A successful inter-cultural collision between the stage and the halls but also among the team composed of four Frenchmen (J. Clerc, the musicians, and the sound engineer) and three American technicians. Due to union protectionism, it is almost impossible for a non-American show to arrive in North America with its own technical crew. If they could replace the artist himself by a local worker they would no doubt… do so. But on the "Entre Nous" tour the Franco-American professional contact is a total success.

Our technical trio who are all locals of San Francisco, the stopover of the day, are working with a French performer for the first time. And when, as with the lighting designer manager Darrel Shines (photo), who has already lit the way for Iron Maiden and Metallica, this French experience is different… to say the least.

We spoke to all three of them about their "French Experience" : Chris Reaser (center) 28, backliner (in charge of the instruments) and producer of electronic music ; Marcel Cacdac (right) 25, stage sound manager who has worked on the magical voices of the Neville Brothers but also the blues of BB King or the rock of Dr. John, and Darrel Shines (left) 34, lighting designer and manager of Laid Back Productions, a company that produces dance shows, concerts, theater (even a birthday party for George Lucas!).

"What for you is the main difference between this show and what you've done in the past?"
Darrell:It's traditional French music and never have I had the opportunity to work with it before. The cultural exchange is interesting because the French way of doing things is different. One learns a lot.
Marcel: That's true, there's a mix of cultures. The dynamics are different. And, I thought that the language would be a barrier but it hasn't been the case at all .
Chris:The experience is nicer than usual because apart from simply doing your job there is the cultural aspect which is very instructive.

You went to France to "study" the show. What sort of experience was it?
Darrell :Yes, we were in Roubaix and in Lille(both in the North of France) to try to familiarize ourselves with the show. And that was very difficult because we didn't understand anything. I speak a little French but not enough to work. And only seeing the show twice before starting was too little. You cannot grasp all the numerous nuances of such a show.
I had already worked in Paris with the Cartier Foundation and with various production companies, Euro Sound and Crossroads but never in the domain of songs. I worked with sound and more rock 'n' roll situations.

What French music do you know?
Darrell :Gainsbourg, Brel, Aznavour, and what's the name of the little French girl who went out with Lenny Kravitz? I've also listened to a lot of French DJs. And MC Solaar. He's the most respected French rapper here. His rap is different. He doesn't write about his problems like NTM or Alliance Ethnick. And, his music is good too. It's also really danceable. There are a lot of good things in France but I've never taken the time to take more of an interest in it.
With the Julien Clerc experience, we can really see close up what few people have the chance to do in the U.S.A. . And there is the whole aspect of fantasies and clichés. The Frenchmen of the group are going to San Francisco for the first time and for them this represents something mythical. Like Paris is for Americans. It's fascinating to mutually discover each other's cultures.

Do you own any French records?
Chris: Jean-Michel Jarre(general laughter)

Catherine Pouplain
Photos : CP
translated by: sf renaudon