Music Spotlight
by Neil Atherton

Goo Goo Cluster

Perry Leopard, François Royer and Christophe Cadet have been playing bars and clubs in Paris since 1998. As Goo Goo Cluster, they form “a Bermuda triangle between Chicago, New Orleans and Kingston, Jamaica – without really sounding like a blues or reggae band,” admits Perry, a naturalized Franco-American since moving to Paris from Birmingham, Alabama. “I had a band called Them Thievin’ Crows way back in the ’80s and I've been in Paris since the bicentennial of the Revolution, playing a bit of music now and again, but nothing very interesting until François and I started Goo Goo Cluster.”
Last year saw the trio produce a limited-edition CD, “Whoops!,” which has earned them comparisons to the Fun Lovin’ Criminals and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. “Maybe the thing in common with the Peppers is mixing rock and funk with other types of music,” explains Perry, “but I like lots of different stuff. Piled up next to my stereo right now are Shirley Horn, Jon Spencer, the Drifters, Alex Chilton and Carl Douglas.” Apparently, François is more of a reggae fan and almost all the songs have a touch of reggae, rock steady or ska in them. All this makes for an explosive cocktail they like to call Goozik. And, with the CD out of the way, there’s only one thing left to do – get out and do some more shows... They’re at the Flèche d'Or on May 4, 9pm, 102 bis rue de Bagnolet, 20e, M° Gambetta, tel: 01 43 72 04 25, 25F