According to its website, Koritni had not given a concert since June 19, 2019, the date of a visit to Hellfest. It is therefore almost four years later that its founder, Lex Koritni, returns to the stage, a new album, "Long Overdue", under the arm, a nice manifesto of well muscled rock to the Australian. If he is always accompanied by guitarist Tom Fremont, two new musicians are now part of the adventure: the ex-guitarist of Laura Cox, Mathieu Albiac, passed on bass, and the drummer Daniel Fasano.
A formation that does not miss its return in front of the public, this Friday at the Stars, in Paris (Xe), in a full room, where we note a handful of Australians came to support their compatriot. The latter rolls out, dressed in his eternal tank top, dark glasses and red cap. And he attacks hard, slide guitar in hand, with a fast title (unreleased?) called "Mercury", chained without transition with the no less fast "Down At The Crossroads".
Classics and novelties
Time and Covid have not had a hold on the throat of fire of the artist, who also struggles a lot at the six-string, and addresses mainly in French to the spectators. Another old track, "Back For More", precedes the first foray into the repertoire of the last opus, half of which will be played that evening.
It starts with "Take It Off", well received, but not as much as the excellent "No Strings Attached" or "Funny Farm", proposed later in the evening, which are really a hit. We will also remember for a long time the instrumental passage proposed mid-concert. Entitled "Fasa Medley", it consists of excerpts from the repertoire of Led Zeppelin put end to end, played by Fasano, Fremont and Albiac, Lex Koritni absent for a few minutes. An original way to highlight the dexterity of the three musicians, who already form a group that we feel very homogeneous.
Paris, this Friday. Lex Koritni (center with red cap) surrounded by his new band: Mathieu Albiac on bass, Daniel Fasano on drums, and Tom Fremont on guitar. Dom Gilbert
We also hear a surprise cover of ZZ Top's "Tush", and we will also be treated to other tributes during the encore, no less than Bad Company's "Can't Get Enough", and "Let The Music Do The Talking", from the Joe Perry Project. Strangely, nothing from Australia...
Back at the end of the concert with a aptly named "Let's Go Crazy", the novelty "Born To Lose" – another success – then the always awaited "Under The Overpass". The encore, in addition to the two covers already mentioned above, exploits one last time "Long Overdue" with "Go Hard Or Go Home". Except that no one wants to go home, and that everyone would have taken more than the hour and forty of music proposed this Friday. But the frustrated and absent Ile-de-France will have a chance to catch up, since Koritni will be in concert at the Empreinte, in Savigny-le-Temple (Seine-et-Marne), on Saturday, October 7.
