DAY BY DAY: What a week !

So, my last post was on June 14th ! Today is June 24th !!

I was MIA cuz I was supra busy !! Let me tell you everything !!

On Thursday or Friday last week, I received the last details for my Emergenza Jury in Paris.

So on Saturday, after dropping my parents to the station (they were invited to a wedding in South of France), I check the trains and subway and left.

For two days, I had to be at the Bataclan to listen and judge 48 bands ! Haaaaaaard ! But really funny and really interesting !

Some bands were incredibly good and others really really bad. I mean, when the singer can't sing or the musicians play, you wonder how the band did to be in finals !!!

Anyway, I discovered some very good bands and I'm still checking the names on Facebook, sending short emails to say well done for the gigs.
The band who won the final deserved to win because they were good, but was not my favourite !

My favourite band was a trio called Deep Lighter, and they were awesome ! And you know what, they were just kid ! 10 or 11 and already very good ! Maybe not the best because of their age but already awesome !! The guitar player won a price and they won the 6th place ! 6th on 48 ! Very good !

The Saturday night, we ended around 23h, I took a (first) last drink with W., talking about a lot of things, and left him to meet other friends. In fact, the other friends were Benoît and some other of his friends. Their program was watching some of the worst horror movies ever. When I arrived, Jason n°idon'tknow was almost ending.
It was pretty funny !

I went back home around 5AM, the sun was rising, birds singing, I was about going to sleep ! The night was pretty short cuz I woke up with a start around 10 ! That day was the final election, and so, I wanted to have enough time to go to vote, eat and leave.

I went back to the Bataclan for the second day, and had a very nice time, like the day before. I thought it was almost easier the second day.

It ended around 23h, like the first day, and I left around midnight. Looking for a cab, some guys came to me asking me what I thought about this or that band... Honestly, it was hard to answer and I felt really ashamed to say

"I'm really sorry I don't remember cuz I heard 48 bands in 2 days, and now I'm really tired !!"

I finally found a cab and was at home around 1AM.

This time again, the night was short cuz I was about to start the last days before Music Day.

Monday was quiet cuz I chose it !

The last details were check 48h before the band arrived in Versailles.

Or less.

On Tuesday, I went back to the venue, and learned that all the gear was ok. We even had a last minute sponsorship with a music store from Versailles !!

On Wednesday morning, I confirmed all the last details to Alex, Van Susans' manager, and when I thought that Thursday will be more calm than last year, I learned that no. Not at all !!

On Thursday evening, Alex sent me a first email telling me that everything was perfect, he gave me the phone numbers of everybody (Alex couldn't come because of the money) and telling me one of the best jokes ever. I already knew that one of them will arrive by train (because of an exam that morning in London), what I discovered was that another one will come by plane !

And I admit that when I read that I hesitate a little moment :

be nice and go to pick Ed at the airport or be bad and let him come to Versailles all by himself ?

Lose one or two musicians in Paris ?

(as you know, one day, I would love to lose one of the musicians I'm working with, but since my first gig, I always failed ! I don't know if I suck at losing people in Parisian subway or are they really good to follow me... - hey, you try to have fun the way you can when you're supa-stressed because of the gig !)

I finally said to Alex that I'll go to pick Ed at the airport. And said to the guys at the venue, on Thursday morning that because of this last minute trip to Roissy I didn't know when I'll arrive at the venue ! The only thing I could say was that the rest of the band (except Tim-the-bass-player-coming-by-train) would arrive around 14h....

I left on time. Got the train I wanted, the direct RER I wanted, found the terminal. No phone call under the big tunnel in the RER as I usual have. I arrived at the terminal, text from Olly-the-singer (oh yes, after Josh Beech and the Johns where everybody was a John, in Van Susans, you have 3 chances on 6 to be an (H)Olly ! Easy to remember !!). Guess what he said ?

"We're at the venue, what about you ?"

"At the airport !"

Terminal 2E, everything is ok, except one thing. No details about a plane coming from London expected at 13h50 as Alex and Ed said !

