LIVE REPORT: The Hives @Oui FM, Sept 19

Somehow, at High And Loud, we do feel very lucky these days. Great gigs are taking place everywhere in and around Paris, bands we've been following for some time are now touring the country or releasing their first album and.... we have awesome friends with great musical tastes!

Thanks to them, we won our way to the very private show The Hives were doing for a Parisian radio. The Swedish band has always been a favourite of ours. We had seen them a few years ago in a small venue and recently for their warm-up gig, following the release of Lex Hives. Whatever the time or place, The Hives always rock.

So,on Wednesday, we headed to the Bastille area to witness what we can easily call THE best and most demential gig of the year so far. The band had spent the afternoon at the radio, rehearsing and recording. At 6pm sharp, anyone who was willing to could have their pictures taken with them and actually talk to the band. Infamously, not so many people turned up. Which really make you wonder what's happening to indie/rock music these days. But still, the girl who runs the FB page The Hives-France and http://www.longlivethehivesfrance.blogspot.fr/ had brought a very personalized French flag dedicated to the band, stating along our national credo:"liberty, equality, The Hives". The band seemed impressed, the radio was definitely so and the banner ended as the masterpiece of the night.

I had not been front row for quite some time now- and that's when I realised how much I had actually missed that particular spot where you end up with tinnitus (funniest English word I've learnt recently) and bruises everywhere but thinking WTH, I had a legendary evening. By 8PM, the hall was at last packed with fans, ready for 45 minutes of rock n' roll dementia. With Come On, the band directly opened a raging showcase. By Hate To Say, the crowd that had gathered behind the windows could not see a thing as it was covered with steam. Pelle jumped everywhere, climbed up the amplifiers, walked on the bar, Nicholaus blessed the front rows with a vigourous hand through the girls and boy's hair, Chris just drummed the evening away while Vigilante Carlstroem and Dr Matt Destruction imposed their strong and acute rythm lines. When Wait A Minute started, it was clear that I would be deaf by the end of the song- Nicholaus gently passed on his spare earplugs. Deafness, you won't get me on that one.

The band finally nailed it with Go Right Ahead and the top-it-all Tick Tick Boom.

Yes, it was a good night, a really good night. The Hives are touring the country this Autumn. Forget the furniture, Sweden is far better for music.

LIVE REPORT: Pete Doherty @ Bus Palladium, Sept 8

A sold out gig , in a small über-fashionable but friendly Parisian venue, everything was in its place for a great rock n'roll night. Of course, rumours had it that either Doherty would not show up or would perform three songs before mumbling nineteenth century poetry. After his infamous gig at the Olympia where he was almost booed off stage, it wouldn't have been a real surprise. Neither of this turned out to be true though.

We had arrived just in time to grab a mojito, salute old and new friends and discuss past concerts. Doherty was supposed to get on stage at 11PM. Obviously, guess what, he was late. But it was all forgiven when after 45 minutes and the announcement "Yes, he has arrived, give him some time to get something to drink and he'll be all yours", Pete walked across the room, grabbed his guitar and started Time For Heroes. Scruffy, greasy greyish hair and face, bags under his eyes, despite all of that, Doherty turned out to be magic. Suddenly, you could only feel blessed to be there. His presence is messianic, his songs timeless, the venue a temple and the crowd an assembly of worshippers. And the tunes kept coming as if playing on stage was the most natural thing for Doherty to do.

I was never a fan of The Libertines or of Babyshambles though I never turned out the radio when their songs playes and actually quite liked the whole Last Of The English Roses and Fuck Forever period. I had even seen Pete live in 2008-9 but came out quite unconvinced of his performance. I have to say that last Saturday, Pete just blew me away. Then of course, he had to read some poetry written by a male fan. A preacher and a rock n' roll star. He even lent his guitar and his place on stage to the same fan who got the chance to play one of his songs.

By midnight, everything was over. We did get the chance to see Pete Doherty at his magical peak; let's hope he realises - like we did- just how much he's worth.

BLOG: Who you should see live this autumn.

September is not just that dull month of the year when it seems you're never going to make it till the next summer. No my friends. September is THE month when you start planning your weekends- and weekdays- to pack them all with great gigs. So what and who should you see this autumn in Paris (and surely in a place near you)?

#5. Le Festival Les Inrocks.

Paris has its own week of musical excitement starting Nov 5th. Dozens of great bands in small to larger venues. Pulp is expected to play. The festival even spreads its wings to other towns so make sure you check out the program.

#4. Pete Doherty.

The whole wide world knows Pete Doherty. Singer, songwriter, addict, actor, infamous lover, the last of the English dandies will play Le Bus Palladium on Sept 8th.

#3. Eugene Mc Guinness.

More than just Miles Kane's guitar player, the rock n' roll gentleman will be at Le Point Ephémère on Sept 25th

#2. Jake Bugg.

Noel Gallagher's spiritual inheritor and prodigal folkman. The young lad will play La FLèche d'Or on November 28th.

#1. The View. 

The Scottish band will play La Flèche d'Or on Sept 28th. The lads are back with a fourth album entitled Cheeky For A Reason and seeing the setlist they've had so far on the tour, this gig is surely the one you just cannot miss.  By the way, here's a great interview with the guys from Dundee and one of the most heart-felt presentation of a band I've seen in a long time cf York Vision

LIVE REPORT: Eugene McGuinness @ Studio 104, Paris

Last year, at the exact same date, Kasabian played the same venue for their promo gig on French TV. As happy as I was to see the lads from Leicester back on stage, I was still partly disappointed with the quality of the new songs and their lack of live power compared to, let's say, Fire. Tonight, clearly, the scenario was different as Eugene McGuinness just nailed a mind-blowing performance of seven of his own songs and one cover by the original King Monkey Ian Brown.

I had last seen McGuinness perform with Miles Kane and never would I have imagined that red-haired guy to be THAT talented and to outstrip the Liverpudlian singer. I had listened to The Invitation To The Voyage for the interview I had with him earlier in the day and though the tunes are powerful, I was expecting a Morrissey-like experience. Sure I was wrong.

8:30PM. A handful of the usual britrock lovers had won their way to the studio and some journalists and bloggers had willingly taken two trains and two buses to get in this suburbian area to see McGuinness play. Which we have to admit is already some kind of success for a singer or a band in Paris late August. After the now traditional rehearsal and recording of applauses (yeah, for whatever reasons, TV shows think people will stay dumb in between songs), the band took the stage by storm with Lion. If you think this song is anthemic on an album, wait till you hear it live. That guy does know how to grasp and grip his listeners. Either playing the guitar and singing or being a crooner, McGuinness delivered a heart-rending performance of Harlequinade and Sugarplum. McGuinness is more than your typical 20-something rock n' roll wannabe. Somehow, he manages to sum up what Britain had and still has best to offer-ie anthemic tunes. So you can easily imagine what it sounded like: raw, powerful, dantesque.

As the usual round of applauses were not over, the guy from the production came back and announced the band would play one more tune- Dolphins Were Monkeys, one of Ian Brown's most famous songs. McGuinness told us he would do it and did it. A gentleman with a rock n' roll background. Ladies, beware, the guy will be back in Paris September 25th for what already seems to be one of these concerts you should not miss. 

Holidays are over, all hail September!

After a few months of hard work for the website I'm working for and some well-deserved holidays, September is coming back with good prospects

- an interview with Eugene Mc Guinness for the release and promo gig of his album

- some hopefully good pictures and live report of Pete Doherty's sold out gig at a very intimate venue

- and the same (and maybe interview!) of The View for the release of their fourth album andtheir gig in Paris that I've been longing for AGES !!