Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Tour - Beartrap - Spain, Portugal & France
Day 13/14/show 8/9/Leon,Spain/Lisbon,Portugal
Today we woke up in the squat, ate some cereal said our goodbyes to Jonpi and drove over to the beach. We stumbled upon a small skate park right on the beach. Mr. Shit and Alastair got their boards and tried to skate it. The transition was too steep. The beach was beautiful, the surfers were killing it, and I never wanted to leave. A few minutes after we left the beach our gps broke, so we had to go back to the squat to figure out what was wrong with it. Gps’ are actually illegal in Spain so we thought that might be part of the issue, no satellites to tell us where to go. So we looked up directions on my computer and used the atlas to figure out how to get to Leon. We got lost of course.
Finally got to the show. Migel booked this show (and the Madrid show in 2 days) and the place is called Shark Bar. It was (and probably will be) the nicest venue we played thus far on the tour. It was a Saturday and there was soccer (futbol) on so the bar didn’t want to start the show till 10. So we hung out in this real nice bar for awhile and they ended up feeding us a lot of bread and hummus. I thought that was dinner but I was wrong. Then the show started. There was NO ONE there besides bands, and about 5 minutes before the first band started a bunch of people showed up. They were good and super nice dudes. I later found out that they made us dinner that we were going to eat after the show at their practice space/party spot and then sleep at their tattoo studio. Pretty wild. People were into both BearTrap and Witch Cult. Then the show was over and we went to dinner. They made us some mushroom pasta and risotto. The best part was the dudes whipped out a bag of apples. I only ever really want to eat fruit and nuts so I ate a few apples and it was awesome. Then we headed to the tattoo studio to sleep. It was cool and a lot more like and apartment with a front room for tattooing. My shitty American charm (also known as ignorance) didn’t get me any free tattoos, but I showered and slept for a few hours.
The show today is a matinee in Lisbon, Portugal at the university of Lisbon. We went to bed at like 3 am and got up at 8 am to make the drive on time. Only later did I find out we gain an hour time zone wise and I could have slept another hour. The drive was thru many huge, foggy mountains that looked like the set of Jurassic Park. Driving into Lisbon it got really sunny and nice out. We got to the show which was in a room at the university of Lisbon. It looked like a common area where people hang, but there was a stage. It was an early show because it was a Sunday and there were a lot of people there when we got there. Bruno booked the show and helped us load in. We were then given hummus sandwiches and told that we would eat dinner where we were staying later. The first band started a few minutes later. They were called Revengence and are probably the best band we will play with all tour. The Skrotes also played and were an awesome fast skate core band. Witch Cult and BearTrap sets were awesome. People went nuts and there were a lot of them. Everyone was so nice and this show was the best of tour so far. Then we went to the other promoter of the shows house to eat and sleep. Tomorrow we wake up and drive to Madrid
Day 15&16/show 10&11/Madrid,Spain/Barcelona,Spain
Woke up earlier than everyone else today which was odd. Stood out on Raphael's porch and looked out over Lisbon, it’s a beautiful place. In the past 2 days our gps and our guitar head broke. Alastair and Mazz went out to try and get both fixed. Neither one got fixed. We started the drive. The landscape between Lisbon and Madrid looks a lot like Mexico or Arizona, but with more trees and animals that aren’t on factory farms. Our Ipod transmitter is broken also so we have been listening to the radio. One station kept playing tv show themes for some reason. We heard Arrested Development, Benny Hill, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Rosanne and a bunch of others. Seems kind of odd. We got to the venue about a half hour before the show started. Migel (the dude who also booked our Leon, Spain show) booked this show for us. He is an extremely nice dude and has helped us greatly on this tour. His English is phenomenal. The venue was called La Faena 2, and it was the basement of some huge building. It had a small bar and was a small, awesome room to play in. We heard that Madrid was not too good for shows. People were so wrong. When we got there Migel gave us pasta, hummus, fruit, and cake. After dinner the first band played. Then BearTrap played and kids seemed into it. Witch Cult played after us and people were even more into them. Some shows are BearTrap nights, some are Witch Cult nights. After the show we went to where we were sleeping.
