2009 - Montréal, QC at Place des Arts 13th Oct GIG REPORTS/VIDEOS/PHOTOS Thread

[mari62]

Just one question: how long did the show last?

[Droopsy]

Aha, a report in the press as well:

 

Planète Mika

 

MARC-ANDRÉ LEMIEUX

14 octobre 2009 03:03

 

Peut-on ajouter une neuvième planète au système solaire? Ou à tout le moins rapatrier Pluton pour la renommer Mika?

 

Car c’est à un voyage au centre de son univers que le jeune auteur-compositeur a convié la salle Wilfrid-Pelle tier, hier soir : une fabuleuse odyssée dans un monde où la pop est reine.

 

Le rideau s’est levé à 21 h, nous laissant entrevoir une lampe sur pied, un téléviseur et un divan orange sur lequel sont venus s’asseoir tour à tour les musiciens du chanteur. Après cette brève introduction, la musique de style Broadway qui résonnait dans les haut-parleurs et les images du dessin animé Tom & Jerry qui défilaient sur l’écran ont fait place à un faux bulletin de nouvelles dans lequel on annonçait l’excursion intergalactique du Libano-Américain.

 

C’est donc vêtu d’un costu me d’astronaute que Mika s’est pointé le bout du nez. Le prodige de 26 ans s’est rapide ment débarrassé de son scaphandre, révélant ainsi qu’il ne portait rien d’autre que des boxers.

 

Après un petit tour dans les coulisses, le phénomène a refait surface sous les cris continus de la foule.

 

Mika voulait peut-être nous faire croire qu’il avait fait le trajet jusqu’à la Place des Arts en fusée spatiale, mais à son arrivée sur scène, son énergie était telle qu’on aurait juré qu’il venait d’être expulsé de la bouche d’un canon. À mi-chemin entre Mick Jagger et un gamin en manque de Ritalin, Mika a passé la quasi-totalité des deux premiers numéros à sautiller de gauche à droite.

 

Ironie du sort, c’est avec Relax (Take it Easy), tirée de son premier album, Life in Cartoon Motion, qu’il a ouvert les festivités.

 

Big Girl a pour sa part eu droit au même traitement que lors de son passage au Centre Bell il y a deux ans : un défilé de femmes bien en chair.

 

À l’exception de quelques ballades (dont la magnifique Pick Up Off the Floor, extraite de son dernier opus, The Boy Who Knew Too Much), Mika a gardé le pied sur l’accélérateur durant toute la durée du concert.

 

On soupçonne cependant que, sous cette surabondance de sauts et de courses de tout bord tout côté, se cache une grande timidité, une gêne qui paraissait lorsque le chanteur s’adressait à la foule entre les chansons. Pendant ces allocutions, il peinait à regarder la salle directement, préférant fixer le sol ou cacher ses grands yeux derrière sa crinière bouclée.

 

N’empêche que, grâce à son sens inné de la mélodie, il nous a fait passer une saprée belle soirée. Parmi les moments forts, citons la dansante Rain, évoquant les belles années des Pet Shop Boys et l’irrésistible Grace Kelly, jouée durant le rappel.

[robertina]

Peut-on ajouter une neuvième planète au système solaire? Ou à tout le moins rapatrier Pluton pour la renommer Mika?

 

[Droopsy]

And another one with pictures

 

http://www.ruefrontenac.com/spectacles/musique/12164-prezzonico-spectacle-mika

 

Mika: du plaisir pour les 7 à 77 ans

 

Spectacles - Musique

Écrit par Philippe Rezzonico

Mardi, 13 octobre 2009 23:40

Mise à jour le Mardi, 13 octobre 2009 23:56

 

La gomme balloune possède un attrait universel. Et quand on l’apparente à son équivalent musical, à savoir la pop bonbon, elle peut plaire aux jeunes de 7 à 77 ans, ce qui était à peu près le – large – public cible de Mika, mardi soir, à la salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.

 

Rarement vu un public aussi hétéroclite que celui qui assistait au retour de Michael Holbrook Penniman, ce Libanais de 26 ans qui est devenu une vedette internationale en 2007, à la suite de la parution de l’album Life In Cartoon Motion.

