Je suis un rock star

Faux-French popsters’ transatlantic “tourette” arrives in la grande pomme! Photographed by James Taylor

Nous Non Plus on-stage at the Mercury Lounge, New York City, February 9, 2009.

At Vino we love our music almost as much as we love our wine, so when there’s a hot gig in town we don’t require much encouragement to don tight jeans and leather and join the Brooklyn Lager-sipping hipsters’ sweaty ranks. Last night was the turn of our friend Jeremy Parzen, whose band Nous Non Plus was appearing downtown at the Mercury Lounge. The pseudo-French new wave rockers had just returned from a successful mini tour of France, which included the official launch in Paris of their brand new record, Ménagerie.

Everyone's favorite Telecaster-wielding wine blogger Jeremy Parzen (who goes by the rock star alias Cal d'Hommage) pours a hidden bottle of Bollinger for thirsty fans.

Led by willowy Parisian native Céline Dijon and faux-Frenchman Jean-Luc Rétard (real name Dan Crane), the band tore through a string of ’60s-inspired sing-along punk-pop tracks plucked from their latest release and eponymously-titled debut album. The sexy show included the single “Loli”, the video to which (directed by Greg Harrison), has been on heavy rotation in this office all week:

Afterwards we shared a beer and caught up with Jeremy, whose charmed life of wine, food, music and travel is documented with an impressive dedication through his action-packed blog, Do Bianchi. (Jeremy reviews the NYC show plus a pre-gig bite at Centovini here.) Since leaving New York for La Jolla, California, Jeremy recently followed his heart to Austin, Texas, to indulge his passions in the Lone Star state’s most rock’n’roll town. Keep it weird, JP.

The stylish trio of Jeremy, keyboard player Maurice Chevrolet (Ryan Williams), and Jean-Luc captured shortly before a post-gig visit to Ray's Pizza.

Nous Non Plus’ brand new album Ménagerie is available now on Aeronaut Records. Acheter tout de suite!