The gps is fully broken so we have to buy a new one tomorrow. I also hope we somehow get this shitty guitar head fixed. Woke up early this morning to get to Barcelona early to deal with both. The drive was cool and it reminded me of Mexico again. I didn’t realize that the show wasn’t in Barcelona until today. It was in a small town 15 minutes outside Barcelona called Mollet De Valles. This bummed me out because Barcelona is a huge city with a lot of squats and places to play/people to play to. The venue was called La Bombeta and was a cool art space with a small bar. With the gps broken we just have to drive around the towns looking for the venues. Today was the worst. It took almost an hour to find. We got to the show and unloaded. Then Alastair left right away to get a new gps. The guitar shop was closed so we have to wake up early to drive to Marseille, France to get it fixed. At the venue we eat some seitan and vegetables, rice, and some banana, graham cracker, and chocolate cake thing. Kox made the food and booked the show, thanks to him for that. It was really good, maybe the best thing we have eaten thus far. The show as a whole was decent. All everyone said was that if it happened in Barcelona a lot more people would have come. It seem’d like people were into BearTrap. Witch Cult had a lot of technical difficulties so the set wasn’t the best.
Now here is where the ok day went to shit. Someone from the show was talking to our bassist outside and asked where we were from and then told him that the whole time both bands were playing the first band was mocking us because some of us are straight edge. She then told us we “don’t belong here” in the nicest way possible. I had no clue about any of this until we got to the squat we are staying at. I was also informed that the singer of the second band told them all to “shut the fuck up” and stood up for us. His band was also good so thanks to him for not having a sucky band and being a stand up dude. So basically the first band was a bunch of weak pieces of shit who couldn’t have a civil conversation with us about our life choices instead of mocking us. I wonder where they got this warped view that because we were straight edge and they were not that we were any different and “didn’t belong in the same place” They can fuck off. After the show was over I talked to the dudes from the 2nd band and then we packed up and headed to the squat we are staying at. Not one thing went right today (besides the food) and now we have to wake up early to get the head fixed.
Day 17/Show 12/ Marseille,France
Woke up early today to start driving to Mariselle. We got here around 2 and went straight to the guitar shop. Then we went to the world famous skate park from Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2. It was right next to the beach and so we went over there and the water was super blue. Then we headed back to the guitar shop. The head needs 2 power transformers. The shop didn’t have them and could not get them. We now have to try to get it fixed somewhere else. The only cool part is they didn’t charge us for looking at it. Then we walked around town for a little while. The show tonight was at O’Bundys. It is an anti racist organization that has a bar upstairs in the meeting room and a basement for show. It’s awesome that they are active in the community outside of hardcore while also having a space in the city for show too. Before the show started, the promoter (Rolland) had fruit and chips for us. Then we went and bought us all falaful and fries. Super nice dude. Then the show started and kids seemed to be into both bands. There was hard mosh for Witch Cult which is the first time all tour. After the show we walked to the apartment we are staying at. Now I’m about to sleep next to a bag full of fresh fruit for breakfast tomorrow.
Today we woke up in the squat, ate some cereal said our goodbyes to Jonpi and drove over to the beach. We stumbled upon a small skate park right on the beach. Mr. Shit and Alastair got their boards and tried to skate it. The transition was too steep. The beach was beautiful, the surfers were killing it, and I never wanted to leave. A few minutes after we left the beach our gps broke, so we had to go back to the squat to figure out what was wrong with it. Gps’ are actually illegal in Spain so we thought that might be part of the issue, no satellites to tell us where to go. So we looked up directions on my computer and used the atlas to figure out how to get to Leon. We got lost of course.
