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 » ♫

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.

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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 » ♫

I remember… I remember I had a left knee, I remember I didn’t had cramps in the right legs all nite long, I remember I didn’t get tossed away in a 2k crowd, I remember I wasn’t missing 2 pieces of my camera, I remember I used to not remember what was like to be jumping with a full crowd on a track, I remember I wasn’t a big fan of taking concert pictures, I remember I wanted to be Irish and not Scottish. I remember there was a time I didn’t spend 75 minutes with Franz Ferdinand @AB in Brussels. I now know that it was a rollercoaster right into my face, and I didn’t saw it coming (at least not that much). Now I just want a 2nd round of it.. pleaasse, let me do one more round!

Of course Franz Ferdinand was Sold Out at the AB in a glincah after the opening of the tickets sales. Of course I couldn’t have one (like 20mn and they were all gone), of course, I was lucky enough to see an ad on the page of this concert saying « i sell a ticket », oh oh oh.. it was just for me, so thanks to François, I had the golden ticket to see the scotts on stage. Support act was called Kissogram (germans it seems). Weird but interesting electro-rock. But well, not enough moving shoulders even a little bit, hard beats, nice, but well… It will be nothing compared to what’s coming next.

 Indeed, the 4 scotts arrived on stage, luckily enough i’m really close to the stage (and no security fence at all.. wow). They start by « Come on Home », his guitar gimmick, is bass clearly present, the pit ignites almost instantly, and for once, I was kind enough to leave my jack at the cloackroom (which at the AB by the way is just something like heaven, I swear, and I’ve done loads of gig places!). Sound like, it’s actually not bad, sound engineer should be good, even if the voice of the lead singer (alex for us, fans) is maybe a little bit overwhelmed in the slap of energy that is coming into our  head on a bi-second basis.
♫ « Moonlight falls upon your perfect skin/ Falls, and you draw back again/ Falls, and this is how I felt/ And I can not forget / And I can not forget /Come on home/So come on home/ But don’t forget to leave « ♫ -Come on Home-

 Almost without the slightest silence in between, « Do you want to », one of the main hit of the 2nd album, keeps everyone jumping. You know, this kind of crowd where you don’t have any room left that whatever happens, you just don’t have the space to fall, it’s purely mathematic, nothing will happen if you follow how the crowd is moving. When the chorus comes « to do do do do do », now it’s jumping time, same stuff, you pretty much have to jump if you don’t wanna die under broken ribs made by knees, elbows in the eye etc etc… Yes, it’s pretty tough :p
♫ « Oh well I woke up tonight and said I /I’m gonna make somebody love me /I’m gonna make somebody love me /And now I know, now I know, now I know /I know that it’s you /You’re lucky, lucky /You’re so lucky! « ♫ -Do You Want To-

« No you girls » from the new album sets up the tone that will go through the whole set on stage, pretty much no interruption between songs, just turning people wild, coming closer to the audience, smiling, being astonished as most of the artists who are coming to Belgium how much Belgium crowd is just soooo amazingly wonderful. « The dark of the matinee » and « twilight omens » will follow, crowd singing, good times, sweating, looking if I didn’t lost anything because it’s moving so much.. Right stage.. no.. left stage.. no.. in front.. in back.. jump.. left… jump.. right… wowww… guys… let us breaaaatthhhhh

♫ « Do you never wonder? /No, no no no / You girls never know /Oh no, you girls’ll never know /No you girls never know /How you make a boy feel  » ♫ -No You Girls-

  »Walk away » and « The fallen » are really the ideal intro to the tubesque « Take me out », I tried to shoot a video, but it just wasn’t possible, people shouting, dancing, arms in the air, sweating like they just run a marathon, this is definitely almost the  symbol of a whole generation that discovered new british talents at that time (that was like 5 years ago, seems way further than that). And this guitar, like a sting, giving the whole rythm, simple, clear, efficient. Love this track, can barely focus on the voice because the whole crowd is actually in communion with the pit and with the band. This is just a strange feeling, and it’s not the first « moving concert » I saw.
♫ « So if you’re lonely,/ You know i’m here waiting for you,/I’m just a crosshair,/I’m just a shot away from you/And if you leave here/You leave me broken shattered alive/I’m just a crosshair/ I’m just a shot..then we can die/Ooohahhhhh/I know I wont be leaving here with you«  ♫

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  »Turn It on » is quieting a little bit the audience, time to breathe, to realize that well, we’re all already pretty heavily tired, but we’re ready to go to do another round anytime, you know, this time where you just don’t give a f*** about what’s your job, age, weight, social situation or whatever, you’re just someone else on a crowd that is having the blast of the month, enjoying. I know it’s the same for me, at this exact moment, I just don’t care I will be barely able to walk when I’ll get out of here, i’ll sleep just a couple of hours, mostly in pain, before going to work, here, Nothing matters. The pain’s gone. And THAT is a great feeling, that is why I still have my wristbands on the left wrist, the ones from the Ardentes as well as the one from the Eastpak Tour in Antwerp ( »built to last » is written on it). Never foget. A small reminder of how sometimes life can be, simple but sufficient per itself. Right now, I’m just a guy painless in a crowd, and I’m happy with it.
♫ « It ain’t easy being this kind of lover why don’t you ever call me / But I’m dedicated, yes I’m a forgiver /Yeah, I’m dedicated, yes I’m a forgiver / Oh, I’m dedicated, yes I’m a forgiver /I’ll forgive you always / I know you’ll turn it on yeah (turn it on)  » ♫ -Turn it On-

