The legend Santana on Guitar Break – 06/07/2018

Matmatah: Not afraid of the storm

It took a band like Matmatah to begin this first evening of Pause Guitar Pratgraussals. A good little Breton grain appeared at the very moment when the band was on stage. "It's the storm every time you come to play in the South". Two pieces in the rain, colorful ponchos that pop up in the audience and it's the interruption of the concert. Outside the Pratgraussals compound is also panic. Number of spectators are stuck in the traffic jams. The car parks are impbadable. But the return of the sun is not long. We are in the South. The solar star is greeted with applause. As technicians at work for the resumption of the concert. "It was a guitar break," says Matmatah who connects with Marée Haute, one of the titles of the last album, "Plates Seams."

Born in the mid-90s, Matmatah has lost none of his energy on stage. After a break of a few years, the formation has been reformed to the delight of the fans. With more things to say about society in the image of the words "We are there" on the state of our civilization. The guitars are resonating. "A little pogo in the mud, what do you think?" The Albigensians will not go that far. We are not in Brittany even if a flag is brandished. In Albi, the public is family and intergenerational. We do not hesitate to take out the folding seats in the mud. Go jump to Lambé? The desire is there but not too high. Nevertheless, this first concert was able to launch the festival on the great stage of Pratgraussals.

Lavilliers improves with the time

It does not go out of fashion, keeping its famous tempo, its aggressiveness against the injustices of the world. Lavilliers do not change and that's good. Just a little more white hair. But the eye is still alive, the voice is calm. The Stéphanois will make his show, accompanied as always, by great musicians from all over the world. He started with a good Jamaican reggae. To heat the pit, nothing like a "Stand the guetto". Then he speaks, stigmatizes injustices, recalls "the worn out of the South, the cunning of the North." He sings a imprisoned Turkish poet, recalls the complexity of the problem of immigrants who cross the Mediterranean in "hole zodiac." Du Lavilliers in the text. A little bit of a penknife on large companies and their HRD without itself or law. Then these musicians leave a few moments, leaving him alone with his guitar. "We were young and broad shoulders, disturbing, joyous, insolent and funny. On the road again takes the audience to heart. Mythical song of the singer who fits perfectly to his character. We are not going to stay on it. Of course, there are "Black Ideas" and "Golden Hands". A last solo for each of these musicians and he bows out. As always, head up, chest bulging. Lavilliers despite the pbading time always remains up to expectations. Like good wine, as a good author, it improves with age.

The poetry of flying visual artists

To end this first evening, Alain Navarro had made the bet to invite a huge theater troupe of Street, the flying Plasticians, to give a dose of poetry. A bold and successful bet. The Graulhétois artists have proposed a visual spectacle over the Pratgraussals grave.

Huge inflatable structures representing the planets, a man's head and a mermaid who go off in a dance of love. Monsters, beautiful ones. An enjoyable show whose words are not used to make the imagination, the beauty of this Albigensian sky with these creatures straight out of the imagination of flying Plasticians. Perfect to finish the evening in the most Zen way. One regret. The lack of luminosity of the show

Santana: mythical guitar

One could not dream better to launch this 22nd edition of Pause Guitar in its new configuration. The festival has received internationally renowned artists but the arrival of Santana in this new setting will remain a moment engraved in many memories of festival-goers Albigensian. It was enough to see the head of the first ranks, open-mouthed, to be convinced. If he is soon in his seventies, the guitar hero shows with this tour called "divination tour" he has lost nothing of its superb. Nearly fifty years pbaded between this year 1969 where Santana ignited Woodstock and this concert last night. But the magic is still there when resonate this golden guitar and this sound so recognizable from the first notes. From the first percussion strikes, the public moved forward before launching a clamor to welcome the legendary Mexican. He does not need to do the show. These two singers do it for him. Surrounded by a tribe of musician in tune with the master, he chained his titles, in this fusion rock and salsa, enjoying being lost in other musical countries. He pays tribute to John Coltrane, takes the Stones. The audience vibrates and dances when "Oye como va" begins. It's going pretty well in front of one of the ten best guitarists in the world.

Santana can show his biceps smiling at the end of the concert after shooting the tongue, he gave a great moment of music to Albi. The legend is still there and it's very good.