WTF ?

I texted Alex to be sure that the 13h50 was Paris time, no answer... Panic cuz the only one plane from London I saw was expected at 14h50 ! Out for a cigarette, checking my phone every second, and text from Ed... Plane cannot park so late ! Don't care about the planethatcannotpark, the good thing is that 13h50 was the right time ! Saved ! We will be on time at the venue !

He finally arrived, and the terrible long journey began.

The RER wasn't a direct one, so, almost 40 minutes to arrive to Denfert-Rochereau, biiiiiiiiiig rain, subway, Montparnasse, and ...

SURPRISE

"because of a human accident, no train during 2 hours, go fuck yourself and find something else !"

WTF ?????!!!!!

Why is there no announcement in the subway and RER ????!!!! Montparnasse is one of the biggest stations in Paris !!

So, we went back to the sub to go to Invalides to have another RER. The good point was that the RER arrived just when we arrived on the plateform ! 25 minutes later, we were finally in Versailles !

Plane landed around 14h00, first RER around 14h30, arrived around 17h00. Usual when everything is ok, you need a little bit more than an hour to go from Roissy to Versailles !

Another good thing was that there was no more rain in Versailles when we arrived ! So we were able to walk to the venue !

At the venue, the guys told me that there were risk of big storms, and so, the outside gigs may be cancelled... Wow ! Welcome to France Van Susans !!

Anyway.

I finally met the rest of the band (still except Tim, who, at this moment was somewhere in the subway or train), they did their soundcheck and... phone call from Tim. Of course, no reception inside the venue. The time to go out, it was too late, I called back, answering machine. Tried a second time, answering machine... I finally left to the station, and 5 minutes before arriving, another phone call, unknown French number, Tim borrowed a mobile to tell me he was arrived. Cool !

Reasons why I only had the answering machine ? No more battery ! Of course !

Anyway, he found his way without a problem, 10 minutes later the band was finally complete. At 18h00 !

They took a minute to have a shower, get dressed, and we left for the outside gig. The storm finally stopped outside Versailles ! No more risk for us !!

This year, the stages were ready on time ! The band had to be there at 19h00 for soundcheck at 19h30 for a gig at 20h00. Perfect ! We arrived at 19h, they disappeared at 19h15, re-appeared at 19h35, soundcheck, and gig at 20h01 !

The place was full. And, the band was surprised ! I think I was the only one to know the songs, but, everybody enjoyed the show. After maybe one song, they won 10 new groupies !

After the show, they gave some free CDs, and Rob had fun offering his drum sticks ...

First gig and already superstars.

I don't know how many autographs they signed, but it was fun, and at this moment, I felt the pressure leaving me !!

We left the spot to go back to the venue. Unfortunately, because of the beautiful weather, people preferred staying outside, so there was less people, but different people, and I think they all enjoyed the show.

The second playlist was longer, and the second gig as good as the first one. The sound was awesome. I had a very good time.

I don't think they knew exactly what kind of gig they will play, and I think they were really surprised and enjoyed it a lot ! We had a sweet dinner and left at the very last moment for a last drink at Le Montbauron, before going back home and bed around 2AM.

As every year, June 21st was too short, even if it's the longest day of the year ! They woke up around 11AM, left for a short time at Versailles' market, lunch, and after that, it was time to leave.

The venue was really happy to have Van Susans for Music Day 2012, and the band was really happy to play this first French gigs. I don't know yet when the next gig will be, but I hope it will be soon cuz the music is awesome, and the band members are all sooo sweet !
It was a pleasure to work with them, easy cuz Alex always answered to my emails quickly, I knew what the band could provide, he knew what I could provide too, the musicians have my number and were able to call me if needed, they talked to everybody, tried jokes, tried to speak French, everything was perfect and so, easy. Love when gigs are easy like that !!

LIVE @ PLACE DU MARCHE NOTRE DAME (Versailles - 78)
(c) Flore Dutronc