 

Pas vu autant d’enfants de moins de 10 ans accompagnés de leurs parents dans un spectacle depuis le premier passage des Spice Girls, en 1998 ; pas vu autant de gais dans une salle depuis le dernier spectacle de Madonna à Montréal ; et pas entendu autant de cris stridents de femmes de tous âges depuis la dernière virée de James Blunt. Et je n’avais jamais vu un artiste de 26 ans qui est capable d’attirer tant d’adultes qui affichent au moins deux décennies de plus que lui.

 

C’est peut-être pour cette raison que Mika nous a offert une entrée en matière rassembleuse digne d’une bande dessinée. Un à un, ses musiciens – sans instruments – sont venus prendre place sur un gros sofa qui faisait dos à la foule, en face d’un écran plasma de 42 pouces qui diffusait des cartoons de Tom & Jerry.

 

Superbe mise en bouche

 

La longue entrée en matière (sept ou huit minutes) s’est poursuivie avec un faux bulletin d’information qui montrait le départ d’une fusée spatiale, avec à son bord le premier civil de l’espace (coucou, Guy Laliberté !). L’explosion de la fusée était relatée par l’imperturbable comédien anglais Ian McKellen, mais, bien sûr, le civil en question n’était pas mort – pas devant des enfants, quand même – et il a fait son apparition sur scène en habit de cosmonaute. Mika s’est alors dévêtu, se retrouvant uniquement en shorts – méchant délire ! – sur une scène constellée de gros ballons suspendus. Le ton était donné.

Jamais l’artiste qui s’exprime dans un français impeccable – il a étudié à Paris – n’a mis le pied sur le frein par la suite. Extirpant des vestons colorés et des marionnettes de sa valise, Mika a mis le feu d’emblée avec Relax (Take It Easy).

 

Le monsieur a une énergie férocement contagieuse et il est du genre à faire de l’inclusion et non pas de l’exclusion. Non seulement y a-t-il dans son répertoire une chanson qui se nomme One Foot Boy, mais quand il offre Big Girl (You Are Beautiful), trois danseuses obèses – vraiment obèses – viennent se trémousser sur scène avec le band. Hilarant.

 

Chapeau à plumes (Dr. John), immenses yeux en carton qui flottent dans le vide (Blue Eyes), théière géante (Blame It On the Girls), confettis (Rain), marionnette (Toy Boy) : Mika se dote d’une mise en scène imaginative, quoique bon marché, qui a de l’impact du parterre au balcon. Il est vrai que c’est lui qui fait le spectacle, avec sa fougue incessante et ses montées vocales qui sont un croisement entre Barry Gibb et Freddie Mercury.

 

Emprunts

En revanche, ses chansons mélodiques à outrance donnent souvent l’impression d’avoir des racines dans le passé. Impossible d’entendre Dr. John sans penser à Yellow Submarine des Beatles. On ne peut écouter We Are Golden (quelle bombe !) sans penser au groupe anglais Chumbawamba.

Entrecoupant ses bombardements de quelques chansons plus intimistes, Mika a rappelé à quel point son passage au Centre Bell en 2007 a été son « premier grand concert ». La foule lui a rendu son énergie en sautant, dansant et chantant à tue-tête durant Touches You, Love Today, Grace Kelly et Lollipop, dernière chanson du rappel, qui reposait sur des tambours-poubelles et sur un déversement de gros ballons au parterre.

 

La pop bonbon, c’est comme les sucreries. Parfois, ça tombe sur le cœur. Mais comme Mika a eu la bonne idée d’offrir une performance musicale de 75 minutes, on a même évité l’indigestion.

 

pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[chickadee]

Do we know anything about those Big Girls? I don't recognise them as MFC'ers, but that's not saying very much as there's really only about 50 or so people on here that I would recognise by their picture, and there are thousands of members.

[chickadee]

I have to say something else too.... I prefer Martin's suit to Mika's jacket:teehee:

 

Also, if they wear the same gig clothes each day, they're gonna start to get ripe like the animal costumes used to:naughty:

[CazGirl]

GUUUUUUUYYYYY!!!!!

