THE DOORS OF THE 21st CENTURY
Palais des Congrès Paris, France
July 15, 2004
Reviewed by Frédéric Régent
The Palais des Congrès is a middle-sized, entirely seated venue which belongs to the Parisian Chamber of Commerce and usually gathers fashion shows or business fairs. Concerts are rather rare in this arena, and rock concerts even more. When I learned the D21C were planned to play there for another French gig, I was kind of upset: this site always had a bad reputation, because of its audience and its acoustics, but we already know that D21C fans are not the same kind of people which go there to see Charles Aznavour, Mireille Mathieu, James Brown or Ray Charles (R.I.P., brother)
It was my third D21C concert in Paris: I had seen them in December 2003 in La Scène – for Jim’s Birthday – and Le Zénith the day after. Both concerts were absolutely magic and I didn’t expect something better from Ray, Robby, Ian and their rhythm section and I was even surprised to see them coming back just a few months after these triumphant shows in the City Of Lights. And actually, I was happy to see that this show was of the same quality than both previous ones and, moreover, had something really special and different to offer.
The show began at 9 PM. Audience members didn’t stay in their seats really long: personally, I ran directly from the 20th row to the 3rd during the first number, “Roadhouse Blues”. Everything that had so pleased me in La Scène and Le Zénith was there: Ian’s charisma and voice, Ray’s magic fingers on the keys, Robby’s wonderful guitar playing (his usual flamenco solo before “Spanish Caravan”)…
“Break On Through” followed almost directly: Ian wore his black leather jacket during the whole concert and had shades on for the first numbers, Robby had funny sport shoes and Ray was soberly dressed, with black t-shirt and jeans. He dedicated “Five To One” to G.W. Bush, telling about the November election in the U.S. and his hopes for a “successful result”.
“Love Me Two Times” and “When The Music’s Over” were better than in Le Zénith, because Ian didn’t mess up the lyrics and the overall rendition was simply great. “Alabama Song” and “Back Door Man” were perfect and this time, Ian made no wrong comment about the originator of “Back Door Man” (Willie Dixon, and not Robert Johnson, Ian!).
“Not To Touch The Earth” was the first of a sterling “newcomers”-series (newcomers for the French audience) in the set-list: “The Unknown Soldier”, “Take It As It Comes”, “21st Century Fox”, “Peace Frog” and “Touch Me”. Ian is really more than confident with every number and as a frontman and a vocalist, he does an absolutely wonderful job helping Ray and Robby reliving the Doors catalogue, something I had never expected to hear live with original members of the band and a real lead singer in my life just until a few months ago.
As a long-time Doors fan, I can only thank Robby and Ray, who really made the right decision and chose the right guy on the mike. Never forget that songs must live, and on stage, of course. The Parisians who were at both December 2003 shows and this one had everything they could expect: a small venue with a wonderful intimacy and an incredible atmosphere (La Scène), a 3-hour show in a giant arena, where the entire “L.A. Woman”-album was played (Le Zénith), and this other fabulous show, with its very clever selection of songs, except “(No Me Moleste) Mosquito”, a song I always loathed: I’d rather had heard Ray singing “Louie, Louie” than Robby this tune: sorry, guys, but there are certainly many other people who share my opinion.
“L.A. Woman” and “Riders On The Storm” brought everyone into tears and the last encore, “Light My Fire”, was the only one they could possibly do. As for every D21C concert, the audience was completely receptive and enthusiastic – I dunno if so many joints had been smoked in this arena in its entire history than in this evening! It was very cool to hear Ian saying us “Paris, je t’adore!” or “écoutez (listen)!”: he didn’t forget the long French tours he had made with The Cult in the 80’s and 90’s.
After the show, I met Phil Chen and Ty Dennis in the lobby of the Hôtel Le Méridien, which is just in front of the Palais des Congrès and where the band stayed for the night. Phil told me he had been hired for the European tours because of Angelo Barbera’s fear of travelling (yes!) and Ty was very pleased of my compliments about his drumming – after all, it’s not easy everyday to fill Jim Morrison’s shoes, but it’s not easier to sit on John Densmore’s stool.
Merci, guys. Thanks for all.
(thanks, Frédéric)
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