XtineFiles

And finally, here is the review of my trip...


My journey began with good number karma (flight 11 seat 11) and ended with Brad Pitt. I’ll admit from the start that my reason for coming to Paris was because I really really wanted to see Depeche Mode overseas. Why? Because that is what obsessed fans do. I cashed in 90,000 frequent flyer miles, packed my luggage and my sister and off we went. Thanks to friends in high places I got AMAZING Depeche tickets and passes (“The orange pass gets you…”)--more DM later.

Paris, is well, all that you would expect Paris to be. Its sexy, it’s Euro, its arty and free spirited. We saw the Mona Lisa’s, the Degas, the Arcs and the Towers, the bridges the tunnels, the stores and the mounts. We saw it all. My sister was keen on reenacting scenes from key movies that took place in Paris (i.e. Audrey passing out in the Louvre while saying “Rusty are you happy she is dead” a la European Vacation, or strolling past Shakespeare and Co, a la Before Sunset.). I on the other hand took in the sites, ate pounds of goat cheese and counted the seconds to Depeche Mode.

And now…the moment you've (well, the three of you) been waiting for. Seeing Depeche Mode at Bercy was the single most exhilarating concert experiences of my entire life. Thousands of people singing (with accents) to the songs we all love was so moving.

Some important points to make:

* “Oohhh ohhh ahh oohhh” from Waiting for the Night to Fall seems to be the Parisian anthem much like We will Rock You in events in the states

* Depeche Mode fans in Europe are as normal as Bon Jovi fans in New Jersey, thus proving my theory that non DM fans are the strange ones. (I can’t describe to you how important DM is to Europe—I thought I knew, but I had no idea).

* Every single person in Paris saw Depeche Mode this week. Even the kids next to us at lunch a day later were talking about the show

*Hearing Shake the Disease made me cry and hearing David Gahan shout “Goodevening Paris” made me weep

*Getting an Orange VIP after party pass was priceless, realizing all of Paris has been invited was even more priceless AND uttering the phrase “I’m with the band” at the box office will be a moment in time I shall etch into my brain.

* “Eversing COWnts Sen LARgeemounts.” “Deepeche Mode Deepeche Mode Deepeche Mode”

*I was fascinated by the songs that the French seemed to go crazy over. You’d be surprised, because they vary a bit from the songs we freak over in the states. Never Let Me Down Again and Personal Jesus were pretty huge just like in America. But surprising Behind the Wheel and Suffer Well brought EVERYONE to their feet.

*Despite their worship of Depeche, the French are in fact trying to kill David Gahan. Thousands of people chain smoking their way through the show made it the smokiest concert I’ve ever been to. At one point David Gahan coughed up a big one.

*I don’t know how DM do this show over and over and over night after night, but what I do know is that DM is, well, the BEST BAND IN THE WORLD!

Back to Paris. All good things must come to and end. We headed to the airport Wednesday afternoon to take an Air France flight from Paris to JFK. When we arrived at the terminal we were yelled at by a ticket agent and practically strip searched before boarding. Even though I was flying business class I was still treated like a cow in a heard (flying today sucks!). BUT BUT BUT the trauma of check in was erased when I glanced up from my Vanity Fair and saw the one, the only Brad Pitt board my plane.

He sat about 8 rows infront of me. I was gonna take a bet from the girl next to me who was daring me to go up to him and have him autograph the Angelina Jolie photo that was sitting open in the Vanity Fair in my hand. But I chickened out.

Priceless. Well, more like $1500. But who is counting?

Take a look at these for now. The complete review will come tomorrow.

XtineFiles will be closed until Febuary 23rd.

Tune on 2/23/06 for a complete recap of Xtine's Paris adventure including a review of the Paris Depeche Mode concert.

See ya!

Counting the seconds until I see this documentary. Riveting.

"For now, my critics can eat it," was what he said in his interview as I watched the men's short figure skating program. Could Johnny Weir be the diva figure skating has been waiting for? I have no idea.

Read more.

Oh so sad a world we live in.

A snow storm is brewing here in NY, and so what better way to spend the time than with a bottle of red wine and some DVDs. First up, The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

Man, possession looks like a bitch. I can see how all that body contortion could bring out the worst in any one. Overall I enjoyed the movie. I'm scared to death and probably wont sleep until June, but I am grateful for the two hours of entertainment nonetheless.

#of times I wanted Emily's Rose's head to spin around: 1
#of times I said, "She's gonna yuke, any second now": 3
#of people I have recommended Laura Linney's hair style to (post screening): 1
#of times the phrase "The power of Christ compels you" was said in the film: 0
My new fear?: waking up at 3:00am

Tonight the Grammy Awards where on. I watched (in semi real time too). It actually wasn't the worst awards show I have seen, and so I'm kinda ok about posting on it. I like rock stars because of their unhinged sensibility, their false sense of ego, and their overall pompous demeanor which often times result in intelligible comments, over the top swagger and all around ridiculousness. And so, in honor of the insane, here are some of the quotes I heard during the show. Could these nonsensical phrases serve as pearls of wisdom for years to come? Probably not.

