When you like something the best is to share it … But I never thought I would write something about it …
I would like to introduce Sirius Plan
A band with Claire Joseph, Skye et Gaëlle Mievis. 3 artists, 3 universe, 3 voices. Each of them has their own solo career, but decided to combine their taste of music through this band.
Everything is really easy at first, they do covers, but they play it their own way so at the end the song seems different and new.
Since August 17th, everybody talk about it : Brad Pitt is in Glasgow for 3 weeks.
Yes, it’s true, he’s in town, with all the whole family, to film his new movie “World Was Z” (or “WWZ”).
Everything should take place in Philadelphia, but they film it in Glasgow … why ? Just because the weather in Philadelphia is not dark enough for the movie.
During 3 weeks, Glasgow city centre is set up as if you were in Philadelphie, and it’s really realistic ! From the red lights, to streets names, bus stops, signs at bars … everything … We’re in the States.
They must be careful to the cars as I noticed a car was with the wheel on the right side … when it should be used as an american car …
I thought I would arrive in Ireland facing some big green landscapes as I did some 15 years ago. But it won’t be the same this year as the rain welcomed me, but it’s not only raining … it’s pouring !!!
Nothing will stop me, let’s go to the Giant’s Causeway, up in the North. An area with only 40 000 interlocking basalt columns. Legendary spot by its aspect but also by its history … The legend has it that the Irish warrior built this causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his Scottish counterpart, this one got scared and went back home ripping up the causeway in case he was followed.
For me it’s just the best spot on Earth
The rain won’t let me stop, I’m heading to Londonderry now.
Londonderry is known with the “bloody sunday” when in January 1972 unarmed civil rights protesters were shot by the British Army. Northern Ireland has a huge history and even after the ceasefire 17 years ago you can still feel it.
Morning walk in the “Bogside Massacre” in Rossville Street and then in the city centre.
On the way to Westport then. A rainy day again, I can’t see far … I know landscapes should be beautiful … but that doesn’t give me the will to take pictures 🙁
Days go by and aren’t the same. Heading to the Connemara, where the blue sky tries to show up, that gives some beautiful colors in the scenery.
1st stop at the Kylemore Abbey, on the border of the Pollacappull Lough which is linked to the Kylemore Lough a little bit further. In the South part of these loughs you can find the Twelves Bens and the Connemara National Park.
2nd stop in Galway. This city is as artistic as touristic. Lots of colors in it. The crack in this city has something special you can’t compare to any other city.
I’m away from the city to go to The Burrens. 2nd spot after the Giant’s Causeway that attracts me in Ireland. I didn’t know this place and I find it stunning ! One of the largest karst landscape in Europe. The rolling hills of Burren are composed of limestone pavements with crisscrossing cracks and it’s known for its remarkable assemblage of plants and animals. As we are in Ireland there must be a legend behind this … But for this one … there are too many legends …!
On the way to the South, around Cork. A really common city, and what’s around is better.
In Cobh (say “cove”). A seaport town, known to be the where the Titanic left to New York. The ironic thing is that a restaurant was opened and named “Titanic” by someone who won the lottery, but now it’s closed and falling into pieces … Apart from the well known ship, this town is also known to be from where irish would leave Ireland to escape from the Famine and to arrive to the Promise Land (USA). This town is the most colorful town I’ve seen so far !
“it’s a long way to Tipperary” … That’s what the song says … But for me it would be better to say “it’s so easy to get lost in Tipperary”. I should be on the “magic way” … but couldn’t find it and I preferred to trust my sat nav … big mistake … I wanted to go on a spot I visited 15 years ago, I don’t think it has been demolished, but I arrived in the middle of nowhere surrounded by sheeps ! So I headed to Kilkenny, a beautiful small town, and I faced the Magners/Bulmers distillery (my fave cider), before being in Dublin.
