Imagine the Beatles and Eagles (now pronounced Les Beetelles and Les Eegulles) with Maurice Chevalier accents and you have the fun of last night. After dinner at our place with three French friends, we all went off to a tiny theatre just down the street, Le Théâtre St. Martin, to hear a band play the music of our youth. Called Dièse (the French word for the musical symbol sharp) Revival, the band were together as teenagers, went their ways in other professions and this year reunited after 40 years.
Once through the theatre entrance, we found ourselves in a large and elegant bar, full of people of a "certain age", many quite elegantly dressed. Beyond the bar was the theatre, about 200 red velvet seats with a small stage. As it filled up, there was an atmosphere of neighbourhood with lots of hand shaking and bisous on both cheeks. A few 30 somethings appeared, probably brought along by their parents. Much confusion as the theatre manager, a silver haired impresario in a suit, tried to find seats for everyone as they wandered in from the bar. Finally, he climbed up on the stage, announced the band to great applause. Then, to our amusement, he began to pull ropes to open the curtain and became entangled in the red plush material. The seven band members, keyboards, drums, bass guitar, three lead guitars and lead singer, wearing the requisite jeans and running shoes immediately launched into their tribute to the Eagles. It seemed clear by their skill and the amount of musical equipment on the stage that they had all maintained their interest in rock music over the intervening years. It was also clear that they were all having a great time together, lots of smiles and gestures. I was reminded of several friends who do this and then thought of my talented nephew, wondering if he will still be playing with his friends 40 years from now.
Their music was really very good. The drummer (his drums are called the batterie in French) was like all rock drummers, off in a world of his own, rather loud and seeming to try very hard to impress from way backstage. David thinks of it as the "Short Man Syndrome".The enthusiastic singer had a nice voice and a very French accent! "Zere will be an answer. Let eet bee." " 'otel Caleeforneeah" and David's favorite "easaaaay" sung over and over with much feeling and with rapt appreciation from the swaying crowd. We were momentarily perplexed by the announcement of one of the few songs written by "Georjjjes Arr ee son" until we realized who it was!
We all had a great time, singing along and clapping to the music, led by the band who gave us many opportunities to sing along. When it was finally over at 12:15 we made our way through the happy crowd finally spilling into the street. There was such a feeling of joie de vivre. Our group left, still singing and we discovered that the echo in the arcades definitely improves your voice!
Once through the theatre entrance, we found ourselves in a large and elegant bar, full of people of a "certain age", many quite elegantly dressed. Beyond the bar was the theatre, about 200 red velvet seats with a small stage. As it filled up, there was an atmosphere of neighbourhood with lots of hand shaking and bisous on both cheeks. A few 30 somethings appeared, probably brought along by their parents. Much confusion as the theatre manager, a silver haired impresario in a suit, tried to find seats for everyone as they wandered in from the bar. Finally, he climbed up on the stage, announced the band to great applause. Then, to our amusement, he began to pull ropes to open the curtain and became entangled in the red plush material. The seven band members, keyboards, drums, bass guitar, three lead guitars and lead singer, wearing the requisite jeans and running shoes immediately launched into their tribute to the Eagles. It seemed clear by their skill and the amount of musical equipment on the stage that they had all maintained their interest in rock music over the intervening years. It was also clear that they were all having a great time together, lots of smiles and gestures. I was reminded of several friends who do this and then thought of my talented nephew, wondering if he will still be playing with his friends 40 years from now.Their music was really very good. The drummer (his drums are called the batterie in French) was like all rock drummers, off in a world of his own, rather loud and seeming to try very hard to impress from way backstage. David thinks of it as the "Short Man Syndrome".The enthusiastic singer had a nice voice and a very French accent! "Zere will be an answer. Let eet bee." " 'otel Caleeforneeah" and David's favorite "easaaaay" sung over and over with much feeling and with rapt appreciation from the swaying crowd. We were momentarily perplexed by the announcement of one of the few songs written by "Georjjjes Arr ee son" until we realized who it was!
We all had a great time, singing along and clapping to the music, led by the band who gave us many opportunities to sing along. When it was finally over at 12:15 we made our way through the happy crowd finally spilling into the street. There was such a feeling of joie de vivre. Our group left, still singing and we discovered that the echo in the arcades definitely improves your voice!
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