 

Thank you SO much for your report!!! Awww Mika telling you guys to come closer!! And it was a seated gig?! SEATED GIGS ALL THE WAY MIKAAAA!!

 

And yes, Babs is LOVELY

[daisylou]

Guy sooooo pleased you had a good time

Vero can't wait for your baby's first MIKA gig report

Loving his coat!!

Thanks to everyone who is writing reports/pics as don't feel like we are missing out over here anymore....it's great to know how amazing he is sounding...and LOOKING where did that 6 pack come from?

xx

[CazGirl]

OOOOMG those pics are stunning!

 

Especially the one of him in his boxers

[CazGirl]

Guy sooooo pleased you had a good time

Vero can't wait for your baby's first MIKA gig report

Loving his coat!!

Thanks to everyone who is writing reports/pics as don't feel like we are missing out over here anymore....it's great to know how amazing he is sounding...and LOOKING where did that 6 pack come from?

xx

 

I think you'll find it's a 4 pack

[mari62]

Thank you for vids links, reviews and pics Droopsy!

:wub2:

[Droopsy]

I have to say something else too.... I prefer Martin's suit to Mika's jacket

 

Also, if they wear the same gig clothes each day, they're gonna start to get ripe like the animal costumes used to

 

Martin's suit is amazing!

 

More pics and reviews:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Droopsy]

 

 

 

 

 

http://7jours.canoe.ca/musique/nouvelles/2009/10/13/11391711-7j.html

 

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/arts/musique/critiques-de-spectacles/200910/14/01-911079-mika-cartonne-a-la-place-des-arts.php

[mari62]

Nice reviews!!

especially the 1st one!!

[FREDDIESDOUBLE]

I think you'll find it's a 4 pack

 

:roftl:

 

Close enough

 

YEH Martins suit looks ace! like where he is on the stage too (must stand to the left)

[Dark Angel]

The piccies.... OMG..... Thx a mill for posting

 

the shirtless one.... uuhhhhhhhhhh

[vanessa]

I hope he does Good gone girl at the European gigs

[guylainem123]

Do we know anything about those Big Girls? I don't recognise them as MFC'ers, but that's not saying very much as there's really only about 50 or so people on here that I would recognise by their picture, and there are thousands of members.

 

i'm not sure who they were, but they did a great job!

[Dark Angel]

I hope he does Good gone girl at the European gigs

 

I hope he does Touches You and the shirtless part too

[dcdeb]

 

i had a great evening. i want to do it again! and again! and again! hahaha!

i think part of the hype is meeting one another. i had such a great time with babspanky, what a nice person she is. mana & babs pronounced my name properly!!!!

 

 

will i do it again??? hell yes!!!! Mika! come back to Montreal!!!!

 

I'm so happy for you, guy! But I knew you would have

an amazing time! And ssshhhh, about Bab -- she is one of the MFC's

best-kept secrets

 

one thing I can say is I had a FANTASTIC time and I already miss my fellow MFCers!!!

 

night all, I'll be back tomorrow with a report!!

 

I'll look for it!

 

 

Also, if they wear the same gig clothes each day, they're gonna start to get ripe like the animal costumes used to:naughty:

 

Isn't it terrible that I was thinking the same thing?!

 

Thanks everyone for finding/posting photos and reports and videos!

 

I'm so excited for Friday I can hardly stand it!

HOW many days until MIKA in NYC???

[laura*]

Looks spectacular! :wub2:

*melts*

[Dark Angel]

ok, done eating McDonalds.

 

I am sorry that I didn't take any videos/photos durin' the gig 'coz my seat is kind of far away from the stage (where I could barely see Mika's face lol)

And I apologize for the "not-well-taken" photos,

'coz my hand were literally frozen after almost 2 hours of wait LOL.

 

So, here it goes, the "Fast Meet & Greet" photos,

 

 

wow he looks GREAT. Love the coat

[Gracekelly85]

Thanks so much for pics & videos !

