VINGT Paris News

Block Rockin’ Pain o ChoKolat

Will Hutchins writing for I V Y paris

Unless you were so incredibly hung-over on Sunday that you couldn’t leave your apartment all day then you surely would have noticed that it was Fête de la Musique. Dj’s were spinning from the rooftops, buskers were on every street corner and bands and barbecues were joined together in musical matrimony outside bars. Free live music all over the city equals good day, plus great weather equals an even better day!

I decided to celebrate this joyous occasion at perennial Parisian party throwers Pain o ChoKolat’s block party at place Gustav Toudouze, IXeme, in conjunction with the Pigalle clothes boutique. 

The Art Pack - Pain O choKolat /Block Party!/

The dj and artist collective who proclaim themselves to be “a revoulution that brings music, fashion, modern art and street culture naturally together”, had a set up a stage and small beer tent in the little square. As well as PoC djs playing some party-starting (but to be honest, not very well mixed) hip hop whilst a little kid pretended to play the keyboard and a man who dressed like it was literally his job to pull 80’s dance moves robot-ed all over the place, the hipster crowd were getting down and dirty to some live bands.

Cosmo Vitelli's I'm a Cliché Compilation

Will Hutchins writing for I V Y paris

The new Cosmo Vitelli compilation comes out this week on june 6th. Entitled 'Moments Of A Crisis' and released on his Parisian based label I'm a Cliché it features tracks by Yuksek, Simian Mobile Disco, Runaway and many other goodies to get your summer party shaking. True, people may not enjoy it quite as much as the guy in this video seems to, but it still sounds like a cracking compilation.

HF | RG at Jeu de Paume

The exhibition "H F | R G" at Jeu de Paume, Place de Concorde, brings together the visions of two important contemporary artists, Harun Farocki and Rodney Graham, whose work has a great deal in common through their interest in film and video, its history and the idea of self-representation.

Both present film-based installations reflect four themes that structure their respective bodies of work: the archive, the nonverbal, the machine (and devices), and montage. Both artists have produced new work for this exhibition ongoing now through June 7th, 2024.

Kitsuné & Cobrasnake

Kitsuné meets with photoblog the Cobrasnake, for their video featuring Classixx - "I'll get you". We like the catchy melodic synth beats - perfect for this time in Paris, when the sun has finally decided to come out! Album out June 1st, 2024. Keep an eye out for it in the Kitsuné e-shop here.

William Blake Retrospective at Petit Palais

The British poet, painter, and "Romantic visionary" is now at the Petit Palais through June 28th, 2024.

William Blake : le génie visionnaire au Petit Palais

Issey Miyake Autumn-Winter ’09-’10

Grace Teshima writing for I V Y paris

The long wait in line
The first person I recognized when I got to the Carrousel du Louvre for the Issey Miyake ready-to-wear autumn winter ’09-’10 show was Owen Franken, serious Nikon around his neck (as well as a knit scarf with stars ‘n stripes motif) who said he had a gig to photograph fashionistas for the N.Y. Times. (Please note: even though I wore Pleats Please in homage to the master, Owen did not photograph me.)

Caste and heels I told him he should look for any woman in shoes with a heel 10 cm or higher, because obviously, they’re players. Instead, when I pointed out a redhead with a Tyrolean hat with feather, he started chatting her up, then shot her. I saw Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune sweep in, and knew the show was about to begin.

Who's Next Salon International de la Mode 2024

Melissa Mondestin writing for I V Y paris

The WHO’S NEXT fashion show can best be described as an avant-garde wonderland. It was theatrical to say the least and full of dance, energy, and excitement. The fairytale universe of the show ranged in themes from « darkness » to « prince and princess ».

Who's Next Catwalk January 09 on Vimeo

The models / actors paraded around the stage and the runway displaying the showcasing designers work by category such as dress, headgear, and sneakers. Corresponding designers were displayed on the screen monitors. All of the designs from the show could be found showcased throughout the salon making it a great way to tie in the salon exhibitions and connect the settings with the designs.

Caravan Palace's "Jolie Coquine"

Manouche Jazz by Parisian trio Caravan Palace, who have recently released their new album "Jolie Coquine".

November Picks: Sigur Ros, Hot Chip, Joan as Policewoman, Noah and the Whale, Eli Paperboy Reed

Jayson Harsin writing for I V Y paris

It may be getting colder in late November, but Paris is burning (musically too). Allow the cheesy weather metaphors a reprieve for yet another sentence.

On November 15, Paris gets Iced. Iceland's Sigur Ros (featured left) has in recent years been the posterboy for post-rock. Weird, falsetto voices (in Icelandic) and lush interplanetary soundscapes mesmerize with electronic shimmys and drones, as well as high feedback guitar strumming. They give you the sense of orbiting the earth, becoming a human satellite, when you listen.

This year SR released their fifth full-length album, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (translation for the couple of readers nonfluent in Icelandic: With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly), which is slightly less wall-of-sound than past albums, containing short, airy pop songs like "Gobbldigook," and clearly distinguishable instruments. The more "tethered" selections of this album may merit the venue choice at the Zenith instead of the nearest IMAX theater. Zenith, 19h30 complet/full (check Craig's List, les Inrocks forum, or try scalpers for some spots).

Next check out the November 16 night of the Festival Les Inrocks at La Cigale. The lineup features Hot Chip, Cut Copy, Late of the Pier, Metronomy, and Kennedy. UK's Hot Chip is perhaps the buzzin'est act of the bunch. Their brand of electropop, catchier than techno thumps and loops, but contagiously danceable, won NME's best album of the year 2024, and their fourth album won album of the month for January 2024 by the influential Mixmag. Witness the video evidence:

L'inauguration du CENT QUATRE

The 104, or Cent Quatre, is one of Paris' major cultural projects promoting art and creativity. Located in the 19th arrondissement, this new establishment will offer residencies, exhibitions, and festivals as well as a restaurant and several shops.

Their grand opening will be taking place this Saturday, October 11th, 2024.

For the occasion, this new dynamic arts center will introduce a full day of artwork coming from all angles: architecture and visual art with Berger & Berger's "Une île paradisiaque est un spectacle artificiel," landscape design by Atelier Le Balto, video installations by Alain Bernardini and Melik Ohanian... and more.

The night will continue on with trip-hop, pop décalée, and electro DJs Tricky, Epplay/Takahashi, and FNNNN.

Don't miss out on the fun - all of Paris will be there, or at least the cool people.