Jay Reatard at La Maroquinerie

Brendan Siebel writing for Vingt Paris photo by redheadwalking

Fresh on the heels of his American/Canadian package tour Jay Reatard is set to launch a twenty-date European tour in Paris this Wednesday, 28th October ,in support of his sophomore album, "Watch Me Fall" (Matador Records,2009). It's a rare opportunity for continentals to catch the rising star of punk rock's most prolific chameleon as he guns it full throttle deep into an overdriven indie-pop nebula.

The past few years have seen a transformation taking place for this Memphis-based former enfant terrible. Originally known for his adenoidal vocals as well as a blood, guts and booze stage persona, Reatard has been shedding both his desensitized aural assault and his rich legacy of drunken, violent antics. In just thirty years on this planet Reatard has burned through the cathartic garage chaos of The Reatards, the bleak synth noise of The Lost Sounds, and the jagged jangle of Angry Angles, among a numerous cast of lesser-known acts.  Amidst the wreckage of projects past he has retained the various essences of music's sub-genres, distilling them into a ragged but tuneful solo debut, "Blood Visions" (In the Red Records, 2024).

A flurry of press attention, bolstered by appearances at two successive South By Southwests, helped to propel Reatard from the grimiest, rat-infested punk trenches into the college radio consciousness. A collection of singles released on In the Red, followed by another compilation on Matador, and supported by near ceaseless touring has coalesced into a fervent fan-base circumnavigating the globe.

Despite the occasional acoustic guitars and melodic keyboard lines there is no doubting Reatard and company will step onto the stage primed, ready to floor everyone within earshot. His nightmarish songs
still have plenty of bite and bile buried beneath the gloss, and while it's unlikely Reatard will be found smashing bottles or in a fist-fight, there's no hope that he's gone soft. Just ask his former band mates, who exited in the middle of his most recent U.S. tour only to be replaced by the rhythm section from Danish punks The Cola Freaks.

La Maroquinerie

23 Rue Boyer

Paris 20

8pm Cost: 19 euros

Comments

[susie]

this concert was sadly cancelled. refunds are available at points of sale. The reason? Dear Jay wanted to play at 110DB but the legal limit in France is 105DB. Quel con.