What was your last concert you went to ?

Come on ! 'twas not that long ago !

Well, to be honest I used to play Appetite every time I passed an exam, so it must be at least some time ago... say... 20 years ?

Didn't know they came to Basel. Long time since I went to St. Jakobshalle.

How do Guns sound on the new SuperUniti ?

Pleine lune en duo popolien @ Château de Nyon, July 3rd, 2012

The title is in French and most probably doesn't tell you anything, so what is it ?

In a small city near my home, there's a tradition of live music performance in the evening when the moon is full during summer. Yesterday there was a tribute to a most cherished local jazz upright bass player called Popol Lavanchy, who sadly passed away almost exactly one year ago.

One of the last thing he did before his death was to rearrange some of his compositions as duos for upright bass and another instrument. These pieces were played yesterday for the first time, with 4 bassists sharing the stage with many other player and instruments (alto sax, bass clarinet, trombone, flute, accordion, percussions and voice).

Sadly, the performance was not far from a complete failure. It sounded like the musicians didn't know the pieces, and they probably didn't rehearse before the afternoon. It got somewhat better with time however.

Nevertheless if you're in a mood of experimenting one of these days, try a search on the Internet if you can find some music from Popol. The guy was a real music lover: he switched to music playing late in his life (around 40 I think), played in numerous local bands, lead a free jazz quintet and a large band called Le Grand Eustache (which you can easily find on the web), composed a lot of different pieces and he could play any kind of music with equal pleasure. He's sorely missed.

I can't resist posting a couple of photos so you can enjoy the venue (the yard of a castle), and the view on the lake during the break.

Cheers

Maurice

The Takacs Quartet at Auckland Town Hall last night. A lesson in how a string quartet should play. Program was Bartok No.3, Janacek No. 2 (Intimate Letters), and Ravel Quartet in F. I thought the Borodin Nocturne was an inappropriate encore (it was beautifully played) but higher authority disagreed. However, a very satisfying evening.

Bruce Springsteen Paris, Bercy, 4th & 5th July

I went thinkng that the July 4th gig, Independance Day, would be a bit special, which it was but the July 5th show was truly amazing, it has been described by many as one of Bruces best gigs ever, he came on stage at just before 9pm and finished at just after 12.30 the next day.

What was amazing though was that the setlist was something really different from the normal Wrecking Ball setlist, the first 6 songs really set the show up, you just didn't know what to expect next, Bruce really was possessed with great interaction with the rest of the E Street Band, amazing night, roll on Hyde Park next Saturday

Sounds like you have been having a great time.

I hope the rain and wind sorts its self out before for next weekend.

I know a lot of people that are going to the HP gig.

Stu.

Rumer / Rufus Wainwright @ Montreux Jazz Festival, 5th July 2012

Nice show from Rumer, even if a little bit too down tempo. She seemed to enjoy a lot being there (she was programmed last year but couldn't make it due to health problems) and forged a delicate and emotional link with the audience, who responded back with delight. Very touching. And what a beautiful voice she has ! I'm sure the spirit of Karen was flying above the stage.

Next, Rufus Wainwright. Very good show, varying in style and configuration: apart from Rufus' compositions, beautiful songs from the late Kate McCarrigle as well as from Loudon were played, sometimes even performed without Rufus. A sort of Small Revue if you see what I mean. Nice musicians and stunning backup singers. Rufus was enjoying practising his French (trying his best not to sound too Québecois -- hi guys !  ) and was putting on airs as you could expect. The audience called it back twice and was greeted with Halleluyah and Je viens te dire que je m'en vais to end the show.

A very enjoyable night.

Err... Why are the inline pictures not showing ? In the forum iOS app they are ! And it used to work...

Both pics say webpage not available, when you try to open them.

Robert Plant - Sensational Space Shifters

Last night at Kentish Town, London.

At good time was had by all!

Richard 

Hi Richard

Some discussion of the show on the current Led Zeppelin thread, Kevin W was there as well (you porbably know):

https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...nt/17476120011129902

You can order a download of the show, links on the thread too.

Jamie

Yep, as Jamie says, I was there too Richard. Good gig, but I thought the sound wasn't too great, and Plant was quite a way down in the mix. Whereabouts were you standing?

I was in the balcony, front row just above the mixer desk and slightly stage left.

Richard

Gillian Welch 7/13/12. Great show. What a breath of fresh air.

Anna Calvi..!  The monster guitar babe...three hours in the rain,

But worth it when She came on.  

California Jim

+1.

Having now read a *lot* more it would also appear that those back from half way heard little if anything for the first hour, due to the PA not even being on.

What can I say, my first Springsteen gig, absolutely amazed at the show the guy and band put on for the fans. It will not be the only time I see him if he decides to come back to the UK - but why would he with our precious H&S morons?

Why anyone, absolutely anyone would want to go to *London* for the 'biggest' games on earth is beyond me.

If they overrun the opening by 11 minutes will someone throw the switch on the national grid? Go on, please do it.

I was ashamed to be 'British' (English) while stood there in utter amazement.

How rude can you get to not even let the guys say goodnight?

Patheic is about the only polite word that can be used.

I heard on the radio this morning ,the Hyde Park Council said the organisers pulled the plug.

Health and Safety Rules.

The council bloke ain't going to touch the electrics.

He just says pull the plug.

Also organisers get fined big time if they over run and staff are only paid up until a certain time.

Shame though.

Love some of the band members comments on twitter this morning.

When did England become a police state/how dare they cut me off when i am working.

Stu.

Someone turned the sound off at a Springsteen gig?

Sounds like you all had a lucky escape! 

Now, now Kevin, less of that misbehaviour......

5 star review, "It was, in any case, one of the greatest gigs I have ever witnessed. I run out of superlatives with which to describe Springsteen"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cul...yde-Park-review.html

Well I have to say I've just calmed down after last nights disgraceful antics at Hyde Park, I don't know really what to add that hasn't already been said, I understand about the curfew and everything, but it was Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney on stage together for heavens sake in front of 80,000 fans, would another 10mins really have made any difference, the gig had already gone over the curfew anyway, I was waiting for Tenth Avenue for the Clarence tribute, that would have been amazing in front of all those fans.

On a positive note though, what a great gig, this was my 5th time on this tour and after the amazing 5th July gig in Paris I wasn't expecting it to reach those levels but what an amazing show, Bruce and the whole band were really on it and the crowd were fantastic, it really was up there with the best, and I was right at the back and had an absolute ball, just hope I haven't got to wait too long till the next time.

Great right up in the Mail, I particularly like the line - 

The controversial incident has turned London into an international laughing stock just weeks before the 2012 Olympics.'

Full article here -

Bruce Springsteen's microphone cut off as he breaks curfew at Hard Rock Calling with Paul McCartney | Mail Online

Ummmmmmmmmmmmm........... Ahhhhhhhhhh..........  ehhhhhhhhhhh...   Nah... Not bothered... just like

Westminster council. Over hyped and over here american "leftover" that no one cares apart from the poorly informed british "followers"( and that bloke that plays for the Letterman show).

Get over it!

KR

Tony