In the memory of a discerning music lover, we rarely experience moments like these! Having the chance to share almost an hour of interview with La House tellier before attending the tribute concert to Neil Young with a host of guests, each more talented than the last, is a privilege.
Immersed in the Rocher de Palmer in Cenon, the Rouen group was assisted by Pascal Danaé, Hugh Coltman, H-Burns, Lonny, Pauline Denize, Ysé, Macha Gharibian and Antoine Pinet to honor one of the most gifted Canadian musicians of his generation (along with Léonard Cohen).
In order to obtain the normal duration of a folk concert, La Maison tellier embellishes "Harvest" with some gems from the 70s by the master Young to satisfy a demanding audience. Thus, "Cinnamon Girl" and "Winterlong" sit alongside the titles "Out On The Weekend", "Old Man" and "There's a World" taken from the legendary album released in 1972. The guests follow one another during almost the entire performance with several magical moments that the 650 spectators of Cenon will remember: "Alabama" and "Cortez The Killer" with the singer of Delgrès in great form as well as a masterful version of "Heart of Gold". Hugh Coltman's harmonica and Lonny's voice blend perfectly for this hit which is the only number 1 single of Neil Young in the United States during his entire career.
At the end, Macha Gharibian performs "Like a Hurricane" in an acoustic version, the original rock version of which is taken from the 7th album released in 1977. A gem offered by the Franco-Armenian on piano. The ten artists leave to much deserved applause, and the audience is delighted to have taken a leap back in time some fifty years.
Below you can find the interview given by the 5 members of La Maison tellier including Blandine, the new bassist:
Diego : Was the Neil Young “Harvest” tribute concert in May 2022 originally a one-off?
Sebastien : Yes. Initially, it was a one-off concert with Emily Loiseau, Albin de la Simone, Pauline, Denize, Ysé, Samy, and Baptiste, who are present tonight, but without H-Burns, who was unavailable. After this superb evening, our promoters and programmers found the project interesting. We performed it again at the Printemps de Bourges and at the Avignon Festival 2023, and thanks to a correlation of our respective schedules and with the help of Azimuth Prod, we were able to add a few performances. Tonight is the 9th and final. In no way are we a "tribute," just a group of friends paying homage to an artist who is still alive.
Diego : Why did you choose the album “Harvest” which dates from 1972?
Sébastien : Neil Young has made other incredible albums but "Harvest" is particularly legendary and the year we played it at 104 in Paris coincided with the 50th anniversary of the record, namely in 2022. I remember a tribute to the Beatles' "Sergeant Pepper" in 2017 and I wanted to position myself for "Harvest" before another artist thought about it because Neil Young is one of our tutelary figures. The Covid period allowed us to develop the project and the 104 venue participated in its realization.
Diego : Will fans have an audio or video recording of this tribute?
Sébastien : It would be nice, but it wouldn't be profitable. It was a pleasure to have played Neil Young's songs in public; the nine concerts were recorded in a basic way, with no intention of producing a mix in the future. Unfortunately, it would be too expensive to publish a testimony of this wonderful adventure.
Diego : "Harvest" is a superb album that only has 10 tracks and lasts 38 minutes. How do you choose the other songs to offer a 1h30 concert by drawing from the 50 albums released by Neil Young?
Sébastien : We limited ourselves to a time period from the end of the 60s to 1977.
Diego : So no "Rockin in a Free World" which is a rock n' roll anthem!
Sébastien : No, but it will be for the next tribute tour!
Diego : 1989 + 50 years = 2039! I hope we'll still be here to see it! (laughs)
Sébastien : Yes, and we can play! (laughs) Otherwise, I'm a big fan of this 70s period and am less focused on the following albums. Nevertheless, it was easy to offer my friends pieces outside of "Harvest" that were playable and in the same spirit.
Diego : Besides, the cover of your first eponymous album released in 2006 is very influenced by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young! A house surrounded by woods on the edge of a pond...
Sébastien : It's true, but it was unintentional, unlike the second cover! The photo on the first cover is an accident that worked well, while the barn in "Second Souffle" was intentional.
Diego : Blandine, new bassist of La Maison tellier, what do you think of Neil Young?
Blandine : When I was younger, I had few albums. However, at 15, I had two favorite records, "Britney Spears" and "Harvest"! Since then, I've made up for it, and what's funny about this adventure is that "Harvest" is one of my first records, and La Maison tellier is one of the first bands I saw in concert when I was in middle school. I lived in the north of Seine Maritime in Doudeville in the Pays de Caux.
