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There's the common phrase of "Big in Japan," which can be applied to bands
who experience massive success abroad in the notoriously music-crazed Asian
country. When it comes to Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, all you
have to do is swap out Japan for France and the phrase will still ring true. Turn
on the radio? Chances are you'll hear Ford's crooning coming from the
speakers. Open up a French newspaper or magazine? You have a pretty good
chance of seeing the band members' mugs. The group's debut is doing so well
it justified a nearly month-long tour of a country the size of Texas and has
outsold the likes of Wilco on this side of the pond.
Last night, the
quartet performed its second headlining show in Paris in under a month. This
one, added due to demand, was just as heavily sold-out as the first. The two-story venue in the city's Pigalle district was packed to the brim, with
audience members standing tight against every wall. There was no opening
act, just the Portland foursome—and that's just what the crowd wanted.
All photos Nilina Mason-Campbell
While the word "enthusiasm" doesn't always leap to mind when recalling the
faces of the City of Light's population as seen when walking down the
street or while riding the Metro, you wouldn't know it from the uninhibited
bopping and dancing that went on in the audience last night. The more-than-an-hour
long set consisted of songs from the band's debut, as well as a rush of new
material including stand-outs "Bad Boys" and "Addicted to You." Two covers
weaseled their way in, including duet between Ford and lead guitarist Jeff
Munger of a John Prine song as well as one of Reckless Eric's classics
"Whole Wide World" to close out its second encore. While Ford has a
tendency to stand static behind her microphone for the majority of the
songs, she cut loose last night, jumping up and down, head-banging and
reaching out to fans in the front row.
Afterwards there was an intimate, low-key afterparty on the second level of
the venue and later backstage, but by midnight the venue Le Divan du
Mondewas ready to close. And what should await outside? Fans that had
waited the
duration of the aftershow in order to snap a photo alongside Miss Ford. It
was quite the sight. It won't be long before the next Sallie Ford album
hits the shelves. It'll be interesting to see whether the pandemonium kicks
up yet another notch.
WWeek 2015