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 »

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« ♫

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 »♫

How should I say that… That it’s a strange feeling, after seeing a good concert last summer in what started the all shabang (you know, the little sparkle that will ignite my love for concert and photos, and might explain why, a year later, i still have around my left wrist the pass for this festival), I’m going to go and see, live, « Bob & Lisa », who are the bassist and singer of « The Bellrays » (the group of this summer). Here, they will be in « blues » version, just the two of them on stage, acoustic guitar, one singer, and that’s it. First of all, she’s having such an incredible voice that it’s something that is worth seeing, but most and foremost, this will be my first ever photo pass for an official medium (in that case a flamish belgian webmagasine called DaMusic). And this is also why it’s a night to remember…

Ok, i’ve done a lot of gigs in the past months… and it’s not much to say.. I used to go with my small compact, afraid of what might happen to my daddy dslr… Then I tried to go in with my daddy camera, but was stopped early bc i wasn’t hidding it. Never understood, about being able to take nice pictures, and an army of compact that will blind all of the band for an hour with all the flashes.. Something just so not right when we think a little bit about it.

Anyways. Then came the moment I start following DaMusic on Twitter (if you have no idea what twitter is, a shame, it’s the future ), and they offered some places on a weekly basis. Had the chance to win two to go to see « Parts & Labor » in the Botanique. Went there, took pictures (doh!), and then to thank them, mailed them « thanks for the tickets, and by the way, I took some pictures! »

Long story short they answered « hey, no worries, they are nice » me « ur not looking for an extra photographer by any chance » them « well, make a portfolio and we’ll see what you can do » me « err it is on flickr » them « nice, there’s nice things in here, we might give you a small gig to start just to see if we could work together » me « no worries at all, small gig would be nice , oww, and i saw Eagles of Death Metal on Sunday, here’s the result, what do you think? » and so on and so on… and in the end, yesterday was my first photo pass for Bob & Lisa.

The first time I was actually going to enjoy a live concert, enjoying taking pictures out of it, and seeing those pictures on an actual website that is not mine. It soon will be the case. And this is more than enough to make me smile. So here I am, asking for my photo pass at the desk, they got my name *yay* time to get in the « rotonde » (where I saw Parts & Labor, Woodpigeon, Girl Talk).

And so here they are. Those 2 musicians, who are playin’ together for more than 20 years now, arriving late in front of the gate of the place -not open at that time-, passing nicely in front of everybody with a smile. This will be a strange nite for sure. The doors opens « Sorry, but we usually ask to stick the photo pass to your clothes » « owww, no problem ‘mam » I answered. And so I went it. Never saw the place as empty as this. Damn it. Weird to see that even where there’s talent, people aren’t really answering.

So.. I don’t really know how to be in the « non crowded » rotonde to take pictures.. Sat down with everybody on the stairs? nice, but too far, prefer closer framing. Let’s see nonetheless during the gig how things are going. They’re arriving on stage, with outfits matching of nice flower ornements. And here we go, simple and efficient, 2 mics, one acoustic guitar, and a wonderful voice.

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

I know just a couple of songs to be honest, but I know how talented they are, and it’s more than enough for me. This blues/soul voice with just a guitar, a good rythmic, and a quiet/confy place, no need for much more… I’ll start really byt not trying to be that intrusive, everyone being sat on the stairs of this beautiful gig place.

In the end of course I came closer, crouching next to the stage to have at least some kinda close up shots. But really it’s sweet, it’s rhythmic, they are 2 but sound like half a dozen and give us goosebumps on some tracks (damn the voice of Lisa is just… *Brrrr*)

Just a nice memory, my first ever concert where I’m actually allowed to take pictures (but well, I didn’t mind taking non allowed ones at Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand etc… hehe). But I don’t know, it’s just the exact same pleasure to go and see artists I actually wanted to see, taking pictures, and see them spreading on another website. It’s just amazing. Hope I’ll be able to do more concerts like that. Rumor has it that if talent is there, it should happen. Not always conviced usually. But on this case, hope the say will be true

And they are really very nice after the gig, selling tees, cds, buttons on the stage, sitting on the border. Me « can you sign this, it’s my first ever photo pass, and I’m glad it was this concert honestly » lisa « oww, how sweet, thank you very much ». Really, I urge you to come back to the basics, how much a guitar and a nice voice make you travel far away, how much a look can say so much more than words, same for lyrics… just a very nice and warm feeling.

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In My Ears : Jason Mraz -Sleeping to Dream-  ♫ « I’m dreaming of sleeping next to you /I’m feeling like a lost little boy in a brand new town./ I’m counting my sheep and each one that passes is another dream to ashes /and they all fall down./And as I lay me down tonight, /I close my eyes, what a beautiful sight./Sleeping to dream about you » ♫