"Being in a Rock band is like running away with the circus"- Bono

"Even cleaning up the elephant dirt is ok" - Bono

"I'd like to thank Gabe, my publicist, imagine being my publicist, how hard thats gotta be"- Kanye West

"On national television he's about to do his business"- Chris Martin

"My homie, you know me"- Will, The Black Eye Peas

"My nanna Reese is an evaganlist" - Mariah Carey

"Start the five second delay now"- Kanye West

"At her age, she really shouldn't be showing all that crotch"- Xtine's mom, discussung Madonna's performance

And by the way...MARIAH RULES, say what you want about Mimi. She IS saving us. One soul at a time!

I watched Tristan and Isolde on Sunday (I know what your are thinking-- I didn't pay for it. A screener came my way).

Anyway. It was your usual period the-English-are coming movie. Thus getting in a third use for the King Arthur costumes that lay in storage. But I can't complain. A half naked James Franco is a fine way to spend Super Bowl Sunday. So if you want to get all fired up watch it.

Hot Actor Factor: 11
Cry Meter: level 2
# of times I pressed pause: 6
# of times I said out loud "Oh come on, that's just not normal": 3
# of times I said "Get in the damn boat your damn fool": 2
# of times I wondered how people in "olden times" knew so much about medicinal herbs and potions and yet couldn't figure out simple dental hygiene: 4

Dear Mr. Gecko:

You don't know me, but if you did you would know that I have several irrational fears. The top three are bee stings, decapitation and the slightly more off center fear of non animated talking animals/babies. The first two are fairly easy to understand. The third may need some explanation.

For some reason non animated talking animals and babies (that speak in adult voices) totally freak me out. Animals are not supposed to talk and babies should sound like babies and not Bruce Willis. The Taco Bell dog, the Quiznos baby Bob among others scare the hell out of me. Irrational? Perhaps. Understandable? I am sure you agree.

However, something strange is happening. I recently discovered that in this commercialized -talking- non-animated -animal -baby world there is one non animated animal that seems to put me at ease. And that animal is you the Geico Gecko. In fact. I'm down right fond of ya.

For the life of me I cant understand why I can tolerate you, the Geico Gecko, above all others. Could it be your Greenish hue? Your calm demeanor? Your lovable sense of self worth? Your English accent? I dont know the answer, but I do wonder if this simple act of interest raises particular questions about my own character.

For now, I'll keep admiring you from afar my little green friend.

Keep up the good work.

Love,
Xtine

p.s. I enjoyed reading your blog

My new friend Oliver from Berlin was kind enough to deliver this amazing and exclusive Xtinefiles report on the DM concert in Germany...read on...

Reach Out And Touch Berlin – Depeche Mode in Concert

Wednesday, 2006-01-22 0630pm, Velodrome, Berlin. A 200 m queue in front of the Velodrome. Thousands of Fans waiting in line, freezing. It’s cold on the outside but not on the inside. The hall (actually for Bicycle races) is packed soon with 10.000 people. Sold out since months. To shorten the wait people warm up with La Ola waves throughout the hall and clapping along the beats of a Minimal Techno set. Support act on the European leg of the tour is The Bravery from New York City.

They kick off at 8pm exactly for a 30 minute show. Compared to previous support acts on
Depeche Mode tours The Bravery are well accepted it seems. Their style is a mix of The Cure, Duran Duran and other classic 80ish sound.
A good and short start for what is to still to come.

After another break and more superb minimal beats the siren call of ‘A Pain That I’m Used To’ is opening the Show we have all been waiting for so long. The band climbing the silver shinning futuristic stage (designed by their longtime mate Anton Corbjin).

Here we go again, after 4 years of waiting, Depeche Mode arrived finally in Berlin.

The atmosphere is not to be topped from the first second. People dancing, screaming and singing along the new songs from Playing The Angel as well as old hits like Enjoy The Silence, Personal Jesus, Just Can’t Get Enough and Everything Counts.
It made me a bit feeling like 15 again:-D

A highlight of every show is when Martin L. Gore takes over the lead vocals, this time with Macro, Home and the old 1984 classic Somebody. Thousands of lit lights lighten up the hall during these ballads. The show finds it’s all time high during the last encore with Never Let Me Down Again. Thousands of arms waving through the hall. The show ends with the Exciter track Goodnight Lovers. Depeche Mode in unity with their fans…soul sisters and soul brothers…a fantastic end for this show.

So this is the end!? Two hours are going by damn fast. I am looking around and see people smiling, laughing and some even weeping. Some might say this is a all retro show, but this is far more. After 26 years this Band is still around, writing their own songs, touring, selling out world wide tours in a few days time. Like Dave Gahan said here in an Interview with MTV: “This makes us still some kind of relevant”. Pure understatement. Where would be Electronic Music without them today?

Depeche Mode continue to tour throughout Europe until Spring, taking a little break, and coming back for a Summer Open Air Tour. There are some tickets left for a few shows so take your chance.

We will continue our in-depth reports from the live shows in March (Friedrichshafen) and in July from the Locarno, Switzerland and Berlin Open Air Shows. Stay tuned.

SEE YOU NEXT DATE!