Untitled Document

CHARMONT FESTIVAL 2008
( SPIRIT OF SEVENTIES ROCK )

Set this year around the mid-April, the fifth Festival of Charmont kept truly all its promises. We couldn't detect any fault, neither in the quality of the shows, nor the organizing or the public. We logicaly have to raise very high our hat to Hervé and all the still very devoted MJC's people, and also to Alan (from Plug'n Play) and some other guys, struggling without stint during several monthes, in order to let this Festival be a supertime of rock and friendship. We can therefore affirm that 2008 will undeniably a very good vintage in the Festival's Records.

( MANU - NATCHEZ )

It began something after 7 p.m., as Natchez had the heavy task to open the hostilities. We have to greet this initiative et the sincerity and the great respect towards the organizers: it's not easy to begin the show.
The experience and the good mind of the Aesbach Brothers' Band is not utopian: Natchez let the first chords sound in the Charmont's walls with a real class. The public, hardly warm at that moment, didn't take so much time to support the Indians, proving that the french Rock-set respects very much Natchez. For the occasion, the band confered us a very good show, alternating original songs like "Tais toi", "Coude sur le Bar","Canicule Boogie", "Pêche d’enfer", "Bad Boy" or the magnificent "Looking out the window", and selected covers, of whitch Blackfoot's "Railroad man" is undeniebly one of its best successes. A well-deserved curtain-call with "Paradis avec toi" and "Pas facile", and Natchez leaved the stage, happy and with the feeling of accomplished duty. They got only a little disappointment: they'd like to present their new production, I'd like of course to talk about the DVD. We got some glimpses on a monitor in the marchandising stand, and the general opinion was that it's
a very good Natchez, we only have to wait patiently 2 or 3 weeks !

( CHRISTOPHE MARQUILLY )

Second character of this festival (and not least), Monsieur Christophe Marquilly. And the less we can do is to emphasize the point that the "Monsieur" is deserved. It's incredible how this guy never let someone indifferent, neither in the public nor in the musicians. Christophe surely inspires a downright respect. Certainly, the Stocks story has something to do about it, but for a lot of people, the character exhales a true sincerity, making him very engaging. From the first "Strat's"chords, we immediatly understand why the Monsieur keeps an intact notoriety beside the Seventies Blues-Rock fans in France: Chris exhales really something, in his attitude as in his expression. He's got such a charism that we just can call it « La Classe ». His show let us travel through the generations, alternating the Stocks years ("ça m’fait tout drôle", "Où tu cours", "J’t’attendais pas", "Se faire la belle", "Flashback", "Cole Younger", etc…) and the more recent feelings like "Pour que tu reviennes" or "Ne me retiens pas". He also delivered us a splendid moment with a "Rêve d’Irlande" dedicated to Rory Gallagher, and the set ended with the inevitable "Suzy" sung in chorus by a conquered public, huming during a long time after the last chord this famous refrain: "Rendez vous… à minuit... au bistrot de Suzy". It was really nice for all the people, thanks again to Christophe Marquilly to be essential to the Blues Rock in France !

( ALAN and CHRISTOPHE - PLUG'N PLAY )

We just had the time to recover our minds, discussing around a good ale with friends coming from all over
the country, and yet Plug'n Play sounds the charge, shit!… I speed and even turn my beer topsy-turvy (sacrilege !)… They also seem to have very rigorously prepared the event and surprise some people by giving priority to new titles, that could be likely on a next record. "I forgot the map" (that I'm discovering) transpires careful Rock'n Roll and augurs well for the next album. They link up with "You have lost the Queen", another new composition where the axes' sound is truly an essential Plug'n Play component. Other recent songs like "Ready for the Bounce" or "I ain’t gonna follow you" were specially appreciated, and confirmed so the big work that the band undertake on the vocals since Fred returned in the band as lead singer! Plug'n Play gave us another big and good surprise when they called back Christophe Marquilly for a fabulous and emotionnal
"Je vais craquer" with three axes. This good show ended with the inevitable and catchy "Last Boogie",
confering Plug'n Play upon a remarkable show!

( GL BAND )

It fell to the GL Band to conclude this good evening and that was made in an as much remarkable way.
From the beginning, le parisian band set the power on, and in a big and hot ambiance we could appreciate
this very good Rock'n Roll band, picking its influences between Blues Rock and Rhythm & Blues, the whole
thing well scattered with some Southern Rock accents!
Mainly led by the founder members, Pat Llaberia lead vocals (perfect crossing between Peter Wolf
(J. Geils Band) and Mick Jagger) and of course the irremovable and indestructible Fred Guillemet we don't dare to present anymore, with such a visiting card (Warning, Face to Face, Boxer, Trust, Shakin' Street, etc…),
GL Band gave us a perfect show with a great-quality set-list mainly picked in its excellent album
"Rock'n Roll Teacher, and with songs (among other titles) like "Another dose", "Everybody", "Down by the river side", "Richmond Richman" and of course the very good "Rock'n Roll Teacher", the GL Band quickly won the game. And that's with a final "Honky Tonk Women" that all the musicians that played this evening met again
on stage and conclude this friendly evening. For our part, we had only to wish us a next festival as successful in 2009, but here, we can trust the organizers !

John Molet (translate in english by Yves Philippot)

MJC : Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture (Culture and Young People's House)

( ALAN - PLUG'N PLAY )

( ALAN et FRED - PLUG'N PLAY )

( CHRISTOPHE MARQUILLY and PLUG'N PLAY )

( FRED - PLUG'N PLAY )

( FRED GUILLEMET leader du GL BAND à la basse )

( NATCHEZ )