« 40 ft », the guitar sound is just enough to start to make everyone move, « Bite hard » as the same effect, and the awesome « Ulysses » arrives. This beat, like a nitelife moment (the music video is great about that, just like stuff happening on the pavement at nite, we’ve all experienced it), all the temptations you can have and you wish you had taken. Those kinda nite you remember for a long time because either vodka red bull made you cross the line and give it a shot where you actually didn’t wanted to at the first place (how’s that it’s something i’ve experienced? wanna see me do something stupid, gimme vodka red bull. « you wanna do something stupid? » « do me. I’m stupid ».). Dunno why, this is exactly what it reminds me, this gimmick coming back like the « don’t you roll your eyes at me like that ».. mouah ah ah.. was so cute.. we were so young ^^ *shrug*

♫ « Well, I found a new way/I found a new way/ C’mon doll and use me/ I don’t need your sympathy/Ulysses/I’ll find a new way/I’ll find a new way, baby/My Ulysses, my Ulysses/ No, bet you are now, boy/So sinister, so sinister/ Last night was wild » ♫ -Ulysses-

« Lucid Dreams » is next, and is way different that what we were used to. It finishes in a real electro style, all the guys actually creating the main beat on the drums, each one on one of the drums. Didn’t expected it, but it turned out very very very well indeed, but once again, they are here, smiling and smashing on this drum. Really really impressed gotta confess. And a moment where Alex is « offering » the guitar to the crowd, everyone wanting to touch it, nice memory, communion with the audience of artists who are happy to deliver a consistent and well built set.

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 The encore will be « what she came for », and it just seems anecdotic in regards of what is coming next, « outsiders », but the last and final track will be « this fire », and for sure, this sets up the audience on fire. I swear, It just absolutely incredible. Once again, the crowd, the whole pit as much as I could see it, moving, singing, jumping, taking the last gasp of this powerful gig, exhausted, but damn happy. Wow, this gives me almost goose bumps just thinking about it. That was a wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiild nite!
♫ « 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 » ♫ -This Fire-

 Right now, Alex is crowd surfing, owww, he didn’t went very far, but well, you didn’t see that often, and it’s always a good sign about the spirit of the guy and how he is not having any issues with people singing the same lyrics as him. Right now, time to go back to car, I’m really going at the speed of a turtle.. damn it’s gettin’ difficult, kinda dizzy by everything that is running through my thoughts right now… you know, that kind of state where you are on the pavement, even without any alcohol in your body, and you wish you could still shout, scream, dance, jump, and doesn’t care at all… This temp euphory that makes you wanna give your smile to the whole world.

 Right now, I wanna make love all nite long… Right now I want some people to realise how much I love them, Right now I wanna be scottish, Right now, I remember why I’m 27, happy, not perfect for sure, but passionnate about everything I do. Because I dig it, because i’m proud of making pictures that people might like eventhough they’re aren’t that awesome. Because I’m the way I am, a stranger in a foreign land, who just loves to have so many things going on in his life, even if, at the end, we never know what tomorrow will be made of. But don’t worry, life is easy, life’s great, life is having up & downs sometimes, but in the end, just remember how many good moments you had, it’s the only one who are lasting anyway, bad moments are difficult, usually heart breaking and pain creator, but they go away. Le temps détruit tout. I’m ok with that, but just the bad stuff, moments that are a melt of magic, surprise, astonishment, smiles, love, feelings, are made to never be forgotten.

I remember.

And as usual, all the 90 pictures can be seen on Flickr.

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In my ears : Jason Mraz -I’m Yours- ♫ « But I won’t hesitate no more, no more/It cannot wait, I’m yours/Well open up your mind and see like me/ Open up your plans and damn you’re free/ Look into your heart and you’ll find love love love love/ Listen to the music of the moment people dance and sing / we’re just one big family/ It’s your God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love love » ♫

Saule (translation could be « willow tree »), a Belgium singer, singing in French. (Yes, I know it might seems obvious, but it’s not, the Flamish singer singing usually in English… because it’s just easier to sell discs I’d say…). How did I hear his name… To confess I had no clue at all who he was, but during an evening of drinks, I talked with the girlfriend of a friend about my concert pictures, or at least that I was going to see quiet a lot of people [That was and is still so true.] So I said I didn’t know much Belgium names other than the « big bands » of what can be considered as the new belgium school of rock (Ghinzu, Deus, The Tellers, Puggy etc…), they came with the name of Saule and Sharko. So well, when I saw the name Saule going to the Bota, I’d say let’s trust them and see what the « lyrics’ belgium scene » (if that makes any sense at all) as to offer. Gotta say I was really happy to have seen him, maybe won’t be the last time either!

