What are you up to now, Jarvis Cocker?

"I will never die. I will simply graduate from the university of life."

I check out jarviscocker.net and that's the first thing I hear. That's just great! He goes on to recite other things from what appears to be a blurry, pixelated lyric book. It's hard to tell from the quality of the live to web broadcast. He's sitting there with the band, centre of a lazy, almost slow jazz, sort of jam. He looks just like he has for the past years or so that we've known him from his mySpace page. Scruffy beard, floppy hair, thick black rim glasses, grey suit jacket.

"How dare you be better than me! How dare you!"

He's doing something special, live from the Galerie Chappe in Paris. Actually, it's almost over if you're reading this on the day this post was written. For the past few days, he's been doing all sorts of brilliant musical nonsense, from improvisation to hosting an aerobics class. This has all but put live to air via his website. Possibly the best way to advertise his upcoming release of Further Complications, May 19th on Rough Trade Records.

"I really like you! However, I'm just popping outside for a cigarette."

Here's the past and present schedule of events, set in Paris-ian time (that's six hours ahead of EST Toronto time if you're interested in catching the rest of the broadcast).


FRIDAY 8th MAY

12 - 2pm - BAND REHEARSAL

2 - 3pm - IMPROVISATIONS ON A THEME (throughout the course of the
exhibition a box will be available in the gallery into which members of the
public can post titles, phrases, suggestions, lyrics or anything else that
the band can then base improvisations around. During this hour the band
will create a number of pieces based on selections of this material).

3 - 4pm - AEROBICS CLASS

4 - 5pm - BRING AN INSTRUMENT (members of the public are invited to bring
an instrument with them & play along with the band. Amplification will be
available for electric instruments).

5 - 6pm - GUEST PERFORMANCE (an invited guest will play with the band)

SATURDAY 9th MAY

12 - 2pm - BAND REHEARSAL

2- 3pm - BRING AN INSTRUMENT

3 - 4pm - DANCING (the band will play an hour of music designed to
encourage people to dance. Dress appropriately)

4 - 6pm - SET-UP FOR OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE (weather permitting)

6 - 7pm - OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE (the band will play a short open-air concert
just outside the gallery)

SUNDAY 10th MAY

12 - 2pm - BAND REHEARSAL

2 - 3pm - QUIET HOUR (an hour of the softest music the band can play)

3 - 4pm - GUEST PERFORMANCE

4 - 6pm - REVIEW OF THE WEEK (the band will play music written over the
course of the past 6 days)


But not to worry if you've missed any of it, or most of it like I have. The whole thing has been documented and is up for streaming here! There's so much gold on there! Like this: Jarvis teaching a class of 8 year old to rock hard.



"Je PARLE! JE PARLE!"
Gotta love this man.

Jarvis Cocker - Tonite (mp3) (amazon) (iTunes)
Jarvis Cocker - Angela (mp3) (amazon) (iTunes)

"Thank you, and merci beaucoup."