The Next Big Thing

Finally regained enough energy to post a few words on the Paris trip, 'cause wanting to include as much as possible in three days sure takes it's toll at my advanced age... But what the heck, it was well worth the bother. Highlights aplenty; Roy Loney joinin' the Barracudas on Fridaynight for a three song encore including a stellar take on Teenage Head, a moment that's sure to become the stuff of legends. The 'cudas own set was no slouch either, tho' a bit shaky in the vocal dept at times, but the guitar interplay between Chris Wilson and Robin Wills was amazing, a big chimin' Byrds/Groovies-styled wall of sound. Loney's acoustic set on Saturday afternoon was equally grand, tho' the hothouse temperatures drove me outside after a while. Roy still commands a lotta presence on stage, and finally seein' him in action for the first time connected some loose ends in my understanding of the what 'n whys of the Groovies eternal, uh, groovienes. Leave it to the Nomads to finish the festivities in truly fine style. Hell, they damn near tore the roof off playin' hit after hit to a (capacity) crowd of adorin' frenchies. Having seen the Nomads a number of times in recent years I'd say that they're currently way better than in their 80s "heyday". What else was up?, oh yeah, the Lee Black Childers/Roberta Bayley photo exhibit which was as cool as expected tho' could have used some more thought on the way the pictures were displayed. My long held believe that Paris is a wasteland when it comes to scoring 2nd vinyl was shot to shit as I discovered shop after shop offering the most amazing stuff, but with prices bein' equal to a petite bottle of Channel #5 I only brought back a modest stack of longplays. On a completely different cultural level I also visited the Musée d'Orsay for the wonderful New York and Modern Art. Alfred Stieglitz and His Circle exhibit. That, walkin' around endlessly in the autumn sun and shakin' hands and hangin' around with a large number of both new and familiar faces is the 'cause of my current zombie-like state, so I'll leave it at that and sign off with a tip of the hat to all those responsible for truly a memorable stay...