Finally got to the show. Migel booked this show (and the Madrid show in 2 days) and the place is called Shark Bar. It was (and probably will be) the nicest venue we played thus far on the tour. It was a Saturday and there was soccer (futbol) on so the bar didn’t want to start the show till 10. So we hung out in this real nice bar for awhile and they ended up feeding us a lot of bread and hummus. I thought that was dinner but I was wrong. Then the show started. There was NO ONE there besides bands, and about 5 minutes before the first band started a bunch of people showed up. They were good and super nice dudes. I later found out that they made us dinner that we were going to eat after the show at their practice space/party spot and then sleep at their tattoo studio. Pretty wild. People were into both BearTrap and Witch Cult. Then the show was over and we went to dinner. They made us some mushroom pasta and risotto. The best part was the dudes whipped out a bag of apples. I only ever really want to eat fruit and nuts so I ate a few apples and it was awesome. Then we headed to the tattoo studio to sleep. It was cool and a lot more like and apartment with a front room for tattooing. My shitty American charm (also known as ignorance) didn’t get me any free tattoos, but I showered and slept for a few hours.
The show today is a matinee in Lisbon, Portugal at the university of Lisbon. We went to bed at like 3 am and got up at 8 am to make the drive on time. Only later did I find out we gain an hour time zone wise and I could have slept another hour. The drive was thru many huge, foggy mountains that looked like the set of Jurassic Park. Driving into Lisbon it got really sunny and nice out. We got to the show which was in a room at the university of Lisbon. It looked like a common area where people hang, but there was a stage. It was an early show because it was a Sunday and there were a lot of people there when we got there. Bruno booked the show and helped us load in. We were then given hummus sandwiches and told that we would eat dinner where we were staying later. The first band started a few minutes later. They were called Revengence and are probably the best band we will play with all tour. The Skrotes also played and were an awesome fast skate core band. Witch Cult and BearTrap sets were awesome. People went nuts and there were a lot of them. Everyone was so nice and this show was the best of tour so far. Then we went to the other promoter of the shows house to eat and sleep. Tomorrow we wake up and drive to Madrid
Day 15&16/show 10&11/Madrid,Spain/Barcelona,Spain
Woke up earlier than everyone else today which was odd. Stood out on Raphael's porch and looked out over Lisbon, it’s a beautiful place. In the past 2 days our gps and our guitar head broke. Alastair and Mazz went out to try and get both fixed. Neither one got fixed. We started the drive. The landscape between Lisbon and Madrid looks a lot like Mexico or Arizona, but with more trees and animals that aren’t on factory farms. Our Ipod transmitter is broken also so we have been listening to the radio. One station kept playing tv show themes for some reason. We heard Arrested Development, Benny Hill, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Rosanne and a bunch of others. Seems kind of odd. We got to the venue about a half hour before the show started. Migel (the dude who also booked our Leon, Spain show) booked this show for us. He is an extremely nice dude and has helped us greatly on this tour. His English is phenomenal. The venue was called La Faena 2, and it was the basement of some huge building. It had a small bar and was a small, awesome room to play in. We heard that Madrid was not too good for shows. People were so wrong. When we got there Migel gave us pasta, hummus, fruit, and cake. After dinner the first band played. Then BearTrap played and kids seemed into it. Witch Cult played after us and people were even more into them. Some shows are BearTrap nights, some are Witch Cult nights. After the show we went to where we were sleeping.
The gps is fully broken so we have to buy a new one tomorrow. I also hope we somehow get this shitty guitar head fixed. Woke up early this morning to get to Barcelona early to deal with both. The drive was cool and it reminded me of Mexico again. I didn’t realize that the show wasn’t in Barcelona until today. It was in a small town 15 minutes outside Barcelona called Mollet De Valles. This bummed me out because Barcelona is a huge city with a lot of squats and places to play/people to play to. The venue was called La Bombeta and was a cool art space with a small bar. With the gps broken we just have to drive around the towns looking for the venues. Today was the worst. It took almost an hour to find. We got to the show and unloaded. Then Alastair left right away to get a new gps. The guitar shop was closed so we have to wake up early to drive to Marseille, France to get it fixed. At the venue we eat some seitan and vegetables, rice, and some banana, graham cracker, and chocolate cake thing. Kox made the food and booked the show, thanks to him for that. It was really good, maybe the best thing we have eaten thus far. The show as a whole was decent. All everyone said was that if it happened in Barcelona a lot more people would have come. It seem’d like people were into BearTrap. Witch Cult had a lot of technical difficulties so the set wasn’t the best.