Diego : A true original fan!
Blandine : Yes, and by joining the group for the end of the tour, I feel like the circle has come full circle between my adolescence and today!
Diego : By the way, a question for us music lovers. How should we digest an album that we didn't know when it came out? For example, I will remember all my life the feeling I had when I heard Michael Jackson's "Thriller" when it came out in 1983, unlike other records that I love but that I learned about "after the fact." Socially speaking, are things different?
Sébastien : Indeed. At the time when I discovered music without being influenced by my father's record collection, I didn't listen to the music of my time at all. I started middle school in 1988 and music defined you, from goth to metal to US bags. I only listened to old stuff, from the Beatles to Neil Young via Simon & Garfunkel and Creedance Clearwater Revival. I remember the release of Nirvana's "Nevermind" in 1991 but I wasn't really hooked. Far from cell phones and current downloads, I watched music videos on M6 but I hated "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
Like with The Cure, I didn't have the codes even though I knew it existed. This music didn't speak to me. "Harvest" is the first vinyl I bought with my own money and this record had a huge impact. From "Out On The Weekend", I knew it was "my comfort music" forever! The impact you're talking about after the fact, I felt it despite the years. Especially since at that time, albums were pouring in and artists were very productive. "Harvest" is bright and Neil Young played "Tonight's The Night" in the mid-70s which is a dark album following the death of his guitarist. "On The Beach" in 1974 and "Tonight's The Night" are depressing even though the second was recorded before. At that time, I wasn't asking myself the question of the societal impact but rather the impact of the record over time. "Sergeant Pepper" also marked its time, while listening to "Nevermind", the impact was unknown.
Diego : This is consistent with my reasoning that an old, popular album makes you want to pay attention to it! What is your feedback on the tour and the album "Atlas"?
Yannick : Those were the good old days when Joe Biden was President of the USA! The tour ended a year ago, and we have incredible memories of the concert at the Bout du Monde festival. We've rarely played in front of such a large audience.
Sébastien : Personally, this was my favorite tour since the band's debut. It was a difference in terms of public response compared to previous tours. Honestly, every date was sold out, and I think we played very well musically.
Diego : The experience!
Sébastien : Yes, and it was a moment when we were all comfortable in our stage shoes. Like the impression that nothing serious could happen to us.
Diego : Musically, if we take the title “Amazone” from 2016 then “Atlas”, is it a logical progression in a similar atmosphere?
Sébastien : I experienced the 2019 album “Primitifs Modernes” as a break and “Atlas” is a return to basics.
Yannick : That was our initial direction. To remake an album like our early days with today's experience and resources. Except for the drummer, the band is the same and has evolved. The style isn't necessarily thought out, but the tempos are probably reminiscent of our early efforts.
Diego : What is most unique about the musical style of “La Maison”? tellier »: Seb’s guitar, Yannick’s “nonchalant” voice or Fred’s distinctive trumpet?
Fred : I don't think any one aspect should be emphasized over another, and few bands use a trumpet in their recordings. Seb and Yannick write the songs, and that's what gives the band its DNA.
Yannick : It's quite unusual to be a group these days because there are fewer and fewer of them!
Diego : Especially since you are musicians… this is not the case for all the “artists” who fill more or less large venues!
Yannick : It's all about generation.
Fred : With the trumpet, I think I bring a color that we exploit and modify over time.
Diego : Like bands that use an accordion… look at Têtes Raides!
Blandine : Besides, I find that La Maison tellier lacks a bit of accordion… (general laughter)
Yannick : When we started, we loved bands like Cake and Calexico with mariachis, and this desire for a different sound was present. The trumpet solos are present and evolving.
Diego : As for me, I find the blend of Yannick's voice and the trumpet very successful. In fact, the vocal nonchalance sometimes reminds me of the intonation of Vincent Bosler, singer of the Hyènes. A musical-vocal hook that's a direct match!
Yannick : Cool, thanks!
Fred : At the beginning, we had Mexican influences that were cooled by Nordic colors and the mixture of the two allows us to move from one to the other according to the needs.
Diego : Tell me about the song “The 12 Labors of Helmut” which I find moving in its musical and artistic conception?
Sébastien : It's a track I really like. We collaborated with Yannick, whereas usually it was more one of us or the other's ideas. A true blend of two musical pieces that I consider one of the most successful of our career.
Fred : Probably a summary of everything we've done before.