Since I arrived in Dublin I have one song in mind “In Dublin fair city, where the girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone …” so I decided to go and say Hi to Molly. The O’Connell Column (irish political leader who campaigned for the catholic emancipation), The Ha’ Penny Bridge (only paying bridge in Dublin that cost half a penny), Temple Bar (popular spot for nightlife in Dublin) … I wander in the streets as if I was here last month … although Temple Bar is really more popular as it was before … I wasn’t in Ireland but in Spain !
On my way to Belfast, where I stop by Slane Castle (I know it only because of U2’s concert given there years ago, and I was intrigued by the fact a group like U2 would be able to perform there). Little thought then to The Corrs as I passed through Dundalk, their hometown and where everything started for them (yes I was a fan years ago lol)
The mountains will tell me where Ireland ends as borders no longer exist.
Unlike Dublin where I still knew bits, it’s hard to remember places in Belfast. Only the City Hall brings me back to my souvenirs. I will only point out the fact that barriers that would block the streets when there was an alert no longer exist too …
Last hours in Belfast, I’m on my way to find these painted walls I have in mind since the 1st time I came here. I managed to find some but 2 grabbed my attention. The same as in Londonderry, you can feel the past of this city.
Taking then the direction to the docks where the Titanic was built. I know it was a massive ship … but didn’t expect it that huge ! That makes the tragic event more spectacular and kind of unbelievable !
Off to Carrickfergus, to enjoy the last hours before going to Larne, I wonder around the castle under a warm sun.
Which is obvious : There will be a part 2 to this trip ! I will never be fed up to visit this place, especially the Connemara.
July 2nd, on my way to Carlisle
I’m about to experience something I have never done before : To attend a gig on a racecourse. I must admit that at first I was a bit worried about the whole thing … but being there was totally different.
It was in the middle of the afternoon that I managed to get there, we’ll then be able to assist to all the races. That helped me understand a bit more and learn at the same time.
I must admit that because I was that I tried to get to know the whole thing, because it’s not in front of my TV that I would.
But I prefered to taked pictures instead of betting … To each his own as it is said …
My pictures during the afternoon :
The last race done, everybody organise themselves so the barriers will be set up in front of the stage as it was next to the field.
The gates open and we are going to the barriers not to be too close from the stage.
The field is then quickly filled, everybody is waiting for Texas to be on stage. Luckily it won’t be too long.
Sharleen is then on stage, the audience cheering, and they will start with I don’t want a lover.
You know you’re in a festival when you’ve got lots of technical issues, always linked to the drummer as Sharleen joked. She even started to wonder if it wouldn’t be better to be a stand up comedian instead as she always has to speak while waiting everything to be fixed.
They are all in a good mood, all smiling, you can feel it. Ally even played some bits a bit differently and it was good to listen to this new stuff.
I already liked the new song, The conversation in Glasgow, but I can confirm it now. If they decide to have it as a 1st single of the new album, it could be a hit I think.
More or less the setlist was the same as in Glasgow.
As I can’t go to any of the gigs in France I will now have to wait the next tour when the album will be out … But I think that waiting 5 years to have them back was worse and I will be able to do it again :).
March 3rd, meeting Annaick & Gaelle in Tottenham Court Rd at midday. Time to go for a brunch as they just arrived from Paris. Then time for some shopping in Soho before heading to their hotel .. Yeah well … it was just at the opposite (in Earl’s Court) so we’ll take a bus … the wrong one ! We then had to hurry to go back and being able to go to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Good thing is that we visited London in a different way … 🙂
We then arrived and noticed that there were 2 lines. One for those who already got their ticket (like Annaick & Gaelle) and one for those who still needed to collect it (like me). So I will wait, and will talk with Claire and Jennifer, one from London, the other one from Hull (she was surprised I would know Hull … but as I stayed there during 2 months … 😉 ). Got my ticket and went back to be with my friends. Gaelle had her camera with her will stay a little bit longer with the security but then it will be fine.
Annaick was standing at the 3rd row on the side.
That’s when I noticed my friend Camille from London … How happy I was to meet her there !