Now here is where the ok day went to shit. Someone from the show was talking to our bassist outside and asked where we were from and then told him that the whole time both bands were playing the first band was mocking us because some of us are straight edge. She then told us we “don’t belong here” in the nicest way possible. I had no clue about any of this until we got to the squat we are staying at. I was also informed that the singer of the second band told them all to “shut the fuck up” and stood up for us. His band was also good so thanks to him for not having a sucky band and being a stand up dude. So basically the first band was a bunch of weak pieces of shit who couldn’t have a civil conversation with us about our life choices instead of mocking us. I wonder where they got this warped view that because we were straight edge and they were not that we were any different and “didn’t belong in the same place” They can fuck off. After the show was over I talked to the dudes from the 2nd band and then we packed up and headed to the squat we are staying at. Not one thing went right today (besides the food) and now we have to wake up early to get the head fixed.
Day 17/Show 12/ Marseille,France
Woke up early today to start driving to Mariselle. We got here around 2 and went straight to the guitar shop. Then we went to the world famous skate park from Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2. It was right next to the beach and so we went over there and the water was super blue. Then we headed back to the guitar shop. The head needs 2 power transformers. The shop didn’t have them and could not get them. We now have to try to get it fixed somewhere else. The only cool part is they didn’t charge us for looking at it. Then we walked around town for a little while. The show tonight was at O’Bundys. It is an anti racist organization that has a bar upstairs in the meeting room and a basement for show. It’s awesome that they are active in the community outside of hardcore while also having a space in the city for show too. Before the show started, the promoter (Rolland) had fruit and chips for us. Then we went and bought us all falaful and fries. Super nice dude. Then the show started and kids seemed to be into both bands. There was hard mosh for Witch Cult which is the first time all tour. After the show we walked to the apartment we are staying at. Now I’m about to sleep next to a bag full of fresh fruit for breakfast tomorrow.
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Tour - Beartrap/Witch Cult - France & Spain
Day 9/show 5/Reims, France
We woke up early and got the brakes worked on. Now we are about to drive the van onto a train that goes under the ocean in a tunnel to France. This is insane in my head.
After the tunnel I passed out for awhile and we ended up in Reims before I knew it. The show is at a place called Café Apart. It was a small bar and a pretty cool place. Michel booked the show for us and as soon as we got there he brought us upstairs in the venue and there was a bunch of food for us. Pasta and sauce, a bunch of baguettes and some vegetable salad. Then we went downstairs to play. It seemed like it’d be a typical bar show where no one would pay attention to the bands and were all there just to drink. I could not have been more wrong. The first band was Devour and they were a crust punk band and I dug them. Then Witch Cult played and there was a lot of head banging during the slow parts and fist pumping to the fast parts. For BearTrap people went off and circle pitted. This place wasn’t shaped for a circle pit so it was pretty cool. After the show Michel brought us back to the squat in town. It’s funny because we are sleeping better in a squat (beds for all, Super Nintendo) than we have in any of Witch Cult's friends' houses. Tomorrow is a day off and nothing kills the spirit of tour than a day off. We will probably drive to Toulouse and hopefully do something cool.
Day 10/day off/10 hour drive from Reims to Toulouse
Kill me now.
Day 11/show 6/Toulouse, France
Yesterday wasn’t all bad. The squat we stayed in was cool. After we woke up we went into Reims to exchange money and didn’t end up doing it. Instead we walked thru a GIGANTIC church that was 40 degrees colder inside than it was outside. It was awesome. Shit like that doesn’t exist in America. We started the drive from hell which didn’t end up being that bad. The worst part was having a day off and tolls. France is really shitty with tolls. We got to the squat we played tonight at 12 am. It’s the L’ emergence squat and this place is INSANE.
