In the deep red light bathing the back end of Le Baron, a former brothel that is possibly the most exclusive nightclub in Paris, Josh Weller — a young British singer-songwriter who looks like a cross between Poindexter from “Revenge of the Nerds” and Kid from Kid ’n’ Play — was finishing off his set. With the audience singing along, he brought his tune “What Will My Girlfriend Say?” to a dramatic crescendo, his voice echoing both Conor Oberst and Jack White, before ending it suddenly and silently. After the applause, he issued a polite request: “Please buy my album so that I can eat.”
The Frugal Traveler was sorely tempted. Despite the stringent door policy — you don’t get in unless the doorman knows you, or in my case, my friend — there’s no cover charge at Le Baron (6, avenue Marceau; 33-1-4720-0401; www.clublebaron.com). But alas, my friend and I had already bought two tiny bottles of Heineken that cost a hilarious 10 euros each ($14.30 at $1.43 to the euro), and I was feeling less than flush.
Besides, I had more music to listen to that week, and who knows how many more overpriced drinks to buy. During my nine frugal days in Paris, I was trying to see as many bands as possible, in as many genres as possible, from classical and religious music to the chansons of the prewar period to the French hip-hop I’d discovered in college and the indie rock and Afropop I’d become enamored of in recent years. All this on a budget of 100 euros — a sum I assumed would vanish instantaneously. Read more…