Edited October 14, 2009 by Gracekelly85

[Dark Angel]

sighhhhhhhhhhh!!!! tonight was so exciting, i'm not sure where to start!

 

we arrived at st-hubert restaurant across from place des arts at about 18h00.

there was danie, vero, claudine, suzy, mana, my niece pascale (pas on forum) , my son's gf caro28, posterofagirl, carolollipop, long, the dragon lady, cees and babspanky. (god! i hope i didn't forget anyone!)

 

the great part of this gig was the no queueing! we could just eat, take our time & go to the gig. babspanky & i had a few celebration drinks & she had a POUTINE!!!

 

after supper, we slowly made our way across the street to get to the hall.

when walking towards the hall, we noticed Sylvain Cossette was there. he is a Quebec singer, who sings in french and english. he's quite good!

when we got there, the opening act, Gary Go, had already started. he was ok, last song was good and got us in the mood for Mika. the only thing with opening act is that no matter how good they are, they are in competition with the person that follows, and are never quite appreciated.

when he was finished we waited about 20 min. for Mika to appear. i turned around and about 8 row back, there was Yann Martel, the writer that was on Tout le Monde en parle the same night as Mika was on. Christine, Sariflor, Aurelien & Closetmikafan arrived. i have to say, that meeting MFCers is just about as fun as the concert itself

 

after a while, this ugly orange couch is placed on the stage, the curtains opened & there is a huge television screen in front of it.

 

martin, the new basist (i forget his name), ema (name of back up singer?) and cherisse sit on the couch and are watching tom & jerry cartoons and laughing. after a while, it changes to a bbc report about a rocket going into space. the reporter is Ian McKellen. as the rocket launches, something goes wrong and the mission is a failure. the ceiling is covered with planets & in the back of the stage there is an astraunaut walking. as he gets closer, he removes his suit and there appears Mika in his WAG boxers!

he goes to the back of the stage, starts singing relax while getting dressed (i guess) he comes back on stage barefooted with a suitcase.

 

everybody was standing up & dancing where their seats were. i was front row & probably about 6 to 8 feet from the stage. then mika made a gesture to tell us to get closer. we all went to the front of the stage & ended up leaning against it for the night, while dancing and singing. security didn't know what to do of it! one of them stood behind my niece (who was 2nd row) and looked slightly confused! but they let us be! after all, we were just doing what mika said to do!

Mika was full of energy, he loved it when we sang WAG to him! he looked like a kid in a candy shop! i loved One foot Boy! i'm so happy he did it!

i took a few pictures, i'll download them tomorrow. i don't think they are great, think i was too excited and moved too much.

 

the one bad thing about this gig is because we were so close (and this is NOT a complaint, but an observation) is that because we were so close to the stage, sometimes we couldn't hear him sing. we could only hear the music. Marie-Lune, who was in row Z said the sound was great. but from the front, it wasn't always at its best.

 

for the list of songs he played, see the playlist on the front page.

he had a balloon problem on Lollipop, the vents kept pushing them back on stage

 

we stood around inside for a while, but this lady in charge really wanted us to leave. at one point she said she'd call security if we didn't leave lol. we slowly made our way out of there. the thing is about montreal venue is lots of them have underground parking & it's hard to know which door he will come out of. as i write this, the gang is hanging with the band & are waiting for Mika to come out.

i ended up not waiting for him to come out, my son's girlfriend had been sick for 2 weeks & she wasn't feeling good. i didn't want her to come back on her own while i stayed behind. it just wouldn't have been right. she actually remained seated during the gig!

 

i had a great evening. i want to do it again! and again! and again! hahaha!

i think part of the hype is meeting one another. i had such a great time with babspanky, what a nice person she is. mana & babs pronounced my name properly!!!!

 

 

will i do it again??? hell yes!!!! Mika! come back to Montreal!!!!

 

It sounds amazing. Thx for the report

[lollipopgirl83]

i'm way too tired, but i had to come check this thread before I headed out to class:naughty:

 

SO glad I did! those pictures are AMAZING!

Thanks to all for pics and vids and reports.