Sébastien : This isn't the song that people first use to describe us because it isn't highlighted and hasn't had a single or a dedicated music video. It's close to my heart and is very pleasant to play, well-paced. It's a bit like our "Harvest"! As usual, the lyrics are by Yannick.
Yannick : It's a synthesis of LMT's previous songs that was planned to finish the album but also the concerts of the "Atlas" tour. Even if it's not planned, we could have ended our career with this one. I like the idea of a song to say goodbye and for everyone to make the content their own.
Sébastien : I don't think the way a work is received is the most important thing. The true meaning of the text is not necessarily paramount.
Diego : The title “Un Bon Français” from 2013, at least there’s no doubt about the content!
Sébastien : Indeed, it is clear and does not require interpretation.
Yannick : We didn't play it on the "Atlas" tour, but during the "1.8.8.1" shows, which is a literary and musical ballad that we do with Sébastien as a duo, we perform it while reading a text about a crow. I think this title is a false friend in our career because the intention is not to be a committed group. I found in the text a distance that suits me, like an angle of attack allowing me to put myself in the shoes of an ordinary bastard while being an observer.
Sébastien : I confirm that we are uncomfortable with protest songs, whether they are our own or those of other artists. I don't necessarily like listening to or even creating these types of songs.
Diego : Nevertheless, it's better to have songs with lyrics that make sense rather than a mishmash of inaudible bullshit!
Sébastien : Watch the song "La Nuit je Mens" by Bashung, the lyrics are almost incomprehensible but the song is magnificent, as is the performance!
Diego : Let’s talk about the future, what do you have planned for 2025 after this final “Harvest” concert?
Yannick : A new album by Animal Triste featuring some members of La Maison tellier will be released with some concerts already scheduled.
Diego : Do you also have a solo project, Vieux Garçon?
Yannick : Yes, I play solo with a few machines on stage. Regarding La Maison tellier, the next album is a transition of the bassist position with the arrival of Blandine and Matthieu continues the drums. On "Atlas", he was not at the genesis of the project. There is a passing of baton on these two instruments in the formation. We already have 75% of the album and will record it in spring 2025 for a release in 2026. This will be our 8th album which will mark the 20 years of the group, a great opportunity to go back on stage. Our classic rhythm of life.
Diego : When is Animal Triste's album "Jericho" scheduled for release?
Sébastien : Beginning of March. A few concerts have been confirmed and we don't yet know if we'll be going to Bordeaux this year.
Diego : A much more rock project than LMT!
Sébastien : Yes, we hope to tour as much as possible. A six-piece English rock project is harder to put together than a solo tour with an iPad!
Yannick: Why do you want to tour with a nursing home? (general laughter)
Diego : More seriously Fred, what is your plan?
Fred : I play in several classical jazz groups, trios and quartets. A show is planned for March at Chet Baker near Le Havre.
Diego : What are the 5 best minutes of your life?
The Maison tellier : There are certain obvious moments in life that we could cite, but we won't keep "just 5 minutes" but rather 2 hours of a concert at La Maroquinerie in Paris. We experienced a huge emotion there, an exceptional moment. The intensity of this two-hour show seemed to have passed in 5 minutes with an overexcited audience.
Diego : Do you have a ritual before going on stage?
Fred : We are together and we check each other out!
Sébastien : Nothing special, a quiet moment if possible to concentrate.
Diego : Finally, what are the best concerts you have experienced as a spectator?
Fred : Wynton Marsalis at the Philharmonie de Paris with the Jazz Lincoln Center Orchestra in June 2023. I was in the front row, it was huge.
Sébastien : I saw the same artist in Marciac about twenty years ago! Also superb were Father John Misty in Calgary, Radiohead at Rock en Scène, Calexico at the "Le Rock Dans Tous Ses États" festival. He was doing a cover of Love ("Alone and Again") with a trumpet and there was a clearing just as their set was coming. Magical. Also Brad Mehldau in Paris.
Yannick : The last concerts I saw at the SMAC in Rouen and which I loved: The Mystery Lights, a Californian garage band and Jay Jay Johanson out of curiosity. A great time with a crooner.
Blandine: Frenchman Matthieu Chedid with Gail Ann Dorsey on bass, who sang Bowie. I was very moved. Otherwise, Syd Matters at the Trianon in Rouen.
Diego : Thank you all and long life to La Maison tellier !
The Maison tellier : Thanks to you.
Photos : Emmanuelle Derrier
Thanks : AzimuthProd
