Some thing bizarre happened the other night. For the first time since I moved to Paris, I was at a concert full of people that were actually prepared to, dare i say it… dance! I’ve learned to accept that when it comes to Parisians and gigs, the idea of ‘letting lose’ or ‘feeling the rhythm’ is just not the done thing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been the lone ranger, while the rest of the audience conforms to a gentle sway or toe tap. A fellow blogger Jane-in-Paris posted a wonderfully candid piece about just this, and she was equally as shocked when I recounted my evening with Aloe Blacc live at Le Trianon.
I credit the audience’s uncharacteristic behaviour to the soul man himself, who effortlessly charmed us with each sweet serenade. As soon as his band, the Grand Scheme, played the opening chords of You Make Me Smile, the spectacular Montmartre concert hall was alive. With his velvet voice evoking the late Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye, Blacc boomed out tracks including Loving You is Killing Me, Femme Fatale and his 2010 hit I Need A Dollar. I think my favourite moment was when he achieved the impossible by initiating a Soul Train movement through the audience. Following his instructions we split like the Red Sea and each filed down the line busting out our finest moves – there was popping, locking and I even saw a 6-foot man drop to the floor and do the snake wave.
Aloe Blacc
My only complaint was that the final song came far too quickly and the concert was over before we knew it. However, after what seemed an eternity of chanting and foot stomping, Mr Blacc snaked back on stage and delivered a slow and sexy cover of MJ’s Billie Jean. The show may have been short but it was very, very sweet.
And what better way to finish off the night than with a quick bike ride to Chateau d’Eau for a late dinner at the 10th arrondissement’s best Turkish resto, Grill Istanbul. We started with a dish of creamy feta and aubergine houmous, followed by a large plate of roast lamb in a sweet tomato sauce that was soaked up with chunks of warm Turkish herb bread.
Where?
Le Trianon – 80 Boulevard de Rochechouart 75018 Paris * Métro – Chateau d’Eau
Grill Istanbul – 6, rue du Faubourg Saint Denis – 75010 Paris * Métro – Anvers
How much?
2 dishes & 2 beers: €20
What’s playing today?
Aloe Blacc performing You Make Me Smile in the Paris underground.
