still the incredible idea of just being 120% into that moment, living my life as much as i can while i can, i’ll have time to chill out and stop being overwhelmed by projects, but not now. Days, weeks, months, years are flying by, and I know I’m not looking for much else, or at least I know what I miss truly, which is more than most of us can actually say.

The moment is going stronger and stronger, everyone is sweating, dancing, doesn’t caring about what they are doing, pure fun in la Rotonde of this gig place. It wasn’t sold out, but ellie (one of the ladies dancing) will told me later that there was only 5 tix left, ok, let’s call it sold out then hehe ^^ « ya know, i used to play in clubs in the us, and here in europe, i’m actally going into places like this one, so thank you very much to all of ya to coming here to see me, and I can see everyone!!! are ya still here???? » -crowd shouting-

Really, an hour out of nowhere, with a crowd litterally overlving the mix that’s presented in front of us. He’ll take the time to stay on stage to take some pictures with the ones who want to, it’s how much you see he’s also fully living his life. Girl Talk just rocked my world just with mashups, smiles, and an incredible crowd. Let me see him again very soon please!

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

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In my ears : Franz Ferdinand -This Fire- ♫ « This fire is out of control/ I’m going to burn this city/ Burn this city/ If this fire is out of control/ Then i/I’m out of control/And i burn »♫

Kaki King is the only female artist seen as « god of guitar » by Rolling Stones Mag… I mean EVER! Where’s my beloved Gabriela from Rodrigo y Gabriela?? Pffff… Anyways, never heard that much about her before… But one day, a friend mentioned « u’ve seen? Kaki King’s coming to the AB! ». Actually didn’t need much more to get my ticket, after all, if it’s has a good discovery than Pascale Picard was, im all for it! So Guitar Time, talent on the small stage of the AB Club (saw The Black Kids there), get ready to dive into a world of sounds and sonority that will make you travel far… and having thousands thoughts crossing your mind…

So here I was, at the AB Club, waiting for M’am King (yes, she’s 30 but I call her M’am :p) to come on stage. Arrived early. (I swear, the « Rachael Yamagata incident » will never happen again, ever. And yes, I’ll keep on saying that to really make it happend this way). On my left, a typical scene of why I love Belgium so much, 2 people (one lady, one man), obviously fan of Kaki King -saying to someone who was trying to take all the pedals on the floor in pictures- « you know, if you’re looking for the one from Kaki, it’s the other one there » « yeah, i’ll see her 4 times…. yesterday in the Netherlands, today here, then Paris… »

And a Belgium guy comes in to get to close to the stage, and obviously everyone starts to talk alltogether « yeah, i’ve seen that band, was really cool and have you blablablabla ». The interesting part is when the Belgian guy says « do you want a round of drinks on me? ». See. That’s why i love this place, people are nice here, chatting, talking etc etc (yes, i’m playing the « i just hate paris » card here)

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

In a previous post, I said that most Flamish Artists where actually singing in English, probably easier. Well, tonite proved me wrong. Tom Pintens is actually singing (and talking, and joking) in Flamish, weird for once to really go to a concert, not knowing any songs, but even more just not understanding anything he’s saying at all. I just got sentences like « in charleroi » -charleroi being the name of a Belgian city- because it was the chorus of a song… hehe ^^ well. Weird, but fun! Time to wait for the small cute brunette with fingers that speak for themself.

I got to confess I didn’t expect her to be so short (rumor has it 5′1″/ 1.52m), she makes a nice gesture « ok guys, just before starting, can you make all the short people come in front » so i look behind and someone is actually trying to cross the crowd « there you go, thanks, I just wanted to do that before starting ». And so the concert starts. Her sitting on a chair, plugging her instrument (that is not a guitar per say, it for sure as a way more technical name but I can’t say which one).

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

And so the magic starts to come. Music, but less « gimmickish with a strong chorus » than what i’m used to see, here, it’s very deeply technical, loads of lyrical high moments. You just have to dive into the music, and just imagine… keep your thought making you leave for somewhere else… I’m really impressed by all the emotions that came along that nite, sadness, then joy, remembering faces, moments, people, small looks I could have seen, little attentions from someone to another one, all those small things are just melting at the same pace than the tracks…

She’s on stage with a drummer and another guy, the drummer is just really good, damn, the other guy is trumpetist, and also having another weird modern trumpet (best way to describe i’d say). And they are all playing with notes and tunes in a confy mood. You know, the one that just makes you feel happy to be here.

Well, once again, I got to admit that on some parts of her gig, she lost me on the way, once again, technical, impressive, but not into it for me (a little bit like an ex who was fan of Dreamtheater, na, really not for me at all!). Over all, the t shirt showing her left shoulder, the fingers flowing on the guitar, the smiles, the quietness and contemporary of some songs.. I’ve think a lot during this hour, weird, Nostalgic as much as realising what went through the last year and a half…

Maybe not all what I expected, might should have done or say stuff when I wanted to, but overall, I don’t complain, I never complain, just the way I am. Kaki on stage will taste the Stella Artois that the Ancienne Belgique gave her « ok.. This is like… sooo not good » -crowd shouting obviously- « no, really I mean c’mon, it’s like…. Budweiser of Belgium!.. I want the beer made by the monks you know.. where only like… God has the receipe ».

A shame the friend that told me about her couldn’t get tickets (and i warned him but well…). Over all a nice nite, even got an autograph at the end, going in my bathroom with all the other posters of bands I have seen…

Thanks Kaki, ’cause you made me think, now it’s time to go further in those thoughts, even if it will probably never be doable per say, but at least I might have tried.

And as usual, the whole Set can be seen on Flickr.

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In My Ears : Les Cowboys Fringants -Les Hirondelles- ♫ « L’image que l’on donne/ N’est pas toujours la bonne/ Volent, volent les hirondelles/ Même les beaux plumages/ Peuvent être une cage » ♫