Friday 29 January 2010
STEVE NIEVE BAND FEATURING GLENN TILBROOK AND VINCENT SEGAL
THE NEW MORNING
7 Rue des Petites Ecuries
75010 Paris, France
01 45 23 51 41
Doors 20h – Concert 21h
Friday 29 January 2010
21.00 STEVE NIEVE & FRIENDS
STEVE NIEVE (p)
GLENN TILBROOK (g)
VINCENT SEGAL (cello, b)
FRANCOIS POGGIO (g)
TALL ULYSS (dms)
Steve Nieve is recording a new album. Beautifully crafted songs sung in duo with many life long friends and brand new associates: Elvis Costello, Laurie Anderson, Joe Sumner, Vanessa Paradis, Glenn Tilbrook and others….
Glenn Tilbrook, Vincent Segal, François Poggio, Tallulyss, all participate in the creation of this eclectic album (Naïve) and will accompany Steve Nieve in this intimate preview.
It was too good an offer to refuse… Glenn *and* the marvellous Steve Nieve playing together in gay (actually cold & wet) Paris, so I hopped on the Eurostar & headed through the tunnel for a full day in the French capital rounded off with an evening of great music.
I’m so glad I went. Booking the train was a bit of a spur of the moment thing & at the time I didn’t know I’d be seeing Glenn on a weekly basis at the Anchor &
Hope… but this was definitely a Steve Nieve gig, with Glenn as a big added bonus, so it didn’t feel too OTT!
Soon after I arrived I got chatting to a couple of lovely French guys, Yves et (not St) Laurent & we compared notes on music, films, life, the universe & everything. They were both Glenn fans too, so I was very pleased to have found some like-minded souls to enjoy the gig with.
Steve Nieve started the show alone, sitting & sometimes standing at a grand piano with an electronic keyboard on top. He made it all seem so effortless, this combination of synthesised background sounds with his beautiful, traditional piano playing providing the melody. It sounded almost classical to me (what do I know?). He was then joined by Vincent Segal on cello & they made beautiful music together :-)
A few others joined & left for various songs… songs which I didn’t know, but thoroughly enjoyed. Sometimes Steve sang, sometimes his drummer sang (there was one other guy too – didn’t catch his name) and sometimes they were instrumental.
The one song I did know was a cover of Bowie’s ‘Life On Mars?’ – Steve couldn’t quite get the high notes, but it was lovely nonetheless.
Glenn came on fairly late in the set having enjoyed the show thus far from the back of the venue… he graciously accepted a couple of compliments towards his shoes & then upped the tempo with a great rendition of Tempted (Laurent said he could die happy now he’d heard that live – until he realised his need to hear Mumbo Jumbo the same way!).
Next came Still, Untouchable and Goodbye Girl before moving onto the tracks he’d recorded for Steve’s as yet unreleased album of duets. I’m afraid I can’t
remember any track names, but they were instantly enjoyable & to me the Steve Nieve style was very recognisable & suited Glenn’s voice well.
All these tracks were performed with Steve on keyboards, Vincent now on bass guitar, Glenn on (mostly) acoustic guitar & vocal, Francois on electric guitar & (I’ve forgotten his name) on drums. A great team :-)
The encore concluded with a very lively 4-guitar filled version of Peace, Love & Understanding with Glenn on vocals – it eventually brought the happy audience to their feet. Brilliant!
There doesn’t seem to be any release date for Steve’s new duets album yet, but it sounds like a must have with guest vocalists including Glenn, Ron Sexsmith, Elvis Costello, Vanessa Paradis & Laurie Anderson. I’m sure we’ll hear about it when it’s out (over to you, David…)
After the gig, Glenn assured my new French friends that he was trying his utmost to organise a Glenn-gig in Paris… so I hope to be making the trip again.
C’etait fantastique!
Thanks so much for a brilliant review Gill – what a fantastic experience!