^#UN CONCERT À EMPORTER AVEC PHOENIX)~

Third day in a row that I've woken up early, way too early, especially considering today is my day off from school and I'm still tired of seeing Mr. Casablancas last night. Just came across a new Takeaway Show featuring one of my favourite bands Phoenix! It has been a long time since I saw a Take Away show that really sparked my interest. Seems it was a beautiful day in Paris when they were out recording. They're performing 1901, Lisztomania, One Time Too Many and Long Distance Call. Enjoy!

Phoenix - 1901 - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Phoenix - Lizstomania / One time too many - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Phoenix - Long distance call - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

@*A TRIUMPH FOR MEW"+

Saw Mew last night and I even took some pictures, more so than I usually do. Most of the time I take zero actually. But my recent photography workshop meetings have inspired me to take more pictures and keep playing with the depth of field and which subject to put the focus on. So that was kind of my assignment and the kind of pictures I wanted to take. Well, a couple of them turned out okay. The thing is, I never look at what I've photographed when I'm at a concert. I just click and then click again, without looking at what I captured. I do this to not get disappointed when a picture doesn't work out and prevent me from getting too caught up with trying to get the right picture. First and foremost I'm there to see the band play not to be a photographer. So I want to enjoy the music as well and therefore I try to not take too many pictures. But last night I balanced it out quite well. Some pictures could have been nicer would Jonas Bjerre, lead singer of the band, not have held his microphone in front of his face so much, but I'm already happy to have taken some really clear pictures without any blur. I also used my lomography camera three times I think. But with that one it's even more of a mystery of whether the pictures turned out okay or not, especially considering I've already wasted two film stocks! Now let's go to the actual concert and leave the photographs aside. It was one of the best gigs I've been to this year. Passion Pit take note, this is how you do a concert, 'cause those guys got a lot to learn. What immediately struck me was Mew's professionality. They have a lot of experience which isn't strange for a band who already put out so many albums, recently having released album number five! And that experience can be very well heard. At certain moments I felt a bit Phoenix-esque even though both bands are pretty different. I guess at the core however, they're kind of similar both making rock music with a strong pop sound added to it. Maybe it was also the great light show which reminded me of the Phoenix concert I went to earlier this year. Whatever it was, I was reminded of them, that being a very good thing. But Mew is definitely a band of their own with Jonas' vocals being a great part of that. I don't know how he does it. I can't believe he really sounds like this and his voice was so clear, it sounded perfect. I wonder how his speaking voice sounds. His voice is one of the most unique ones I've heard. It's high, but not in a girly way, not at all. But I love listening to it and live he sounded just as good as when listening to him in mp3 format. They played some songs from their new record while also playing some from their earlier ones. So far I only listened to their latest release as well as their first album A Triumph For Man, the other three I've started listening to only yesterday actually. So last night I didn't know every song, but the energy of the band and that of the audience made that I could fully enjoy those songs as well without having the feeling of not fitting in. Instead of Mew I could have seen another band last night in Paradiso called Miike Snow. But because they're fairly new I chose the more experienced band with a larger fanbase. I did this because I expected the Mew audience to be way more enthusiastic than those people at Miike Snow who might have been a bit reluctant to dance and fully let go considering Miike Snow is still such a new and fairly unknown band. I doubt there's anyone who already proclaims them as their favourite band. With Mew it's a different thing which showed, 'cause I saw some people walking around in the band's merchandise. So I knew a lot of people were going to fully enjoy this and it wasn't a surprise to me that the concert eventually had been sold out. From what I experienced last night I can say I really enjoy the Mew crowd. You could see it was filled with some die hard fans and not only those cool and hip looking people for whom going to a concert also means to be looked at. I like it when you see some people not caring about the clothes they wear 'cause it shows all the more they're here mainly for the music. Because it was sold out the place was packed which made that I could feel the energy of the audience really well. Some people jumped and really went wild others danced and enjoyed the gig but without the crazy arms. At the start however, the concert almost got completely ruined as there was this guy who just took up my spot out of nowhere. I thought he wanted to pass me so I gave him some room but instead he just stayed and basically took my spot. I just could feel the waterfall of tears inside me pouring down. I felt so hurt. How could you do that to me?! I was so into the concert after the first song, so full of surprise with the awesomeness of Mew and then this shitty guy just decides to take over my spot. I was so taken by surprise that I couldn't even say anything about it. I just could not understand why anyone would do that. It was just cruel. But I managed to put it all aside and some minutes later I was completely enjoying the concert again. But whoever this kid was, not cool to just take over my spot like that! But like I said it was one of the best concerts I saw this year. Great atmosphere, great sound, fun light show and visuals. I couldn't have imagined it any better. Mew might not be one of those bands I would totally go crazy for but they're definitely a great band to see live. When they return I would definitely like to see them again which isn't something I can say about some of the bands/artists that I like even more. They're really one of those bands who bring a whole new experience to their music when playing live. I can't wait for this month to be over and December 4th to come. Could Julian Casablancas be even better? Considering his album and how much I love it, I'd say yes. But we'll see. Anyway, I'm so excited for that night, it's gonna be fun.









