The MaMA Event began on October 18, 2017 in the mild autumn. An ideal time to enjoy the halls of Montmartre and Pigalle and the many concerts they offer!
This year again, the festival keeps its promises with a rich, varied program full of surprises and discoveries! Suffice to say that already from the first evening, we feasted!
Kingdom
We discovered them last year during Clap Your Hands and we fell for their Electro – Pop sweet and tangy at the same time. It is in a foggy room that Yumi and Moon Boy made their return and we enjoyed finding them.
On stage we feel a little stressed at first, a little shy too… not easy to pass among the first, but gradually Yumi takes over the scene after leaving her Kimono (which went to delight her by the way). In the theater of the Lycée J Decour, the audience is more and more numerous : enthusiastic, we see people dancing and reacting positively to their latest titles. The mist has cleared and we are becoming aware of the potential of Kingdom. Relevant and impactful titles that stay in the lead.
A great encouragement for the future that we look forward to. Kingdom will be in concert on October 25th at the Maroquinerie !!
Follow Kingdom on their facebook page!
Laura Perrudin
Our steps then take us to the Trois Baudets for a big surprise.
Accompanied by her harp, Laura Perrudin is a fascinating woman. His music is organic, his singing chimerical. Here is an artist with an incredibly dreamlike universe. His instrument allows him to compose and create improbable sounds : electric guitar, percussion, electro, harp (of course)… We go from ambient, to folk, through jazz and hip hop, all with a bluffing mastery!
During her appearance at the MaMA Event, she will take the opportunity to offer us a recent composition. She has fun creating a kind of song series where she makes characters talk. She gives us the speech of death that speaks to humans to tell them that they do anything and to warn them because now it will crack down.
Her album, Poisons & Antidotes, was released on September 22nd and you can see her again on December 5th at the FGO Centre Barbara!
Jean-Michel Blais
Back at the Lycée but in the Chapel this time where the Neo Classical is in the spotlight. We have an appointment with Jean-Michel Blais, a talented Quebec pianist who transports us with the magic of his compositions.
Softly and voluptuously, we let ourselves be lulled by its light and voluble notes. A real delight for the ears. In the almost religious atmosphere of this room, the creaking of parquet floors contributes to the atmosphere and we are far from the tumults of the city. We think of Yann Tiersen, Olafur Arnalds a little bit (Chopin Project).
Time seems suspended and yet it flies at a speed … as Jean-Michel makes us note as we approach the end of his set. We forgot where we were and why we were there.This Montrealer seduced us and we hope that this second visit to France will not be the last!
Eddy de Pretto
It seems that everyone had spread the word: Eddy de Pretto, winner of the 2018 Fair, did not go unnoticed in the programming of MaMa.We had to consider ourselves lucky to be able to enter the small room of the Backstage by the Mill, after an endless line that ran to the Machine of the Moulin Rouge.Once inside, despite the hubbub of the room, Eddy de Pretto taps us with his Kid (EP just released on October 6), title attacking the diktats of virility. We love his theatrical phrasing, his deep voice reminiscent of that of Stromaé and the rap codes he uses in his songs and in his style of dress. He has just released an amazing cover of Jul's Je ne suis pas fou .
Novo Amor
The Salle des Trois Baudets is even fuller than during our previous visit and this time, difficult to find a seat to listen to Novo Amor. The Galois, Ali Lacey is accompanied by many musicians. On stage, guitars, violin, drums… take us on a memorable journey. A gentle folk that suggests green landscapes and wild and agitated nature. One shudders listening to this soaring voice à la Asgeir. We are carried far, far away!
When you think that he only has two EPs to his credit and a few singles, we just want an album to come out to make us go even further! It's crazy how much this music soothes and makes you dream. We are well in the setting of this room (even if the large audience raises the temperature a little too much). Difficult to land to leave; We keep a taste of not enough!
Sly Johnson
If we had to find a phenomenon tonight, it was surely him!
Sly Johnson is a real character on the stage of La Cigale who is already not big enough to receive him. Room more than well filled, audience at the cleat for this guy with the impressive voice.
In front of his machines, they loop multiple sounds that he produces mainly with his mouth. Suffice to say that we remain glued to the catalog of sounds that escapes: scratch, beats of all kinds, deep voice, then high, instruments, onomatopoeia to embellish everything. The result? Ultra dancing compositions, rhythmic and that do not take long to move the Cicada. Sly even goes so far as to improvise on the name of a young man in the front row. Sly has planned a guest… a guest: Pumpkin!
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An excellent funny and hallucinating moment at the same time! We would like to see him on stage again soon!
Luca d'Alberto
Ludovico Einaudi has no worries, the succession is assured. With Luca d'Alberto, we find Neoclassical compositions of captivating intensity. As soon as you enter the Chapel, you get goosebumps. We are seized by the power of his pieces, not sonorous, but emotional !!
It is a bare of its composer, but also of ourselves because each title ends up evoking something strong in us and speaks to us, touches us deeply. Sometimes tender, sometimes melancholic, this Italian has the gift of telling us something universal.
If his work is very similar to film music, the contribution of a more contemporary, sometimes electronic dimension brings his work closer to that of the talented Nils Frahm.
It is with still chills and almost tears in our eyes that we leave the room to find the lights of the city and the burning atmosphere of the streets of Pigalle.
Guts
Guts' concert at La Cigale was more like a merry band of friends on stage than a real concert! It is Sly Johnson who presents the musicians: Guts accompanied by his live band: piano, guitar, drums, percussion, brass as well as many guest artists. Debut with fanfare with the famous Man Funk who gives the groove to the crowd. Here Guts plays the conductor between all the protagonists and improvises himself as a room driver. It is then that Patrice comes to interpret Want it back that he composed with Guts, he is joined by Féfé, Dillon Cooper, Cody Chesnut … with whom he collaborated and who come to put their rap flow or their soul voice on his music. The crowd is hot and would like the concert to last. Unfortunately started late the performance was concentrated in only a few songs but their energy on stage was only increased tenfold!
Theo Lawrence & The Hearts
Unfortunately, we couldn't see Theo Lawrence again, whom we loved at the Mondial du Tattoo, but we take this opportunity to make you discover their latest title and clip :
https://youtu.be/ddrimM8PL3w
We are looking forward to their first album scheduled for early 2018 (we will tell you more about it). And if you have a gift to make for Valentine's Day, run to buy 2 tickets for their concert at Les Etoiles on February 14th!!!
Adam Naas
An enchanted parenthesis in this first evening of MaMa: the captivating voice of Adam Naas, serious, soul then suddenly very high, it seems disconcertingly easy. The audience of the Carmen is attentive and silent. We had to play elbows to get a small place. From Fading Away to Please Come Back to Me, then from Strange Love to The Love we are delighted to discover new titles. Shy, Adam Naas tries to punctuate his songs with anecdotes, such as the fact that he knows Carmen very well for his evenings … In a word: endearing.
Boogie Vice x Jabberwocky
End of evening at Folie's Pigalle for a few dance steps in front of Boogie Vice and Jabberwocky. The room is almost packed despite the late hour of Wednesday evening. The discofunk and house melodies of Boogie Vice give the moove to the dancers then the three boys of Jabberwocky offer beats more techno-house see techno .
A very exciting first day of the festival, with a great selection of artists, JustFocus can't wait to discover what's next!
Find the postponement of Thursday at MaMA Event
Find the postponement of Friday at MaMA Event
Photos : Antony GOMES
Article by Lo and Noucky
