New blog !

I’m running a new blog at Rag’n'Râle.

So there are good chances that this one is going to be shut down!

Next concerts !

Hi !

After watching live videos of Aranis on Youtube

“Jona” from their first album

Aranis live at Gouveia Art Rock 2008

I went to their myspace. I already knew that they are playing at the Festival RIO in September but I didn’t know they are also playing in June in Paris at Le Triton ! Awesome ! Best news of the week !:) I wanted to see them live so badly !

They will be playing songs from their two albums and also samples from the next one that should be released some time in September.

I got a ticket for the Kronos Quartet concert that will take place at Le Théâtre de la Ville on the 4th of May.

Finally Mörglbl is playing at the Triton on the 30th of May. I have not yet decided if I am going.

Secret Chiefs 3 in Gilles Peterson Worldwide Mix

Around 18:50 I was listening to Gilles Peterson Worldwide Mix on Radio Nova and then a song starts: it was Secret Chiefs 3’s “Safina” from Book M !

I never thought I would hear them one day on a (French) radio…

What a great surprise and also a chance for people who don’t know them to discover their music !:)

Miriodor, Alamaailman Vasarat and Volapük

The new Miriodor album ‘Avanti!’ should be available in May! Their previous album ‘Parade’ was released in 2005.

Alamaailman Vasarat is working on a new album. Their previous CD was released in 2007.

And finally Volapük is also working on a new opus !:)

Beat Assailant

Great band with No less than ten members:
- Stanislas Augris : drums
- Nicolas Gueguen : keyboards, choirs
- Gaye Sidibe : bass, choirs
- Thibault Renard : trumpet
- Maxime Pinto : saxophone, flute, choirs
- Bertrand Luzignant : trombone
- Janice Leca : vocals
- Mr Viktor : turntablism, scratchs & cuts
- Danny Wild : guitar, talkbox, choirs
- Beat Assailant : vocals

I first saw them at the Chorus Festival at La Défense and it was really excellent ! They know how to make people move !

The next day they were playing at Le Hangar in Ivry-Sur-Seine ! So I got a ticket and enjoyed them live a second time.:)

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/hardtwelve

Universal Totem Orchestra – The Magus

Surely one of the best progressive rock albums of 2008 The Magus is the last release of an Italian band called Universal Totem Orchestra.

I discovered the band on RYM back in December. The reviews I read and the few samples on their MySpace convinced me to buy the CD.

I received it on the 24st of December, what a great gift before Christmas ! 79 minutes of music. You could think it is too long but the music is so interesting and so rich that it is very rewarding album: Jazz-Rock, Zeuhl, Gregorian chants …

MySpace

RIP Lars Hollmer

Lars Hollmer the famous Swedish accordionist, composer and keyboardist died on Christmas day. It’s sad. I remember watching the Accordion Tribe movie  Music Travels two months ago ; so I was really surprised to learn this very bad news.

His music lke the ones of Bratko Bibic, Didier Laloy and others made me redisover and love the accordion. Thank you for that.

Fleet Foxes live !

They will be playing at la Cigale in Paris on the 25th of February. Awesome !

I was following the pack
all swallowed in their coats
with scarves of red tied ’round their throats
to keep their little heads
from fallin’ in the snow
And I turned ’round and there you go
And, Michael, you would fall
and turn the white snow red as strawberries
in the summertime…

Bumblefoot

Hi folks !

Did you listen to Bumblefoot’s new album “Abnormal” ?

Well as always it’s great.:) “Abnormal” feels like a sequel to “Normal” with an energetic punk side.

By the way did you know that Ron was at la Fnac des Champs Elysées in Paris for an autograph session for both “Chinese Democracy” (Guns’n'Roses) and “Abnormal” ?!

It felt good to meet the man again.

SC3 2008-09-25 @ Glaz’art. Paris, France

Awesome and amazing concert ! One of the best I have ever been to ; it just blew my mind.:)

This concert exceeded my expectations.

It was very intense and the sound was really excellent: a pure pleasure! I was standing in the first rows where people were massively gathered around the stage, making it impossible for others to come nearer! Hey, who would give up their places for such a gig?!

Trey Spruance and Rich Doucette were both wearing hoods. Among the lineup were Timb Harris and Jason Schimmel from Estradasphere. Trey, Rich, Timb and the drummer were stunning!

Listening and seeing this music live was magical!

The setlist:

1. Medieval
2. The 15
3. Personnae: Halloween
4. Vajra
5. Bereshith
6. Fast
7. Castle of Sand
8. Zulfikar
9. The 4 (Great Ishraqi Sun)
10. Ship of Fools (Stone of Exile)
11. Brazen Serpent
12. Dolorous Stroke
13. Renunciation
14. Hurqalya

The band lineup:

• Peijman Kouretchian: Drums
• Jason Schimmel: Bass, Keyboards
• Rich Doucette: Sarangi, Guitar
• Jai Young Kim: Keyboards
• Timb Harris: Violin, Guitar, Keyboards
• Trey Spruance: Electric Saz, Guitar, Baritone Guitar

2008-09-25 @ Glaz’art. Paris, France