It’s not like a standalone building that’s squatted. It has businesses and people living/working on both sides of it. The bottom floor has a shower and bath room, front room, and then the back room is a huge hall. 2nd floor has a living room, some bedrooms and a smaller hall/practice space. The 3rd floor has some more sleeping space. Again, beds for all, and the internet worked every once in awhile. Woke up today and we walked for probably 6 miles to the center of Toulouse for currency exchange and wireless internet. We asked a bunch of different people for both and went on a wild goose chase. Finally I saw a dude in a True Colors shirt and I held my arms in X formation and said “straight edge”? He laughed and said yes and then I told him we are from America and that we needed McDonalds internet. We were standing right in front of it. So we dealt with all that stuff and walked back to the squat. We waited around awhile and they made us some stuffed peppers and rice. It was awesome. We waited for the show to start. It was punk o’clock as usual so it started late. There was a decent amount of people and they all seemed to be into all the bands. Fatal Nunchucka opened the show and they sounded like Spazz and were awesome. Phillipe from www.toulousecrust.blogspot.com booked the show and too care of us. Tomorrow we wake up and drive to Zarautz, Spain.
Day 12/show 7/Zarautz,Spain
Woke up in the squat and got a move on. We said thank you and goodbye to everyone. Then we drove to Zarautz, Spain. It is a small town on the northern coast of Spain nestled between 2 mountains and the surf is awesome. I never want to leave. Jonpi booked the show and gave us a tour of the Gaztetxe squat. It seems as if no one lives in here and that it’s only squatted as a venue/community center. It's an old factory with 2 different rooms with stages, smaller room and big room. We will be playing in the small room.
Upstairs is a kitchen, dining room, the room we will sleep in, and the radio station they run out of the squat. It's always pretty crazy to me that stuff like this exists cause in America the cops would kick you out on your ass on the first day. I walked down to the beach and daydreamed of never leaving. When I got back to the squat there was fruit for us to eat, which is all I ever want to eat. Then dinner came. Couscous, tomato sauce with veggies, hummus and bread, and potatoes. It was an awesome meal and I am thankful for how nice Jonpi is to us. The show started shortly after and it was pretty cool. Everyone enjoy’d the show and mostly told me “we played too short” and they “wish we played longer”. We are sleeping upstairs in the squat so I’m already in bed. Tomorrow we drive to Leon, Spain.
We woke up early and got the brakes worked on. Now we are about to drive the van onto a train that goes under the ocean in a tunnel to France. This is insane in my head.
After the tunnel I passed out for awhile and we ended up in Reims before I knew it. The show is at a place called Café Apart. It was a small bar and a pretty cool place. Michel booked the show for us and as soon as we got there he brought us upstairs in the venue and there was a bunch of food for us. Pasta and sauce, a bunch of baguettes and some vegetable salad. Then we went downstairs to play. It seemed like it’d be a typical bar show where no one would pay attention to the bands and were all there just to drink. I could not have been more wrong. The first band was Devour and they were a crust punk band and I dug them. Then Witch Cult played and there was a lot of head banging during the slow parts and fist pumping to the fast parts. For BearTrap people went off and circle pitted. This place wasn’t shaped for a circle pit so it was pretty cool. After the show Michel brought us back to the squat in town. It’s funny because we are sleeping better in a squat (beds for all, Super Nintendo) than we have in any of Witch Cult's friends' houses. Tomorrow is a day off and nothing kills the spirit of tour than a day off. We will probably drive to Toulouse and hopefully do something cool.
Day 10/day off/10 hour drive from Reims to Toulouse
Kill me now.
Day 11/show 6/Toulouse, France
Yesterday wasn’t all bad. The squat we stayed in was cool. After we woke up we went into Reims to exchange money and didn’t end up doing it. Instead we walked thru a GIGANTIC church that was 40 degrees colder inside than it was outside. It was awesome. Shit like that doesn’t exist in America. We started the drive from hell which didn’t end up being that bad. The worst part was having a day off and tolls. France is really shitty with tolls. We got to the squat we played tonight at 12 am. It’s the L’ emergence squat and this place is INSANE.