After the supporting act, Camila Grey (who worked before with Melissa Auf der Maur) and Leisha Hailey (most of the audience know her from her role in The L Word) are on stage with a guitarist and drummer. During the concert we could notice that Leisha is not only playing keyboards but bass and guitar too, the same for Camila. Quite interesting.
They played their songs from their EP, but also some songs that will be on their next album (out in May 2008)
Honestly, if you already like their job, you will like the album. I did like the songs live.
The concert was really good. What I didn’t really like was the audience. It’s as if they were at the pub, sharing an evening with their friends rather than listening to the concert and enjoying the music. I know that french audience is one of the toughest one as we listen to the music and we judge a lot … don’t know if it’s good or not … but better for the artist I think.
Le seul reproche que je dirais c’est que peut être que le Shepherd’s Bush était peut être encore un peu trop grand pour eux .. mais bon on va pas leur en voiloir.
After the gig we wanted to meet them … but was hard to know where to stand. But then we noticed they will stay at the main entrance.
We will stay on the side, next to Leisha, at some point I manage to ask her when they will come to France to what she answered “We want to ! Soon I hope !!”
Then we managed to get closer. I ask Camila the same as I asked to Leisha and she said they wanted to add France in this tour but things weren’t that easy for them to do so but she hopes it will be fine for the next one.
To Leisha, I told her that I knew her thanks to my girlfriend as she was already listening to Gush and The Murmurs, she looked at me, surprised, with a big smile answering “oh waouh!”. I made her sign the album I bought for my gf and then I’ve been asked to leave …
They stayed something like 1hr in the entrance to sign and take pictures with their fan.
After all that we are heading back to Earl’s Court where I will leave my friends to take the subway before the gates close ! But before that we take time to build a project together, I hope it will happen … we’ll see … We have a team at least 🙂
An evening based on laugh and music
To start, Jen Brister, an english stand up comedian who reveals the difficulty to be english and spanish. Two opposite worlds, on one side we have british a bit too … british and on the other side spanish a bit too … loud.
And in the middle you have … French … Jen had such the perfect vision about me them ! But in a way … we’re a bit of a mix … 🙂 Always there to complain and to let people know we are complaining … or always on strike 🙂
Her show is part of the Edinburg Festival
Then Horse will arrive to perform some of her songs.
First time I listen to Horse’s music so I was really objective about her performance and a bit of a newby too.
After Jen Brister it will be the 2nd discover of the evening for me, I had to wait a bit to then enjoy her music.
Heather Peace then will enter the room to perform a duet with Horse. Some technical issues won’t distract Heather, both of them will perform a good duet, they are really good singing together.
Horse will slip away with Heather’s guitar to fix it and then Heather will perform a brand new song, Lost
Horse will come back then with the guitar fixed. They will be able then to perform another duet of a song they wrote together Beechwood avenue
I really enjoyed my evening. The Lip Service Team (Laura Fraser, Ruta Gemintas, James Pearson, Alana Hood) came to listen to Heather & Horse performance.
This day will stay in my memory forever. Texas are back after 5 years.
Right after work, with Mumu and Olga (who came from Belgium and Kazakstan) we’re going to the Barrowlands where we meet the French crew and then other Belgian and British will join us. Then … 2hrs to wait. But the most important was to be together.
While waiting, Ally, Michael, Eddie went out of the venue and stopped by to chat with us, it was a way for us to see Ally again and realising it will be all good :).
7pm, doors open, 2 floors … and then … Here I am …. to wait again 🙂 I was on the left side, same place when I started doing all these concerts, in front of Ally.
We didn’t know who was the supporting act, until we saw the guitarist from Ramona when waiting outside … It was confrimed when they came on stage.
Every time I could see them live I wasn’t really impressed by the music … But I don’t know if it was due to the fact I was just waiting for Texas to come on stage, or them playing in a bigger venue, but I found them a bit better. Or maybe it’s just because they are improving …
Half an hour later, lights off … Ally on stage … and then … As expected, the audience went mental ! Everybody’s cheering Ally being on stage. We could hardly hear him playing the intro. Then .. Sharleen arrives … And there we are … The show can start !