In some minutes I'll go take a shower and then get back into the metro to retake all those pictures I took with my lomography camera but which didn't work out. Plus, there's a place I've wanted to visit for a long time so I'll be going there today. And tonight my third photography workshop! It's gonna be a fun day. Hope not too much rain :(

*$DELON )_

I came to watch La Piscine, but it was sold out (!) At the Filmmuseum in Amsterdam they have a Alain Delon retrospective and apparently it's very popular. Because I did not make a reservation I decided to watch La Tulipe Noir instead. That one is also with Delon, though I don't really care about the guy. I wanted to see La Piscine because I never saw a Romy Schneider film before and I don't know if it's a real classic, but I have a feeling it is. Hopefully next time I will be able to see it. La Tulipe Noir was pretty fun though. Not to be taken too seriously it's like a Robin Hood kind of adventure film. Delon is perfect as the hero, he even plays two parts. He didn't seem to take himself too seriously either. There were some really fun and cheesy moments. It's full of clichés and the acting is over the top dramatic. So I quite enjoyed it even though I would not have chosen to see the film myself. If I didn't have this special pass which allows me to see as many films that I want for only 17,50 euros I perhaps would have gone home and come back another time to see La Piscine or maybe I would have checked out another cinema. But because of that pass I don't mind how much the film costs, 'cause I don't have to pay anyway.
Tomorrow I'll be at the North Sea Jazz Festival. There isn't an artist I really need to see. I'm basically going because my parents and brother are going and they thought it would be nice if I would be there as well. I'll just be their accessory. :)

Listenend to Jay Reatard in the train on my way back. I think I've reached my Reatard obsessive moment. My Shadow is such a good track

Stripped down Phoenix! :D







Interview!
LOL I didn't realize I had never heard them speak. It's kind of cute, makes you want to go aaaaaaaaaaaaaww!! With such a heavy accent. I had no idea. Not surprised they hardly ever speak when they're performing on TV or even when in concert. Mystery solved.
Strange though how Thomas Mars has such a heavy accent, but when singing he doesn't sound typically French, I mean, he doesn't have that French accent. He doesn't sound like a native American or Brit either. But you wouldn't expect him to speak with such a heavy accent. I'm rather surprised.



Via Stereogum

Why do people keep staring at me when I walk down the street?! Can't I just look the way I want to look without people paying extra attention to me? I keep hearing the whoa!'s and the 'did you see that??!' Too much pressure

%*EXHAUSTED AFTER A VERY LONG DAY_&

So I decided to have a look at the play the students put together who have been at the school I want to attend even though I'm not yet sure if the school will accept me. I'll find out about that on Monday, but I'm really not sure. This is what I hate. Now that I went and was allowed to go through to the second round I want it more than anything. It's like someone is waving a bate in front of my eyes but without handing it over to me. They have something I want and might not be able to get. And it's frustrating and it kills. But during that singing course of today, how much I wanted to crawl into a corner and cry like a little puppy. It was as if all hope was washed away in one instant. It's like I was so close, I could have gotten it, but I had to screw up for some reason. I was singing way to high and wasn't able to correct myself, I didn't know how to. I sang all the false notes (!). :D It was actually a bit embarrassing. But all of this didn't hold me from watching the play these students had put together and wow, it was really good. Very energetic, very well played. It's fun to see some of these kids I had seen that day before but who seemed just like any other person and then at night they turn into these great great actors. Brilliant. I think it's a good thing I saw it after the audition else I would have wanted all this even more and the audition would have become way more frustrating than it already was. It has been such a long day, I'm exhausted, stressed, happy and sad at the same time, annoyed, frustrated, dissapointed and yet I still feel I can take on the entire world and nothing can put me down.

