Gay Paris-8th,the gig itself-Collection D'Arnell Andrea,Clair Obscur, Jack or Jive at La Loco.
La Loco is right underneath the famous neon-lit windmill in the Pigalle,so it is difficult to miss. Me and Mike got to the club at 08.30pm, half an hour before it was due to open. Already a small queue had gathered-and true to form for most goth events,it looked liked we had stumbled upon an Annual Bad Taste convention.
Just after 9pm,the club doors opened and we wandered in. La Loco-despite the fact that is it a mainstream club-is a terrific little venue,with a long bar leading into a small central area, at the front of which is a mixing desk.In front of THAT is located the main floor and stage,with a balcony running round the side.
I decided to try out my miniscule French language skills at the bar,requesting "quatre bierre sil vous plait" only for the barmaid to reply "sixteen Euros please". My French accent could obviously do with a little polishing then.
Jack or Jive were first on at about 10am,and consisted of a Japanese duo showcasing a dark-ambient/etherial sound that reminded me slightly of the Cocteau Twins. The female vocalist was excellent, her vocals were spine tingling and her outfit lovely,something like traditional Japanese with a surreal touch.I was so impressed I helped myself to the 10"("Gyakkou") that the band sold from behind the bar afterwards, which the vocalist (Chako) duly signed,after Mike explained we had come all the way from England to see them. In my case,that wasn't strictly true.
The following act,Clair Obscur, have been around for decades, having featured on a complilation with Death In June and In the Nursery years ago.Their imagery was interesting,but their music was so bad me and Mike stayed near the bar for virtually the whole set.
I had really gone to see the wonderful Collection D'Arnell Andrea, who appeared on stage at about 12.30am. Collection are almost schizophrenic musically,dividing their releases between lovely classically inspired chamber music and pop,and rather average rock.On the two occasions I have seen them live,they have emphasised their rock side,which is OK, because Chloe St Liphard is such an excellent vocalist and they perform their "rock" sound well live.The other thing that sets them apart of course is the pre-WW1 French film footage they use as a backdrop,which is fantastic.
We left the venue at 1.45pm after they had finished,which was a little late for me because I had not slept well the night before but I felt fine.Until I ghot back to the Hotel that is when I collapsed in a heap in my bed and slept until morning.
La Loco is right underneath the famous neon-lit windmill in the Pigalle,so it is difficult to miss. Me and Mike got to the club at 08.30pm, half an hour before it was due to open. Already a small queue had gathered-and true to form for most goth events,it looked liked we had stumbled upon an Annual Bad Taste convention.
Just after 9pm,the club doors opened and we wandered in. La Loco-despite the fact that is it a mainstream club-is a terrific little venue,with a long bar leading into a small central area, at the front of which is a mixing desk.In front of THAT is located the main floor and stage,with a balcony running round the side.
I decided to try out my miniscule French language skills at the bar,requesting "quatre bierre sil vous plait" only for the barmaid to reply "sixteen Euros please". My French accent could obviously do with a little polishing then.
Jack or Jive were first on at about 10am,and consisted of a Japanese duo showcasing a dark-ambient/etherial sound that reminded me slightly of the Cocteau Twins. The female vocalist was excellent, her vocals were spine tingling and her outfit lovely,something like traditional Japanese with a surreal touch.I was so impressed I helped myself to the 10"("Gyakkou") that the band sold from behind the bar afterwards, which the vocalist (Chako) duly signed,after Mike explained we had come all the way from England to see them. In my case,that wasn't strictly true.
The following act,Clair Obscur, have been around for decades, having featured on a complilation with Death In June and In the Nursery years ago.Their imagery was interesting,but their music was so bad me and Mike stayed near the bar for virtually the whole set.
I had really gone to see the wonderful Collection D'Arnell Andrea, who appeared on stage at about 12.30am. Collection are almost schizophrenic musically,dividing their releases between lovely classically inspired chamber music and pop,and rather average rock.On the two occasions I have seen them live,they have emphasised their rock side,which is OK, because Chloe St Liphard is such an excellent vocalist and they perform their "rock" sound well live.The other thing that sets them apart of course is the pre-WW1 French film footage they use as a backdrop,which is fantastic.
We left the venue at 1.45pm after they had finished,which was a little late for me because I had not slept well the night before but I felt fine.Until I ghot back to the Hotel that is when I collapsed in a heap in my bed and slept until morning.
I bet your french isn't as lousy as mine, I can only ask for tarte tatin and crepes du chocolat...
so if I lived in France I'd definetely be a cow...
have fun there