Support Act was Clare Louise, who was on stage with an other guitarist and a cello. And it was kinda celtic music. I swear, didn’t expected it, but well, of course I liked it ^^ You know you’ve got sometimes moments in your life that just stays in your DNA, for very various reasons usually, but well, when it comes to the celtic tiger, i’m obviously always a big fan… And hearing those simple ballads reminded me of nights in Temple Bar (the « going out all night long » part of Dublin), yeah, I know I always talk about it, but it’s just because it’s nice memories, and it’s moments where I really changed between being a teenager and being a grown up, because I’ve discovered so many stuff, so much about life, people, feelings, the beginning of what I really am now.

And so they where, tuning their guitar on stage « doesn’t seem quiet right, let us just tune our guitars because it seems out of tune, give us a sec’ « … It was strange because the voice she had when talking was really less « nose-ish » than when she was singing: appealing, quiet, reminded me of contemplation and silent moments in front of a lake, looking at some falls, or just in front of a modern art piece. Relaxing is just the right word. But the voice is sometimes strange because I’m missing this « open throat & nose » moments, here it’s really round and warming though.

The support act finished, the roadies are bringing some elements on stage, the mic seems reaaaallly close, good, probably not shy to be that close to the crowd (of course there is no fence, it’s not a mosh pit style concert, so no one should be harmed or over excited). And so the « pleureurs » are coming on stage, Saule is sometimes touring alone, but is on stage with his « weepings » on some gig, here’s one. Like 5 others musicians to help him create his own little world on stage for 75 minutes.

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The stage is already something by itself, fluffy and plush style, very very nice and so here he comes, and I was really impressed, something like 2 meters high, has « well builed » as me, kinda curly hair, ok, let me get back 4 or 5 meters so that I can have you through the lens of my camera! The concert was launched, very quickly into the mood, moving a little bit, shouting, clapping. God knows how much I’m not that much into music « new french lyrics style » that consists of lyrics that are really well written usually, and on a minimalist music (piano, guitar, drums, who knows…). So no, it’s really not the thing I would have wanted to go out and see live.

But Saule is working really well, he’s freakin’ happy to be here, mixing between tracks from his first album « Vous êtes ici » (2006) and his new one « Western » (2009). The audience is really from various ages, style etc… Fun to see that talent can bring so many people from so many different parts of Brussels, and that’s what’s probably the best thing about the Botanique (the gig place), the artists coming are coming from so many different kind of music that this place is just filled with people willing to know more about those new musicians.

♫ « S’il m’était donné/ De pouvoir punir Sidonie/ Toute la journée/ Je l’obligerais à enfiler/ Des perles de baiser/ De la tendresse en collier/ Les enfants à problèmes/ Voudraient simplement qu’on les aime » -Sidonie- ♫

And so the tracks are nice, the musicians really good, and all playing different kind of instruments, there’s really talent on stage. Different guitars for Saule, according to the kind of tracks he’s playing. « Tonite, the bota goes on fiiiiiiiiire come on!!!! ». I’m even impressed because they are making a cover of « Folsom Prison » from Johnny Cash, the only song of the whole set that I knew all of the lyrics But well, once again, it’s because Cash, it’s Cash
♫  » I hear the train a-comin’, /it’s rollin’ round the bend./And I ain’t seen the sunshine, /since I don’t know when. /I’m stuck in Folsom Prison, /And time keeps draggin’ on. /But that train keeps a rollin’, /On down to San Anton’.  » -Folsom Prison Blues- ♫

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Some nice moments with the « Nanana » song, with the whole crowd singing « nanana », the moments where « on the first album, there was a song names « saule », and now on the 2nd album, here’s « Saule 2″, he’s back »
♫ « Le vent souffle et se déchaîne/Sur nos cœurs de porcelaine/Certains appellent ça le blues/ Le coup d’cafard ou le spleen/ Y a toujours bien eu un mot/ Pour vous décrire la déprime/ Et moi, je dis que je suis saule » -Saule 2- ♫

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

Totally out of the line, maybe what we love about him, is that he’s also having a lot of fun on stage, and the crowd gives him the smiles back as well. Definitely someone I will want to see another time, that will not make me feel ever Belgium, but well, why not try to give a 2nd thought about all what Belgium as to offer me… We’ll see…
♫ « Pour faire l’amour, il faut être deux/Minimum/Que l’ partenaire sourit un peu/Minimum/ Plus on le fait moins on s’ contente/ Du minimum/Du premier du mois jusqu’au trente/ C’est l’minimum » -Minimum » ♫

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

 And as usual, all the pictures on Flickr.

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In my hears : Lenny Kravitz -I belong to you- ♫ »You are the flame in my heart/You light my way in the dark/ You are the ultimate star/ You pick me up from above/ Your unconditional love/ Takes me to paradise/ I belong to you/ And you/ You belong to me too/You make my life complete/ You make me feel so sweet« ♫