It’s not like a standalone building that’s squatted. It has businesses and people living/working on both sides of it. The bottom floor has a shower and bath room, front room, and then the back room is a huge hall. 2nd floor has a living room, some bedrooms and a smaller hall/practice space. The 3rd floor has some more sleeping space. Again, beds for all, and the internet worked every once in awhile. Woke up today and we walked for probably 6 miles to the center of Toulouse for currency exchange and wireless internet. We asked a bunch of different people for both and went on a wild goose chase. Finally I saw a dude in a True Colors shirt and I held my arms in X formation and said “straight edge”? He laughed and said yes and then I told him we are from America and that we needed McDonalds internet. We were standing right in front of it. So we dealt with all that stuff and walked back to the squat. We waited around awhile and they made us some stuffed peppers and rice. It was awesome. We waited for the show to start. It was punk o’clock as usual so it started late. There was a decent amount of people and they all seemed to be into all the bands. Fatal Nunchucka opened the show and they sounded like Spazz and were awesome. Phillipe from www.toulousecrust.blogspot.com booked the show and too care of us. Tomorrow we wake up and drive to Zarautz, Spain.
Day 12/show 7/Zarautz,Spain
Woke up in the squat and got a move on. We said thank you and goodbye to everyone. Then we drove to Zarautz, Spain. It is a small town on the northern coast of Spain nestled between 2 mountains and the surf is awesome. I never want to leave. Jonpi booked the show and gave us a tour of the Gaztetxe squat. It seems as if no one lives in here and that it’s only squatted as a venue/community center. It's an old factory with 2 different rooms with stages, smaller room and big room. We will be playing in the small room.
Upstairs is a kitchen, dining room, the room we will sleep in, and the radio station they run out of the squat. It's always pretty crazy to me that stuff like this exists cause in America the cops would kick you out on your ass on the first day. I walked down to the beach and daydreamed of never leaving. When I got back to the squat there was fruit for us to eat, which is all I ever want to eat. Then dinner came. Couscous, tomato sauce with veggies, hummus and bread, and potatoes. It was an awesome meal and I am thankful for how nice Jonpi is to us. The show started shortly after and it was pretty cool. Everyone enjoy’d the show and mostly told me “we played too short” and they “wish we played longer”. We are sleeping upstairs in the squat so I’m already in bed. Tomorrow we drive to Leon, Spain.
Friday, 13 January 2012
France 3
France 2
"There is nothing much new from my region except...
Death Mercedes
Youth Avoiders released a new EP
Idiot Talk from Lille released a new EP
And that's pretty much everything that comes to mind..."
"There is nothing much new from my region except...
Death Mercedes
Youth Avoiders released a new EP
Idiot Talk from Lille released a new EP
And that's pretty much everything that comes to mind..."
Monday, 10 October 2011
France - Paris 3
France - Paris 2
"The Hardcore scene in the city of lights isn't as big as you'd think, and it's plagued by two major issues.
First of all, the nightlife around Paris is dying. Lots of venues in the suburbs are shutting down for economical reasons, while some others in Paris have to turn into nightclubs for a couple of days every single week to stay afloat. That applies to the smaller venues like Le Batofar and to the biggest ones like Le Bataclan. L'Elysée Montmartre closed its doors a couple of months ago after it was burnt to ashes following an electrical incident.
Secondly, Most shows around here are booked by DIY promoters: the only actual booking agencies around here aren't really into Hardcore or Punk as a whole. As a result, it's getting harder to see well-established HC/Punk bands in Paris because of this lack of available venues and serious promoters: our town often gets skipped.
On the bright side, the kids who do contact bands and set up shows are doing a great job. Every now and then we manage to see great bands in the tiniest venues I have ever seen. A couple of days ago, Trial and Anchor played in a bar with support from Birds in Row. A few weeks before that, we got to see Birds in Row open for Loma Prieta in a cafe's basement. The sound was awful, the heat was unbearable, but the feeling of intimacy... I can't find the right words to describe it.