June 9th, finally after a very long wait the Facehunter show will be back. Here's a preview:

A romantic conversation with Peaches from The Facehunter Show on Vimeo.

And yes last night I saw Phoenix in Club Trouw which is an amazing venue. Had never been there before but it's so beautiful even the toilets look real cool. :) Overall the building has a real industrial feel to it. I love the high ceiling and the narrow space which is so long it almost feels like a tunnel. Only thing that made me feel rather uncomfortable for some reason was the stage. Normally I'm used to a really high stage, but this one is low. So you really have this complete different point of view. I don't know, it made me feel nude in a way. Like I was more separated from everyone else than normally. I didn't feel the people around me. It could be that the people around me and especially behind me didn't stand that close to me which is why I felt that way. I guess I prefer feeling the crowd breathing in my neck, being surrounded by all these people with their arms stretched up. 'Cause I have to say I hoped from the very first song people would go crazy, but they didn't really. At least not where I was standing. I felt it could have been because the crowd seemed to consist of more mature people. I feel Phoenix is a band that doesn't have these die-hard groupie fans. Young girls who go totally crazy and scream at every concert. A good example of this were the many times Thomas Mars, Phoenix lead singer, was hanging over the crowd. Normally people would have screamed Aaaah and put their hands up hoping to touch the guy. But here not at all and I can tell 'cause I was standing completely at the fron with Mr. Mars right in front of me. They were very respectful in that sense. Anyway, the band played extremely well. They were so good live. They played songs from the new album and some of their classics including If I Ever Feel Better. They didn't play Fences though, a song from the new album I really like, but then again I like every song on there. But I have a feeling Mr. Mars decided to mix things up and skip Fences to replace it with If I Ever Feel Better instead. Because when they came back on stage to do two more songs after they went off and the people started to applaud and scream, Mars walked to the other guys and told them something. And when they started to play If I Ever Feel Better and the crowd responded with great enthusiasm it seemed Mars was like, I told you so, as if he knew the crowd would appreciate it so much when they would play that song and it would be another highlight of the night. So I had a really cool night out and discovered this great new venue where you can also eat. There's this restaurant next to the concert area. I would love to see them again, but please next time start on time. It's not that bad when you plan on playing at 21.30 but start a little after 22.00, but take in consideration that the people who come to see you are already at the venue at least around 21.00. So it definitely felt like a long wait. More so than usually.

Compilation video of last night. Not filmed by me ;)

^%C'EST MOI)_

Someone took a picture and I'm in it. I'll tell about the gig tonight. I need to get ready for the audition which will take all day.

^$GUESS I'M DOING SOMETHING RIGHT)+

So I'm through to the next round, apparently those smiles and enthusiastic faces weren't fake and I can dance. Good to know :)

Now I have to prepare a scene of 3 minutes that I have to come up with myself. Really cool assignment, I like that. Tomorrow I have to be there 9.30 at the least. And well, right now I'm a bit tired and tonight I'll be seeing Phoenix. Will be home after 12pm I assume. Won't be getting a lot of sleep tonight I guess. Bit now let's think about the assignment. I hate that I do feel a bit excited about it all though. It's nice when you're allowed to go through to the next round, means you're doing something right. But it's just the second round, at the end it means as little as the first round. Until you're accepted and allowed to attent their school, you're still left with nothing but this dream of what if. And as much as I love to dream, at moments like this I wish I could just have an empty mind and not start fantasizing about a really cool future of me at that school which might never accept me afterall.
But for now let's think positive. It's a good day :D All smiles!

$&PHOENIX DAY*(

Today it's not Thursday, nope, it's Phoenix day today! Oh really? YES Will be seeing the guys tonight and it's going to be great. They perform in Club Trouw a building once used for the Trouw newspaper. I have never been there before so it's going to be fun to discover a new place.
Now I have to buy some toothpaste 'cause I found out last night I didn't have any left.

