The Tiger Lillies and… Edith Piaf in Thessaloniki!

[dropcap size=big]O[/dropcap]ne of the year’s greatest events in the city of Thessaloniki was also the concert of the British Tiger Lillies at Theatro Dassous (Forest Theatre). Despite all the bad weather forecasts, Martyn Jacques, Adrian Stout and Jonas Golland completed their appearance in front of the Greek audience and nothing unexpected happened. After a period of absence, Tiger Lillies came back to Thessaloniki and if we also think about the teaser they posted in view of their concert, it appeared that both Tiger Lillies and people were happy for that concert.

Martyn Jacques (member since 1989), their founder, in vocals with his specially high voice, playing the piano and the accordion, Adrian Stout (member since 1995) in the bass, backing vocals, jaw harp, musical saw, and the magical theremin and Jonas Golland (member since 2015) on drums, complete the trio Tiger Lillies in 2016.

[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he concert was a magical audiovisual show, the musicians had this incomparable expressive style that characterizes them, their theatrical appearance and their expected stunning performance. Songs of Edith Piaf were heard as «Padam, Padam» and «La vie en rose» as well as some of their new and older ones as «Edith Loves Albert» and «Crack Of Doom».

Padam, padam, padam
Il arrive en courant derrière moi
Padam, padam, padam
Il me fait le coup du souviens-toi

[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap]nspired by the great life of Edith Piaf, the Tiger Lillies honor her with the performance of their year’s tour. The show entitled «Madame Piaf» manages to combine with great success the old with the new. Thus, the public had the opportunity to enjoy famous pieces performed by the unique Edith Piaf adapted to the aesthetics of the band and translated into English, and their new songs inspired by the life and the «dark» side of this great artist. Their new album, «Madame Piaf, Songs from the Gutter», presents with a… tiger lillie way the story of her bohemian life that made her so beloved.

The Tiger Lillies since 1989, the year they were formed, have started continual world tours, they publish an album almost every year and cooperate with artists of all disciplines. The world of Tiger Lillies contains darkness, specificity and diversity. Deep regret and hard black humor are expressed. This unique «anarchic Brechtian street opera» called by its founder, Jacques, a «Brechtian punk cabaret», touring around the world playing pieces for «something that does not include the beautiful blonde girls and boys running in the meadow». Their songs speak for all the dark aspects of life, prostitution, substances, violence and despair. Always using a special sense of humor and cruel irony, the Tiger Lillies turn the finger towards us, accusing us indirectly for our apathy and general attitude that we keep regarding all the above. Their music as a distinctive mixture of pre-war Berlin cabaret, anarchic opera and gypsy music, echoing the voices of Bertolt Brecht and Jacques Brel, makes us travel there where the absence of limits will have to be taken for granted.

Quand il me prend dans ses bras
Il me parle tout bas,
Je vois la vie en rose

This special triplet that began with an ad by Jacques to find a musician, 27 years later, through their difference, manages to survive, to have fun, to be loved, to raise awareness and concern in a wonderful and uniquely its own way.