I wrote about the Relais Routiers recently, the network of French truck stop dining destinations around the country. It's good, quality, homestyle food at a great price. Then I talked about Smokey & the Bandit because - truckers! substack.com/history/post...

Conexion by Dalton has been in my head all day: a crossover of The Breeders' Cannonball with Dead Kennedys riffs, with somebody else I can’t place. Dalton are a French post-punk band. The video is great, but there’s cartoon dog sex - you’ve been warned. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE8h...

I DO mean to be posting more on here. Meanwhile, this is one of my series of awkward personal experiences living in France and a musical interlude.

I hope some folks find it entertaining. I loved writing it. keithchristiansen.substack.com/p/finding-ho...

Thrift shopping in Brittany last week.

I'm listening to Yacht's I Thought the Future Would Be Cooler (2015) - Los Angeles-based synth-pop duo mixing retro-future sounds & social commentary. It’s playful and funny, while being sadly true and yet very danceable.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8ca...

A new piece about the French 75 cocktail today - including vintage cocktail guides and a bit of history of Paris & the US in the 1920s. I write about people that made a lot of curious choices in history, well, the last century or so.

open.substack.com/pub/keithchr...

I am so happy that my 3rd podcast was released today! It’s an interview with Will Scheckel, a fascinating guy who moved from the US to Germany and home again, changing careers and his entire life in the process. He's a pretty funny guy as well…

open.substack.com/pub/keithchr...

keithchristiansen.substack.com/p/french-chr...

Listening to Jean Schultheis's “Confidence pour confidence” (1981).It feels like the kind of track that couldn't happen today. Shultheis has been compared to early Billy Joel or even Elton John, but he's a bit of his own thing. Today's favorite.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8u0...

Yesterday, I wrote a piece about France's Untouchables: the Cagot, who remain largely undocumented even today, despite their 1,000 year history in the country. keithchristiansen.substack.com/p/hidden-his...

Listening to Dee D. Jackson's "Automatic Lover," which is just a gem. Jackson had a few hits with her own sci fi disco style and utter commitment before moving on to producing. And yes, there is an original video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTFC...

listening to Synth Guaraldi, by Zach Tenorio (2024)- 12 synth interpretations of Vince Guaraldi. A bit of a fresh take on a Snoopy Christmas.

open.spotify.com/album/1Xgqka...

I've been writing a lot about disco after the US election, as both a kind of respite from the news cycle and a reminder that we have been here before.

The Disco Demolition night of 1979 was a baseball riot and "anti-disco" bonfire, with all kinds of racist and homophobic sentiments attached.

I wrote about Space's "Carry On, Turn Me On" recently - I've been doing a bunch about French Disco & Space Disco. This is a beautiful song (with a slow start) by Didier Mourauni, featuring American singer Madeline Bell. keithchristiansen.substack.com/p/space-disc...

Possibly the longest review on Spotify, but a great read about Heavy Metal artist Thor. 80's metal, so-so lyrics, & utter commitment. "Muscle metal," nude waitering and Merv Griffen. Fantastic.

I'll be reading a lot more of Rivadavia's reviews in any case: open.spotify.com/artist/4DLEl...

Listening to Grace Jones' "La vie en rose" - it has to be my favorite version of the song. She is magnificent. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEM8...

Hey people,
This is my first post on Bluesky. Glad to be here.

I used to be a teacher in NYC now I write for a living.

And yes, I do have a blog! It's about France.

I try to be funny sometimes.

Right now, it’s disco, food, French wine in crisis and weird moments with French people.