Beth Gibbons in concert at Salle Pleyel in Paris: we were there, we tell you all about it

We missed her terribly. It's been 10 years since Beth Gibbons last performed live in Paris. Some will surely point out the British artist's remarkable appearance at the Olympia last February during the tribute to Jane Birkin. But if we're talking about a real concert, then the singer's last Paris show dates back to 2014. That year, the singer took to the stage at Rock en Seine with Portishead. While the legendary trip-hop band from Bristol has been slow to make a live comeback, its singer is finally resurfacing to the delight of our ears. On May 17, Beth Gibbons unveiled her debut opus. Called"Lives Outgrown", the album is considered by many, and ourselves for that matter, to be an incredible sonic gem. It features the artist's unique voice, always full of emotion and fragility. As for the compositions, they are deeply touching and melancholy.

To celebrate this return to the shops, Beth Gibbons had the good idea of announcing a few dates in Europe, including one in Paris. A brave move for such a discreet and shy artist. But it would have been wrong of Beth Gib bons to deprive us of these concerts. For, on Monday May 27, 2024 at the Salle Pleyel, for the first date of this European tour, the singer gave us a show as moving as it was spellbinding.

At 9:15pm, Beth Gibbons takes to the stage at Salle Pleyel, wearing jeans, sneakers and a long-sleeved black T-shirt. For this new European tour, Beth Gibbons is surrounded by 7 incredibly talented multi-instrumentalists, multiplying their mastery of diverse and varied instruments such as violin, bass, percussion, guitar, clarinet, gong, xylophone, musical saw... it's hard to list all the instruments brilliantly used by the musicians that evening.

It doesn't take long to realize that Beth Gibbons hasn't changed. True, the artist has taken on a few wrinkles. But her singing style remains the same. Clinging to her microphone stand, Beth Gibbons sings with her eyes closed. The artist also has the habit of turning her back to the audience to look at her musicians when she's not singing. Admittedly, Beth Gibbons isn't a stage beast like Patti Smith, for example. But she has that indescribable power to captivate us from the very first notes. Despite closing her eyes throughout the set, we can't help but stare at this immense artist and be hypnotized by her mad talent and diaphanous voice.

That evening at Salle Pleyel, Beth Gibbons honored her first true solo opus, performing it in its entirety. She captivated us with the first track, " Tell Me Who You Are Today ", and bewitched us with the second, " Burden Of Life ", before carrying us away with her single " Floating on a Moment ", sublimated by the stage arrangements and the voices of her musicians/backing singers.

The audience, hitherto rather quiet and respectful between songs, can't help but let out a few enthusiastic shouts when the first notes of the sublime " Mysteries " ring out. Taken from"Out of Season", Beth Gibbons' studio album produced in collaboration with Rustin Man, " Mysteries " is the kind of track that raises your hair and brings tears to your eyes. With Beth Gibbons live before your very eyes, choosing to end the track singing away from the microphone, we make no secret of the fact that the emotion is multiplied tenfold. Simply beautiful and moving!

Beth Gibbons continues to touch our hearts with her magical vocals on the sublime " Lost Changes ", followed by " Oceans ". One of the artist's best new tracks for our taste, it is here magnified by the acoustic power of the violins.

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Another highlight is the British singer's delightful rendition of " Tom the Model ", also released on"Out of Season". This was followed by the catchy and powerful " Beyond the Sun " and the delicate " Whispering Love ".
Less than an hour into her show, Beth Gibbons takes the floor for the very first time of the evening, thanking the audience and her musicians. Visibly uncomfortable with the applause emanating from the room, the artist smiles a series of embarrassed smiles, but can't help hiding her emotion and happiness at having reunited with her audience after several years' absence.

Finally, Beth Gibbons returns to the stage for a one-off two-song encore. But what an encore! The singer gives us the gift of performing Portishead's sublime and moving " Roads ". The crowd went wild from the very first notes, and the emotion was as strong as ever on hearing this song that brings back so many memories for so many in the audience. The applause, richly deserved, rained down at the end of the song, and Beth Gibbons had a hard time keeping up with the final track.

And it's with the rousing " Reaching Out ", another single from"Lives Outgrown", that Beth Gibbons decides to end her set of just 1h10, by thanking her audience once again, in French please. A show far too short for our taste, but so beautiful, intense and moving that we quickly forgot this detail. From now on, we can only hope for one thing: the announcement of new dates in Paris to relive this memorable evening in the company of this formidable artist with a celestial, bewitching voice. And let's not forget the beautiful lighting design and incredible sound quality of this concert!

For those unable to attend, please note that the Beth Gibbons concert at Salle Pleyel has been captured and will be broadcast on France Inter this Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 9pm.

Setlist
Tell Me Who You Are Today
Burden of Life
Floating on a Moment
Rewind
For Sale
Mysteries
Lost Changes
Oceans
Tom the Model
Beyond the Sun
Whispering Love

Rappel
Roads
Reaching Out