I never really bought into the idea that Hardcore is a family, but the one thing I do like about our scene is that you always see familiar faces. Lots of people who pay 5€ tickets to see a modern hardcore band will attend a Screamo show the next week, pay another ticket to see a local band after that... After a while, you're pretty much forced to meet people and actually talk to them, which is something that doesn't happen in bigger scenes.
Now, let's talk about the music itself. There is absolutely no hype around parisian bands that aren't playing Metalcore or Beatdown Hardcore, but that doesn't mean there aren't a couple of acts worth checking out.
I'm thinking about the likes of…
Donkey Punch - who will be on Toxicbreedsfunhouse's upcoming Euro compilation
Black Spirals
Arms of Ra
xDIGx
Perhaps should I also mention some bands that aren't from Paris but regulary play there and get warm receptions…
Aussitôt Mort
Birds in Row
Celeste
Plebeian Grandstand
...Namedropping isn't really what I'm going for, but each and every one of these bands sound completely different and it'd take way too long to describe them all.
I live twenty minutes away from Paris, in the suburbs, like most kids who attend shows, so we usually are on the same train home, haha!
I don't know much about zines and I'd say that they aren't that popular here. For us frenchies, it's mainly an online phenomenon.
I also forgot to write about one noteworthy label that's based roughly 300 kilometers away from Paris called Throatruiner Records. The guy who runs it, Matthias, isn't from here but he does wonders for us. He's signed british and french bands and releases albums by himself, but he also distributes some records that we couldn't get anywhere else without paying insanely high shipping costs. The label's releases can be shipped anywhere in Europe, but are also sent to actual (small) record stores in Paris. That represents a huge amount of work for a single person, and a huge gamble because record sales are really low these days, so I have nothing but respect for the man.”
"The Hardcore scene in the city of lights isn't as big as you'd think, and it's plagued by two major issues.
First of all, the nightlife around Paris is dying. Lots of venues in the suburbs are shutting down for economical reasons, while some others in Paris have to turn into nightclubs for a couple of days every single week to stay afloat. That applies to the smaller venues like Le Batofar and to the biggest ones like Le Bataclan. L'Elysée Montmartre closed its doors a couple of months ago after it was burnt to ashes following an electrical incident.
Secondly, Most shows around here are booked by DIY promoters: the only actual booking agencies around here aren't really into Hardcore or Punk as a whole. As a result, it's getting harder to see well-established HC/Punk bands in Paris because of this lack of available venues and serious promoters: our town often gets skipped.
On the bright side, the kids who do contact bands and set up shows are doing a great job. Every now and then we manage to see great bands in the tiniest venues I have ever seen. A couple of days ago, Trial and Anchor played in a bar with support from Birds in Row. A few weeks before that, we got to see Birds in Row open for Loma Prieta in a cafe's basement. The sound was awful, the heat was unbearable, but the feeling of intimacy... I can't find the right words to describe it.
I never really bought into the idea that Hardcore is a family, but the one thing I do like about our scene is that you always see familiar faces. Lots of people who pay 5€ tickets to see a modern hardcore band will attend a Screamo show the next week, pay another ticket to see a local band after that... After a while, you're pretty much forced to meet people and actually talk to them, which is something that doesn't happen in bigger scenes.
Now, let's talk about the music itself. There is absolutely no hype around parisian bands that aren't playing Metalcore or Beatdown Hardcore, but that doesn't mean there aren't a couple of acts worth checking out.
I'm thinking about the likes of…
Donkey Punch - who will be on Toxicbreedsfunhouse's upcoming Euro compilation
Black Spirals
Arms of Ra
xDIGx
Perhaps should I also mention some bands that aren't from Paris but regulary play there and get warm receptions…
Aussitôt Mort
Birds in Row
Celeste
Plebeian Grandstand
...Namedropping isn't really what I'm going for, but each and every one of these bands sound completely different and it'd take way too long to describe them all.
I live twenty minutes away from Paris, in the suburbs, like most kids who attend shows, so we usually are on the same train home, haha!
I don't know much about zines and I'd say that they aren't that popular here. For us frenchies, it's mainly an online phenomenon.
