Toto @ Zénith, Paris - May 28, 2015

Toto is celebrating its 35th Anniversary by embarking on a world tour and releasing their fourteenth studio album, simply called XIV. It seems like every year brings a new Toto line-up, with new faces replacing old ones and old ones returning after a long absence... For this tour the band is comprised of David Hungate on bass, Lenny Castro on percussions, Shannon Forrest on the drums, Joseph Williams on lead vocals, David Paich and Steve Porcaro on keyboards and vocals and Steve lukather on guitar and vocals.

AC/DC @ Stade de France, St Denis - May 26, 2015

Night two of the AC/DC's Paris gigs for the Rock or Bust tour. Same exact show as on the 23rd, same exact setlist, the only difference is that Angus's schoolboy outfit is blue instead of red. Earth shattering!

Vintage Trouble @ Stade de France, St Denis - May 25, 2015

AC/DC @ Stade de France, St Denis - May 23, 2015

AC/DC's act has remained virtually unchanged in the past twenty five years, and the recent personnel ebullition was unlikely to have changed that. As long as Angus and Brian are up there fronting the band, the supporting cast is expandable. If Bon Scott and Malcolm can be replaced, then no one is safe.

R.I.P. BB King

BB King was one of these monoliths you assume is always going to be around. And in a way he will be. James Brown, Picasso, Orson Welles… They may be dead but they still tower over  the collective unconscious like the Sphinx of Gizeh, casting a giant shadow over popular culture. So much so that we’ve been taking him for granted these past decades.

The Who cancels Amsterdam and Paris gigs to play Glastonbury

So the Who have decided to pull some gigs to accommodate the Glasto invitation...

To cancel an engagement for another engagement is extremely shitty. Unless there is a good reason we don’t know about? Now is the time to tell us. Why is Glasto taking precedence over the scheduled dates? Why is it a priority? Is it money? Is it exposure? Is it something else? What makes the Glastonbury audience more deserving? 

Rescheduling two sold-out shows into one show this late in the game is saying to the fans: “We don’t give a fuck about you”. Personally? No skin off my back. I’m a sucker, I’ll go the make-up show. No problem. But how about the potentially thousands of fans who had made plans? Travel, hotel, babysitter, etc… How will they be compensated? 

Is that how a working band operates? Is this the legacy you want to leave behind, on your 50th anniversary? Will Paris be treated to a lackluster make-up gig because you gave your all to the people of Glastonbury? And what if the people who come to the make-up show decide to show you how they feel about being shat on? 

I know I speak for a lot of fellow fans when I say this display of unprofessional carelessness is disappointing and hurtful, and we didn’t think this band in particular was capable of it. Someone, preferably Pete or Rog, please clear the air and tell us exactly who took that decision and why?

Gov't Mule @ La Cigale, Paris - May 5, 2015

Two great sets by the always dependable Gov't Mule. No Bad Little Doggie or Blind Man In The Dark unfortunately but three songs from High & Mighty and three songs from Shout!, the new record. Also a great, funky rendition of Sco-Mule and the stoner anthem Soulshine. And, of course as usual a great choice of covers: Al Green, Staple Singers, Etta James, Ray Charles and a lysergic Maggot Brain... It seems Gov't Mule was feeling soulful that night. But of course the star is Warren Hayne's guitar playing and the interplay between these monster musicians, jamming, grooving, getting high and mighty on the greatest psychotropic drug of all: music.