The ever-indefatigable Bob and myself are working on a Theatre Menu/Section of the site, which, once complete, will have details and photographs of Reality Chokes - the play I acted in throughout the recent Edinburgh Festival. Apart from becoming re-acquainted with theatrical stagecraft - and sharing the stage every night with some very fab actors - the play generated some decent press/reviews, most notably in the (August 21st 2009 edition of) The Edinburgh Evening News. This was aided by the fact that the play was co-written by Chris Jury (best known to millions of TV viewers as Eric Catchpole in Lovejoy) and
Directed by Dave Schaal of The Inbetweeners.
The latter unsurprisingly, ensured that a fair bit of time was spent fending off spotty, young teenagers, who were besotted, bemused and beside themselves at the recognition of one of their heroes...
So once the aforementioned section of the site is up and running, much of the above, and a whole lot more besides, will be made available.
Prior to travelling to Edinburgh, we performed a dress rehearsal at Kink along the Caledonian Road in London, where we rehearsed throughout much of July. And I have to say; North London has changed considerably since I lived there. Hoodies do indeed patrol the streets, which, once the sun goes down, evolve into a veritable battlefield. Throughout the day, a switchblade atmosphere of angst and anxiety descends, like an altogether sickening fog. Having lived in New York, I have to confess to being somewhat saddened, and taken aback to witness such profound violence and desperation.
Throughout the final week of the Edinburgh Festival, I also played a number of solo gigs, during which I played a number of new songs: ‘Blood Orange,’ ‘Her Laughter Was Submarine’ and ‘Kissing On Empty.’ Twas good to see a few familiar faces in the audience, as the duration of each gig got increasingly longer as the days went by.
By the end, I was playing for as long as I liked!
Since my return to France, I’ve been catching up with normality, writing, and of course, playing gigs.
The last two included The Saxo in Rouen and L’Entracte in Dieppe, both of which have since been reviewed below.
My next gig will be at the much bigger venue in Dieppe, The Rade, on November 21st.
I recently re-watched the inexorably fantastic La Haine. Inspired by cinematic classics including Mean Streets, Do The Right Thing and The Battle of Algiers, Mathieu Kassovitz’s La Haine is arguably the most incendiary, provocative and prescient film to have emerged in the last fifteen or so years. Also just watched Clint Eastwood’s excellent Letters From Iwo Jima (which Film Review 2007 hailed as a ‘’modern day masterpiece’’), and am looking forward to catching up with The Sopranos (again) – which, as surely everyone in their right mind already knows, remains vital, imperative and contagious viewing.
November 24th sees the release of the new live Tom Waits album, which, to say I’m excited about, is a severe and rather sad understatement. As for reading, I’m currently reviewing: Magical Mystery Tours – My Life With The Beatles by Tony Bramwell, The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare and Popular Culture, When The Lights Go Out – Britain in the Seventies by Andy Beckett, and have just finished Nick Cave’s altogether intrinsic The Death of Bunny Munro.
Hope life’s treating you well. In the meantime, any thoughts on any of the above (or anything else for that matter), do drop me a line…
Adios.
DM
November 2009.
David Marx
Le Saxo, Rouen
Saturday 10th October
David Marx performing at Le Saxo Club (Rouen), the other week ,was sheer genius!
I haven't enjoyed a solo artist so much in a long time.
If that guy wasn't born with a guitar over his shoulder, then bears don't shit in the proverbial!!!
Over the heads and voices of the 'usual' Saturday crowd in Le Saxo,(who leave the live music to become just a back drop to their weekend banter), David actually got some migration from the pub, to the stage area.
They were well rewarded with a mix of uptempo (kinda Dexy feel good songs) and some outstanding poignant, goose-pimply slow stuff, that falls out of any catergory that we know today in the current music market.
'Ten Rembrandts,' 'Tenderness Kills,' 'Tomahawk Junky,' and a great cover of Richard Thompson's 'Feel So Good' ….....some of the titles I remember.
I am waiting for his return to Rouen, so in the mean time I will be playing his album,'Jesus was a Socialist' to fill the void!!
Keep the vibe,
The Limey in Rouen
David Marx
L'Entracte, Dieppe
Saturday 17th October
Just had to mention the fantastic evening I spent in the L'Entracte pub, Dieppe this last weekend!
Adverts were up about David Marx playing on the Saturday night, so my friends and I thought it would be great to hear some live music to finish off our 4day stay there....
.Phew..that man rocks!!!
What a vivacious, charismatic, musician.
He had the pub dancing and singing despite the language barrier!
As well as some covers (which I imagine you have to play once in a while) I think 60% was original stuff.
Plenty of upbeat , toe-tapping melodies, but my particular favourites were the slower, intricate numbers. I don't know how anyone can make an accoustic guitar and one voice draw you in like that!
I can't quite liken him to anyone else......UNIQUE sound
If you get the chance to see him go,go,go!
Melanie Grant
Southampton