I also forgot to write about one noteworthy label that's based roughly 300 kilometers away from Paris called Throatruiner Records. The guy who runs it, Matthias, isn't from here but he does wonders for us. He's signed british and french bands and releases albums by himself, but he also distributes some records that we couldn't get anywhere else without paying insanely high shipping costs. The label's releases can be shipped anywhere in Europe, but are also sent to actual (small) record stores in Paris. That represents a huge amount of work for a single person, and a huge gamble because record sales are really low these days, so I have nothing but respect for the man.”
Friday, 17 December 2010
France 2
France 1
My favourites hardcore/punk bands from France are :
Aussitôt Mort (Caen)
Thrashington D.C. (Brest)
Strong As Ten (Metz)
Lost Boys (Lyon)
Birds In Row (Laval)
A Bridge To Many (Toulouse)
Police Truck (Brest)
Zombies Are Pissed! (Caen)
Golden District (Nantes)
Lasting Values (Nantes)
I've probably forgot some other good ones.
About fanzines... there are some good fanzines, but not that many in english... check out this one:
Just Say Yo!
My favourites hardcore/punk bands from France are :
Aussitôt Mort (Caen)
Thrashington D.C. (Brest)
Strong As Ten (Metz)
Lost Boys (Lyon)
Birds In Row (Laval)
A Bridge To Many (Toulouse)
Police Truck (Brest)
Zombies Are Pissed! (Caen)
Golden District (Nantes)
Lasting Values (Nantes)
I've probably forgot some other good ones.
About fanzines... there are some good fanzines, but not that many in english... check out this one:
Just Say Yo!
France - Paris 2
France - Paris (Part 1)
France - Paris (Part 2)
I would say, we are lucky because there are gigs happening almost every day in Paris, but as a result of this (which is probably normal), the hardcore scene is split between different subgenres fans groups, like the people going to the "80's hardcore punk" gigs, to the "hardcore metal" gigs, etc... but there are people going to all of these gigs, so it's not in general. It's just that people have to choose the gigs they really want to go, unless they will be exhausted and sick of gigs. Anyway, the atmosphere at the gigs is often really good, so we will try to keep it that way.
Here are some bands from Paris:
Abject/Object (melodic hardcore punk)
Black Spirals (hardcore powerviolence)
Burst One's Side (melodic hardcore punk)
Crippled Old Farts (hardcore punk)
Cycle To (emo punk)
Days Of Discord (hardcore)
Donkey Punch (hardcore powerviolence)
Fat Beavers (pop punk hardcore)
Fatabo (post-punk)
Hard Times (oi! hardcore)
Lobster Killed Me (melodic hardcore punk)
My Own Way Of Life (hardcore punk)
Strike Back (hardcore)
Unlogistic (melodic hardcore punk)
Warsawwasraw (mathcore)
xDIGx (hardcore)
Youth Avoiders (hardcore punk)
France - Paris (Part 2)
I would say, we are lucky because there are gigs happening almost every day in Paris, but as a result of this (which is probably normal), the hardcore scene is split between different subgenres fans groups, like the people going to the "80's hardcore punk" gigs, to the "hardcore metal" gigs, etc... but there are people going to all of these gigs, so it's not in general. It's just that people have to choose the gigs they really want to go, unless they will be exhausted and sick of gigs. Anyway, the atmosphere at the gigs is often really good, so we will try to keep it that way.
Here are some bands from Paris:
Abject/Object (melodic hardcore punk)
Black Spirals (hardcore powerviolence)
Burst One's Side (melodic hardcore punk)
Crippled Old Farts (hardcore punk)
Cycle To (emo punk)
Days Of Discord (hardcore)
Donkey Punch (hardcore powerviolence)
Fat Beavers (pop punk hardcore)
Fatabo (post-punk)
Hard Times (oi! hardcore)
Lobster Killed Me (melodic hardcore punk)
My Own Way Of Life (hardcore punk)
Strike Back (hardcore)
Unlogistic (melodic hardcore punk)
Warsawwasraw (mathcore)
xDIGx (hardcore)
Youth Avoiders (hardcore punk)
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