Joseph will play at the Paleo Festival in Nyon, Switzerland on Sunday 23rd July.
It's been years and years that I waited for Joseph to come and play at this festival. No need to say I'm more than happy

First 2006 date in Europe!!! ... ... I mean the REAL Europe. (Sorry, my British friends, that's of course just my envy talking.)

Artist information for Joseph posted on the Paleo Festival website

JOSEPH ARTHUR (United States)
Rock
sunday 23 july 2006

Biography
Spotted by Peter Gabriel in 1997, Joseph Arthur immigrated to Britain for the time it took to record his first album on the prestigious Real World label. After three years of trials and tribulations, this tall and elegant dandy found himself launched on to the international rock scene. His trademark? Doing the musical splits between traditional American folk, country and blues on the one hand and some avant-garde electronic experiments on the other. There’s something of a Leonard Cohen or a Tom Waits about the rasping minimalist vocals, but with an electronic filter. Some intimate and deliciously painful songs in store.

(sorry, I chose to post the English version, but it's also available in French and German on the festival website!)

Couleur3, a swiss radio, broadcast their programs live from the Paleo Festival from 4pm (GMT+1).
I don't know if they broadcast the gigs but anyway Joseph is announced for an interview in the afternoon.
There's an archives section so we could maybe find the interview later, but I hope someone could record it live.

The Paleo website has also pictures and videos from some performances. Hopefully we could find some Joseph stuff tomorrow.

A caricature of Joseph by Pal Degome at Paleo

-> TRONCHE DE ROCK : JOSEPH ARTHUR <-


[Edited to fix broken link]

Behind the scenes interview with Joseph

Joseph Arthur



Photo : Blaise Hofmann

Poète des âmes perdues, auteur-compositeur-interprète-producteur-peintre, Joseph Arthur vit sur une autre planète, ne connaît aucune groupe de l’affiche de ce dimanche, aurait voulu voir Tracy Chapman, qu'il admire et dont il a déjà fait la première partie. Avant les concerts, il fait du yoga ou boit un verre de rouge. Après, il profite et se balade. Repéré en 1996 par Lou Reed et Peter Gabriel, réputé pour ses lives très impressionnants, il est connu comme le premier utilisateur de l'oversampling (utilisation et superposition de boucles sonores pour construire un morceau). Peu connu, notamment à cause d'une promo inexistante et d'un soutien timide, le succès commercial n'est pas au rendez vous, mais les initiés savent qu'ils tiennent là un vrai génie, un des derniers géants de la musique folk. Un succès confidentiel à découvrir.

Si vous étiez…
…une personnalité de l’histoire ? Benjamin Franklin.
…un festival ? Benicàssim. C'est un festival incroyable. L'ambiance y est particulière. Ca doit être à cause du mode de vie espagnol.
… une drogue ? L’amour.
…une ville ? Paris. C'est peut-être la ville européenne qui ressemble le plus à New York, au niveau du "feeling". Je vis à Brooklyn...
…un autre songwritter ? Hank Williams.
…Georges W. Bush ? Je me tirerais une balle dans la tête...

Photos from Joseph's concert @ Paleo

http://www.paleo.ch/interactive/detail/ ... &year=2006

The first photo is cool and look no shoes!
Looking forward to the reports of the concert from those on the ground!!

Here is the review from the ground

First, of course, the setlist :

Mercedes
She paints me gold
Can't exist
A smile that explodes
Prison
Birthday card
Innocent world
History
Honey and the moon
Exhausted
Leave us alone
All of our hands
In the sun
Toxic angel

Joseph was in a really good mood, smiling a lot and the "I love you" were raining down to the audience all night long as never. That was good to hear.
Joseph came on stage with his white suit and black sunglasses and this pair of plastic shoes you can see on the photo above
The beginning of the show was a little difficult with a few mistakes, nothing serious though. Joseph hadn't played a show for a while, that's certainly why. And also reminds us that on stage Joseph is just like an acrobat.
Joseph opened the gig with Mercedes. Despite the 35°C or so, I must say I got thrills in my back during the song. Just great.
For the solo of She Paints Me Gold, Joseph came in the very front of the stage and took exposures for the photographs, just like a dandy parade. It was funny to see the photographs all ran at the same point to take their pictures just like pigeons around of bread crumbs. Then Joseph threw away the shoes and finished the gig barefoot.
Can't Exist received a great reception with people clapping down. Joe finally took off the glasses.
After Birthday Card, Joe said that he forgot his shoes and his setlist and then asked for any suggestions. Exhausted & In The Sun were yelled but JA prefered to play Innocent World and History. He played then Honey & the Moon as a request. Joe took off his jacket; on his t-shirt was an eagle taking flight with a big heart in his talons.
After In the Sun Joe came back for an encore and played Toxic Angel. He finished the song, and also the gig, by sampling him singing 'I love you, I really really do'. Magic !

PS : I recorded the show on a minidisc. I will share it later today

Photos from the interview at Couleur3 :

Video extract from the concert available now

See Joseph play 'Mercedes' @ Paleo ....

Paleo 2006 :: Joseph Arthur (ETATS-UNIS)
Durée : env. 6 min
[Le visionnement de ce concert reste accessible jusqu'au 31 Décembre 2006.]
http://www.paleo.ch/interactive/extrait ... e=20060723



Thanks Xavier, for the review, setlist, music and artworks - you are a star! It does look and sound magic!

Great review, Xavier, thanks! So true about the acrobat (it must be all the Yoga!) and very funny about the photographer

Thanks to Helen for excavating all the Swiss goodies Great video!

46 pictures here :

http://www.swiss-riviera.com/postcards/ ... sepharthur

awesome!!

Great find!