Eels, badly licked bear become tender in concert at the Olympia

"At the moment, we need to be kind to each other, right? " Antistar of rock, depressive tongue-in-cheek, Mark Oliver Everett, sensitive leader, corrosive and bearded group Eels intends to give a little comfort to people, Monday in concert at the Olympia.

It's been 25 years since this figure major American alternative scene drag his blues, it can sound wildly electric or on the contrary tinkle like a nursery rhyme, with the same melodic strength and the same emotional power.

His last album, released in the spring, s' entitled "The Deconstruction". That the fans of Eels and the followers of Jacques Derrida do not worry too much: Everett did not push the concept as far as the French philosopher.

But for one who has spent most of his life rebuilding himself emotionally in songs after the many personal dramas that touched him, the process deserves explanation.

"Sometimes we think we know how we should be especially by dint of doing it like me … But we end up taking the wrong path or we do it badly Then deconstruction is necessary Analyzing things differently, reviewing the order of things is just as beneficial That's what I did, "he says.

The life of the one nicknamed E is haunted by death. That of his father first, the renowned physicist Hugh Everett, whose unconscious body he discovered at age 19. Those of her sister Elizabeth, who committed suicide in 1996, and of her mother Nancy, who was defeated by cancer two years later.

In 2001, her cousin Jennifer was in one of the hijacked 9/11 planes that crashed into the Pentagon , where his father once had an office.

These dramas, and to a lesser degree the lost loves, shaped the work of Eels which counts for pearls "Beautiful Freak" (1996), "Electro-Shock Blues" (1998), "Daisies of the Galaxy" (2000), "Blinking Lights and Other Revelations" (2005).

– Compbadion and Forbearance –

With, in essence, this story exposed in his first hit "Novocaine for the Soul" recurring: "life is hard, crappy, but we'll do with it, it'll be okay"

"The Deconstruction" is the most optimistic and warm album of its author, who had put his career on hold for four years. "I needed to rest mentally and physically, during that time, I got married, I had my first child, I … divorced, and in the meantime, Bobby Jr died." [19659003] Bobby Jr was the dog of Mark Oliver Everett, his faithful companion for 14 years, becoming the emblem of Eels.

"Losing your pet can be worse than losing your parents, but I've prepared myself, I knew it would be a horrible day, and the animals are appalling that they live just long enough for you. heartbreak when they leave. "

But once again at Mark Oliver Everett, life has taken over. This time with the birth of his son.

"I recorded the record when I learned that I was going to be a dad, and that obviously had an impact on my writing. his birth that my life has really changed, all the clichés we hear about being a parent are true! ", he laughs suddenly.

" In this album, compbadion and thoughtfulness have certainly taken over on my usual misanthropy, "says the 55-year-old singer who arouses as much admiration as affection among his fans.

" I do not necessarily realize the love they carry me. It does not really hurt, where I realize that there is a connection, it's during the concerts, sometimes I read the emotion on the faces in the front row, and afterwards when I meet some of them. tell their own story, and tell me how my songs accompanied them. "

Eels will go through Strasbourg on July 19, then in Lucerne on the 20th, the last date of his tour.