Buenos Aires Paris

[Deleted]

Feeling a bit restless last night, I decided to wander over to the Cent Quatre, about which I have already made other reports. It is a huge building which was the former municipal headquarters for mortuary services. Now it is an extemely variable art venue run by the city of Paris.

As it turned out, the current events are devoted to Argentina, a country which France absolutely loves, at least now that it has returned to the fold of democratic countries.

There was a special event, and it was necessary to wait to get in.

I was hooked, so I got in the "did not reserve" line.

It didn't take long to get in, though. It would be almost impossible for such a huge place to sell out.

Since I had arrived just as it opened, it would take a little while for it to appear inhabited.

That was fine with me, because I like to give myself time to start settling into an event.

Dancing was planned, that's for sure! Welcome to Buenos Aires!

[Deleted]

There was futbol.



There was haircutting.



There was mural painting.

[Deleted]

At the beginning of the evening, things were still calm and traditional, though....

[Deleted]

... but as the evening progressed, new music became available.

I should mention that I noticed that a huge number of Argentinians appeared to be present, more than one expects to find in Paris these days. (In the 1980's I knew a number of Argentinian exiles who had moved to Paris, but they all were impatient to return home as soon as their country became normal again.) Frankly, I am always pleased to see such a diverse slice of the multicultural Parisian tribe at these events, no matter where they come from.

Anyway, El Remolón was performing in one of the rooms, even though apparently his official identity is Andres Schteingart. His style is called "minimal techno" because there is nothing frenetic about it, as his name implies.

[tod2]

Tremendous Kerouac! What a fun evening - I certainly would have loved it

[Deleted]

Food and drink became necessary.









Maybe some hot tubs, too? WTF?















Maybe some Argentinian massages?

[Deleted]

Meanwhile, back in Buenos Aires, even stranger things were happening, if one can believe the screens that I was watching.

[lola]

Yes, Kerouac. That is fun. Yes to an Argentinian massage, in public if necessary. Did you get something to eat?

[Deleted]

In the main hall, the tango dancers were replaced by the electro-traditional group Tremor. They did not spurn the traditional accordion, but as their set progressed, it became more and more electronic.

[photobucket height=240 width=320]http://s450.photobucket.com/albums/qq228/kerouac2/Buenos%20Aires%20104/?action=view¤t=321eca8e.pbw[/photobucket]
The drummer was possessed.

I kept going back and forth between Tremor and El Remolón.

Here is a normal video by Tremor when they are not in a Paris frenzy.

[Deleted]

One of the things I like is the new tag line of the Centquatre: Ici vous êtes. Literally, it would translate as "Here you are" but figuratively it means "Here you exist."

You know what? Even though I loved being there, I sort of regretted being many years older than 90% of the people there.

The mural reaffirmed Franco-Argentinian friendship.

[Deleted]

Okay, to act my age, I went to the excellent bookstore inside the 104, Le Merle Moqueur, to examine the books about Buenos Aires.

The night was still young when I left and the musicians would still be playing sets until at least 3 a.m.

No futbol for me...





No drumming triumphs...



But I still felt that here I exist and the night was open.

[lola]

We bet you fit right in. It's fun to see so much life -- existing --there.

I have to admit that "Buenos Aires" and "Paris" more or less rhyme when casually pronounced around these parts.