Fête de la Musique
The best thing with the coming of the summer in France is that it starts with la Fête de la Musique.
On the 1st day of summer, every music band can go out and play in the streets until late in the night.
Everybody can enjoy this celebration listening to a gospel in a church, laughing with kids fascinated by a big band, or just spending the evening with friends listening to rock and irish music in a small pub.
Pearl Jam, the Perils of Fame, and the Trouble With Avoiding It ☛
Pearl Jam isn’t the first veteran rock band to see a decrease in fans as it got older. But it’s the best example of a band deliberately expediting the process. Pearl Jam helped to set a template that all too many alt-rock bands would follow in the ’90s: success, and then retreat. Make people love you, and then disengage. Get to a certain level, and just stop.
Pearl Jam feels like a band who enjoys playing together and have fun with their fans, not seeking media attention.
I went to hear them at Paris on a September 11th a few years ago (for their Advocado album) and it was the best rock concert I ever went to.
Gospel Concert
Yesterday I was at Joe Cocker’s concert and the day before at a concert from the Gospel Institut to celebrate the end of their courses… and the late arrival of summer (even though we had a few drops during the concert).
There was no security to take my camera at that concert and I could grab a few pictures before it was too dark. My 18-200mm lens needs lots of light and the D60 does not give great pictures when pushing in the ISO. I wish I had a 50mm f/1.4 to take pictures late in the concert when the raw emotion was more palpable on the singers’ faces.
I particularly enjoyed a beautiful interpretation of Eric Clapton’s Tears In Heaven. One of my favourites songs makes for a great gospel full of soul and emotions.
I had a great time at that concert listening to all the singers and musicians and taking pictures but I am disappointed by their low quality. I need to practice more on low light settings and invest in the Nikon 50mm f/1.4 to get better results. The photograph would still be to blame for the unoriginal compositions :)
Jazz a Vienne 2010
Yesterday, Joe Cocker was at Jazz a Vienne and it was thrilling to listen to him:
I love going to Jazz a Vienne: the location is spectacular, the sound is great and the artists are always top notch!
I was annoyed that the security did not let me keep my camera. I wanted to take some nice pictures with my 70-300mm and all I had was my iPhone and some low-quality HDR snapshots…
Pearl Jam
Great new album from Pearl Jam.
It’s been a long wait for this one but it’s worth it.
If you need to be convinced, a clip of “Life Wasted” can be watched on Amazon.
Enjoy the music and the lyrics!