Concert Review: Rock en Seine: Ca Rocke pas
Published August 27, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
Paris, France
I like the idea of a rock festival. I have fond memories of Lollapolooza — when was it? 1993 — with acts like Luscious Jackson, Sonic Youth, Yo la Tango, George Clinton, and R.E.M. (before they started to suck beyond redemption) on dueling, yes, multiple, stages. I also always forgot how disappointed I was each time I attended such a supersize-me-goes-musical event, with their mostly short, drunken or lifelessly indifferent sets. 
It was punch in, punch out. Of course, most of the fun was social, not strictly musical (if the sociologists of music will permit me this indulgent categorical split). The Grateful Dead concerts are a case in point (not speaking from experience, but so I've heard; that reminds me of one of my favorite old jokes: "What does a deadhead say when he/she runs out of pot? This music sucks!").
As you can tell from this photo. I'm feeling good in the solidarity of rock...
There was joy in being part of a partying little group that was part of a huge, anonymous but somehow shared experience/group, like having a national, ethnic, or fan identity. But I digress.
So it was with some nostalgia that I, the American in Paris, marched into the Rock en Seine festival with the old ball 'n chain. The first thing we recalled of such events is the annoyance of lines snaking into the horizon at least a mile long. (I still haven't learned kilometers. Thanks, Reagan!)
Now I know why they called one of these things Hordefest in the American 90s. (I didn't know that from experience, either, mainly because I never liked the Spin Doctors or Big Head Todd). One wondered how many French there were in the hordes, since our little area of the blob/line was like a special EU task force sent to the festival, mostly in Morrissey t-shirts and speaking creatively accented English. But you could spot the Froggies, as the blagueur has already noted, by their comme il faut scarves and blazers (No, not all of them, but enough to stand out). Hip is a culturally specific concept, despite the globalization of, well, everything, including hip.
So thirty or forty minutes later they took our tickets and we entered the park to find three stages vertically staggered over about a half-mile and connected by tents full of Heineken, Coca Cola, iPod, and Levis peddlers. We had missed Calexico, one of the two main bands we had paid some forty euros to see and hear. (We originally got there at about the time the thing was to start 3:00 pm; it went 'til midnight). The first act we heard was Dirty Pretty Things, the Libertines break-up band. I don't remember much. It didn't suck. Some down time eating sausages, frites, and guzzling five euro pints of Heineken — pas trop cher.
- Concert Review: Rock en Seine: Ca Rocke pas
- Published: August 27, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Indie Rock, Music: Live Concerts
- Writer: Jayson Harsin
- Jayson Harsin's BC Writer page
- Jayson Harsin's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
"personal attacks are not allowed." unless you're a "blogcritic." now that is sad.
This is not an attack, but an answer to your question about being too old for this: Yes, you are.
A. It's a 2-day fest that you only went to one day of... missing the true headliners: Beck and Radiohead (the Beck performance will go down as one of the most memorable I have ever been too)
B. The only bands you truly enjoyed were the ones that didn't get anyone up and moving. You ever see someone fall asleep standing up? You probably did...because that's what happened while I watched Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. (We stood there because the band has had such a buzz lately... and to secure our spots for Kasabian and Raconteurs).
Not that I'm some spring chicken myself... I was getting annoyed with the children moshing(?) to the Raconteurs, and had to remind myself that this is what rock is about.
As long as everyone had a good time though... it's all good mate. But while you have your opinions of Kasabian and Jack White, I thought I'd share a different view from someone who really enjoyed their performances.
Too old for "this"? Yes, I absolutely agree! I was too old for "this" a LONG time ago.I much prefer the smaller shows, and neither kids nor septuagenarians jumping around is a measure of a band's quality (they were doing it for Clap Your Hands, even if you weren't, and the Raconteurs,etc.). I stand by my comments about the Raconteurs and Kasabian. But it's about taste, mate. And if that's what you like, good for you.
As for the entire festival, yes, I didn't go to the other day, but for the record I like Beck and Radiohead a lot. I was speaking
A. about the very nature of a huge festival, not to every band participating;and
B. about a few acts.
But happy to have your perspective. This is not a personal attack, just my perspective.
We as well went over to This two day concert and we are not spring chicks. (late 30s) I have to say we very much enjoyed the entire two days. We felt the second day was not as strong as the first but,Xavier Rudd , who we had never heard of was fasinating and brought something different to this Rock concert. Beck as a woman said before was amazing and come on we travelled so farwhy would we did not go to see Radio head? We loved the whole experience and the Raconteurs as well.Looking forward to next year.
Yeah, I gotta agree with Jayson here. I felt like I had been lured into some carnival tent by a particularly persuasive caller, only to discover that the lady in fact had no beard.
The movement of the crowd was in direct proportion to video air time, it seemed.
Thank god they had a wine bar.
Only went the Friday with two friends, missed Calexico, had a merguez sandwich with horribly greasy fries, dranks some of the usual festival beers and wandered around to catch a little bit of everything.
The Raconteurs gig made it all good. Loud, sure. But a fantastic, inspired, rocking performance, they were having fun on stage and didn't stick to just replicating the album tracks. Great singing, great solos. Best show seen in a while for all three of us.
Morrisey's lack of passion thereafter was just deadly and we hurried home quickly.
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yes, morrissey is sad. Nice account.