LIVE REPORT: Rival Sons @ Le Nouveau Casino, Oct 29

There's a time to shout and a time to dance. There's a time for love and a time for communion. And that's everything that we had on Monday night in Paris from the almighty Rival Sons. Between legendary rock and pure comforting blues, the California band certainly proved that there will always be a time for good music anywhere in the world.

Sure we knew when we arrived at the venue that it would be a great show. First because the band had proved at La Flèche d'Or six months or so ago that they are probably the best- and the last- true rock band around these days. Secondly because it was their last concert on their European tour and there's always something special in the air when four guys who have spent forty days on the road close a sold-out tour that took them to eighteen different countries.

Blackfeet Revolution were opening the show. As usual, the French duo did a good job. And yes, it was hard trying to insufflate some life into a crowd that seemed to have pushed the pause button while waiting for the headline band. But still, they did their part of the thing though we couldn't help noticing the blatant lack of a second guitarist. Yes, The Black Keys  (who are the main influence of the French band) are a two-piece but when they play live, they have a whole backing band with them. Blackfeet Revolution do have awesome songs-  take some time to listen to Feel It Burn- but having a backing guitar player would push the melodies forward live.

The venue was packed as a church on Revelation Day when the roadies started to put on the instruments for Rival Sons. One of the guys was the perfect look alike of one of the Sons Of Anarchy. Which gives you a sense of the atmosphere. When finally, each of the Rival Sons came on stage, the crowd was as much holding its breath as shouting and clapping their hands. Starting with Keep On Swinging, first single on their latest album Head Down, Jay Buchanan stated things right. Taking as much from early Eric Burdon for the feline presence as from Jim Morrison for the attitude and John Fogerty for that voodoo-given voice, he seemed to be the messiah the crowd was waiting for. Scott Holiday, clad in a very 60s pair of colourful striped jeans and wearing his sunglasses put on his guitar hero show: straightforward, efficient, melodic and raw. Robin Everhart at the bass was grinning behing his shades while Mike Miley was having the time of his life, putting forward the rhythmic soul of the quartet. Burn Down Los Angeles was of course one of the highlights of the night with Jordan, probably one of the greatest ballads ever written , All The Way , Face Of Light that Jay dedicated to his son back home, the immense Wild Animal and Pressure And Time and my all-time favourite On My Way that was the message each of the four guys was sending back home to their girlfriends and children. Even our national rock radio host Francis Zégut was totally enjoying the gig and taking pictures on the side of the stage. What else is there to add when a whole venue enjoyed a concert from song # 1 to the end?

That same night, a few miles from Le Nouveau Casino, The Rolling Stones were playing a very "intimate" concert for four hundred brokers in suits. Let me tell you that  it was better to clap our hands for Rival Sons than to watch bankers ratlle their jewellery for Mick Jagger's company.

More pictures of the concert can be found right here.

The setlist was

Keep On Swinging

Burn Down Los Angeles
Gypsy Heart
Manifest Destiniy #1
You Want To
Until The Sun Comes
Wild Animal
Jordan
All The Way
All Over The Road
Young Love
Face Of Light
Torture
--------------------------
Pressure And Time
On My Way
Get What's Coming