Photographed by Hedi Slimane.

&%A SMALL DISASTER)=

A small disaster has taken place. Yesterday I found out there's a hole in my left black boot! :( So I brought it to the shoe repair guy thinking he would just fix it for me, the hole doesn't seem that difficult to fix, but it's ripped at what happens to be a pretty difficult place. So fixing it would cost me like 45 euros and I paid something like 60 for the shoes. Only option thus seems to buy new ones. It's really annoying I didn't have the shoes for that long, I feel bad about having to let them go so soon, but it seems I have no other choice. Normally I couldn't care less about shoes, but ever since I bought these boots I've started to care. I'll probably go back into town later today to buy new ones, can't go to the Phoenix concert tomorrow without wearing a pair of black boots! And walking in Chuck Taylor's really isn't the same.

It has been out for a while now, but I still love it, Metric's video for their latest single Sick Muse:

METRIC - Sick Muse - OFFICIAL VIDEO from Metric Music on Vimeo.

*%MY FAULT(&

So apparently Women did play Black Rice last night. Hmmm, I guess I forgot about it. Perhaps it didn't leave as much an impact on me as I expected to and it was not that memorable :) Though this might explain why the song was stuck in my head afterwards. 'Cause I already found that pretty strange. So maybe it did leave an impression. Don't know. But truth is that I could hardly hear the singer who's name is Patrick Flegel I believe, although I'm not sure. Anyway. Nice to have this cleared up. Next week around this time I'll be at the Phoenix gig dancing wildly to their impeccable tunes. It's going to be great and it will be nice to go to a gig again where I know the crowd, or at least I, will go completely crazy. Dancing, jumping, aaaaaaaaah. Can't wait!

Patrick Wolf I love you so much! Your music gives me comfort when I need it most.

PATRICK WOLF "HARD TIMES" from IE HAGY on Vimeo.

He used to say he was bisexual, but nowadays apparently he's just gay. And well, it shows LOL Just watch this video of him performing Hard Times. Look what he's wearing! Or I'd better say look what he's not wearing! CRAZY I love it!! 01:34 HILARIOUS! He's never afraid of being himself, whatever people might say or think. Although this video doesn't give that impression :), Patpat is actually an extremely talented and gifted musician. He's able to play so many instruments and plays them so well. In this video he just dances and sings without touching a single instrumental item, making sexy moves, although you can differ on the sexiness of it all. Just watch Mr. Wolf in all his genius. Can't wait to see him perform live again. The guy must be such a sweet and kind person with a HUGEEE heart.

^&1901(*

It comes a bit late as it was already released some days ago, but here it is, Phoenix video for 1901:

&^It's here!!!!!!()

Lisztomania video has arrived, super fresh. Wake up to this song and your day will be grand!


Phoenix - Lisztomania

^"PHOENIX LIVE[}

Live on SNL It's Phoenix!

Lisztomania:


1901:


Too Young:

&$THIS SONG IS KILLERRRRRRR@!

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix already is one of my favourite albums of 2009, it's all I could ever ask for and more way more. They outdid themselves. It's Never Been Like That their last album was the perfect soundtrack for the summer, it just screamed youth, sunshine, endless nights, and watching sunsets. It was all there. And now there's this new perfect album even better than their previous ones! It's the truth. I got mad love for this one. Lisztomania you can hear it in the music player, it's bliss! Probably their best song yet. Also catchy as hell is Girlfriend, song has a great opening. It's in stores May 25th, but leaked already. Sad for the boys but great for me and all those other Phoenix lovers. And with a high quality record like this there's a big chance I might buy it when it comes out. Summer came early this year ♥♥♥♥

>-MISS COPPOLA FOR DIOR%@

Sofia Coppola has made this new and quite expensive looking commercial for Dior's latest fragrance 'Chérie'. It's very chipper and light. Makes you forget all about winter.



In other news, the band Phoenix, of which Miss Coppola happens to date the lead singer, apparently have already put the finishing touches on their latest effort, the brilliantly titled 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix'. I can't wait! Their last one It's Never Been Like That was the perfect summer record.