I don’t want a lover was a good start for a crazy night, jumping singing, etc …
The gig didn’t really go too fast, it was good enough to enjoy every part of it. But I nearly forgot how you can feel after jumping that much ! I have never sweat that much during a concert, asked for so many glasses of water … No need to go to the gym after that ! 🙂
The setlist brought us back to the very beginning of Texas to nowadays … We couldn’t expect more ! (or less)
Just before Summer Son, Sharleen read a message from someone in the audience who was from Valencia in Spain. That’s when she mentioned that the French crew, some Germans, Dirk’s family … Knowing that we were all, by all I mean all, at the front row and some at the second row … she couldn’t miss the TEXANS Family 🙂
Even if we had good old stuff during the concert, they performed a new song as well, The conversation. Quite good I would say.
I loved listening to the good old songs again, the ones I could listen to at every Texas concert I went to, I loved listening to songs I only knew live because of the internet or bootlegs, I loved seeing and listening to Ally on stage, I loved the crack during the gig even if the Barrowland turned to a sauna very quickly. I think I can say that … I loved this concert, and it seems to be the same for everybody : It was the best concert ever !
We had to be there, I was there, I am more than happy ! Texas in their hometown .. I missed them a lot of time … But I didn’t want this to happen this year !
On top of that, after the concert, after 14 years I like Texas, 12 years I do my best to go to lots of their concerts …I met the band several times, Sharleen as well … But everytime I was too nervous to have a good picture … But not this year, and I’m really happy with that ! :).
The Texas week end didn’t end after the gig, as the day after we went with some of the Texans to listen to Johnny’s (bassist) son playing in town.
For now … next step is July 2nd for another Texas concert in Carlisle 🙂 It’s not good to stop me now 🙂
I didn’t take any pictures during the concert, I really couldn’t, I could only concentrate on the concert, nothing else 🙂 So my friend Mumu was the photographer of the evening 🙂
* My selection in her pics : Mumu’s pics
* Official pictures : Zimbio.com
* Lots of videos are available on youtube.
Back in the past. This trip will bring me 7 years ago, when The Corrs and Texas were part of my everyday life. Since the band split up, Andrea Corr tried to play but she’s back with singing. This is not her first atteempt since then, but Ten Feet High didn’t hit the score she wanted I think …
She’s back with a new album Lifelines (sorti le 30/05/11) made from covers (Velvet Underground, John Lennon, Blue Nile … ).
She’s just started a UK tour. First gig was in Birmingham, she was obviously in Glasgow on May 30th, and will end in London.
The worse thing for me was to try to get rid of the thought the all band would be there … yes, she will be on her own. I went to the concert without listening to any songs from the album. I only listened to Tinseltown in the Rain and No.9 Dream as they were advertised but appart from that I haven’t bought anything …
When she first bantered with the audience she explains that when The Corrs started touring, one of their first gig was in Glasgow. That’s why she wanted to dedicate the next song to all glaswegians who followed her during all these years :
Andrea hasn’t changed at all. Always smiling, always making mistakes and laughing at herself (she mixed the name of the guy from the support act). Songs are good live, I don’t know if the album version will be the same (don’t think so), but it’s a good choice for the covers.
Between covers she even made some covers from The Corrs *humour* 🙂
I didn’t record it, but at the end we had Breathless as well …
Andrea will end the concert with Tinseltown in the Rain, and I will learn at the same time that the original band, Blue Nile, is a glaswegian band, so this song had a warm welcome from the audience of course. But it was a good choice to end the gig and the crack was good too.
I was really happy to go to this concert. To bring me back to my “fan attitude” from my early youth ahaha.
Of course, a fan will stay a fan, who waits at the end of the gig … but this time I didn’t have time, short timing. I waited, a bit, but she never came … pity … for her … for me. But that hasn’t changed anything about my thoughts on this evening.
I could go another time me think.
