Nouvelle Vague live in Athens November 2009

The current situation, being what it is, does not allow for live gigs. Still, some artists aren't short of ideas and this is what two members of Nouvelle Vague did a few days ago because they couldn't come to Thessaloniki, Greece, for an appearance at the Demetria festival. They streamed an acoustic performance from a sauna! Back in 2009 though, they had come to Athens and it was the second time that I went to see them. Once again, it was at the same place, Gagarin and they still had a male singer, along with the two female ones.

The opening act was Olga Kouklaki, herself an established artist in the field of electronic music in France, even though she is Greek. I had heard of her a while back but this was the first time that I saw her live.

Nouvelle Vague were, once again, amazing. Remember it was only the second time I had seen them live and I was very excited to listen to all those songs from my childhood, in a bossa nova arrangement.

 

Even when I think about it now, what was on that night's menu was amazing. Covers of songs by The Sex Pistols, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Blondie, Joy Division and The Specials among others. Probably, the best Nouvelle Vague gig I have ever been to.

Christmas with Nouvelle Vague

Christmas eve. That time of the year most people want to spend at home with friends or at another friend's house. Or maybe out having an expensive(ish) dinner... We decided to spend our Christmas eve with Nouvelle Vague. In a way, this was also a night out with friends. But who are these friends? First of all the songs. Old friends from the late 70's and early 80's with who we grew up with. But also Nouvelle Vague themselves, who've been playing live in Greece every year for the last 10 years as they admitted during the gig. (I have actually seen them 5 times: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and this time, 2014. Once every two years and this time it was the first that I saw them sooner and also the first on an even-numbered year!).

There was no support band, instead there was a DJ set by Greek radio DJ Liana Mastathi. This sounded promising, but because of the low volume, its duration and (some people say) bad choice of songs, the audience soon grew tired of it.

We forgot all about that though, when Nouvelle Vague came on stage. They started with what is considered a rarity for them, "One Hundred Years" (originally by The Cure). But afterwards all the favourites were there, some in different versions: "Master And Servant", "Dancing With Myself", "The Guns Of Brixton", "Just Can't Get Enough", "Friday Night Saturday Morning", Too Drunk To F*ck" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart".

Then they came back with an encore. After "Escape Myself" we all took a selfie together

After that there was a very pleasant surprise with "Mala Vida" and the moment we've all been waiting for: "In A Manner Of Speaking"

Finally, it all ended with "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" and we all scattered into the Athens Christmas night, having enjoyed our best Christmas party ever!

Oh, and while were leaving we happened to glance at one of the walls of the venue and got an idea of which gig we would be attending in the new year...

SETLIST:
01. One Hundred Years (The Cure cover)
02. Master and Servant (Depeche Mode cover)
03. Dancing With Myself (Generation X cover)
04. Ever Fallen in Love (Buzzcocks cover)
05. Metal (Gary Numan cover)
06. The Guns of Brixton (The Clash cover)
07. Human Fly (The Cramps cover)
08. Blue Monday (New Order cover)
09. Putain Putain (T.C. Matic cover)
10. Just Can't Get Enough (Depeche Mode cover)
11. Dance With Me (The Lords of the New Church cover)
12. Bela Lugosi's Dead (Bauhaus cover)
13. Friday Night Saturday Morning (The Specials cover)
14. Blister in the Sun (Violent Femmes cover)
15. Too Drunk To Fuck (Dead Kennedys cover)
16. Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover)

Encore:
17. Escape Myself (The Sound cover)
18. Mala Vida (Mano Negra cover)
19. In A Manner Of Speaking (Tuxedomoon cover)
20. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Eurythmics cover)

September means Nouvelle Vague

This was the title of an article in a newspaper. And that was because they usually visits Greece every other September. I have now seen them 4 times: In 2007, in 2009 in 2011 and in 2013. That's every two years. Mind you, only 2011 and 2013 were in September. 2007 was in December and 2009 it was in November. And only 2011 and 2013 were in an oprn air venue. I read an aeicle about them on a Sunday paper supplement and I was intrigued. You see, Nouvelle Vague (which means "new wave" in French) cover new wave songs from the 70's and 80's in bossa nova style (which means "new wave" in PORTuguese). Here are a few examples: "Heart Of Glass" by Blondie, "God Save The Queen" by The Sex Pistols, "Just Can't Get Enough" by Depeche Mode, "Don't Go" by Yazoo, "Friday Night Saturday Morning" by The Specials, "Guns Of Brixton" by The Clash, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division, "Blue Monday" by New Order, "Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This" by The Eurythmics among others. They released 2 albums in that style. On the 3rd they collaborated with the original artists whose songs they covered. And on the 4th they covered French pop songs from that same era. And they say they choose their singers among people who have never hears the original versions.

I liked what I saw that first night at Gagarin Music Space in 2007 so I went to see them again, 2 years later at the same venue.

With an extra singer this time and an even better performance.

Once again I saw them in Athens at Technopolis, an open air venue this time.

Apparently they have fans from all age groups.

On the 2009 and 2011 concerts they were supported by Greek electro artist Olga Kouklaki who is well-known in France.

One of the Nouvelle Vague singers actually sang on her set in 2011 and she returned the favour by getting up on stage το sing Blue Monday with them.

And so, they were back, on the same venue in September 2013, this time supported by Opera Chaotique.

 

 

And, even though she was not supporting them this time, Olga Kouklaki did come up on stage and sang one of her songs with them