Music
Every evening from 6 to 7 P.M., a guest DJ adds atmosphere and mood to the État d’Urgence supper. The DJs are:
22 Pouliche Magique
23 Denyse Juncutt
24 Vincent Lemieux
25 Why Alex Why?
26 Ghislain Poirier
Le Husky 22 at 9pm
Le Husky distinguishes himself from his peers through his lyrics, which are resolutely down-to-earth and contemporary. The pain of living is explored from all angles and we are reminded that “la vie est une chienne”(life is a bitch). Nostalgia comes back to haunt us with its souvenirs that feel “like punches”. Husky’s music is the polar opposite of “hopeful music for happy people”. But if you’ve even the slightest melancholic bone in you, his six musical pieces are gems that will leave you wanting more...
Pépé et sa guitare 23 at 7pm
A Québec folk-punk phenom, an affable, generous showman, a gifted musician with a deft mastery of both his guitar and ukelele: PÉPÉ is all these things. He presents his sophomore release “FAKEK’ CHOZ”. Funnier than his first, more caustic, more biting, more romantic, more melodious, more mature, more, more, more... and always endearing.
Sweatshop Tango le 23 at 9pm
A new quintette on the Montreal scene, comprised of young talent from Argentina and across Canada, devoted to the hot, pulsating sounds of tango nuevo. Taking heirlooms of the classic Piazzolla repertoire and giving them a new, improvisational spin, as well as drawing on choice chestnuts from other composers such as Rodolfo Mederos and Gustavo Beytelmann, the youthful ensemble gives a fresh, urban vibe to this music redolent with melancholy. Hot-blooded rhythms, wistful violins, sparkling accordeon, piano well-anchored in the low octaves, and guitar and double bass played to percussive effect: pure tango heaven.
Urbains Desbois 24 at 9pm
photospan Martin Savoie (détail)
Urbain Desbois, aka Luc Bonin, enjoys writing short, naive lyrics, somewhat in the style of Japanese haiku poetry. “I like to write short stories, brief modern-day interludes where sad, drab reality can take a comedic twist.” An apt description of his musical universe.
Les Voies Ferrées 25 at 1pm
“Baroque ‘n’ roll” that defies classification: that pretty much sums up the repertoire of Les Voix Ferrées. Truly a musical melting pot, the vocal ensemble thumbs its nose at purist considerations of geography and chronology, sciences much too clinical for this band of jolly souls.
Kumpa’nia 25 at 2pm & 26 at 1pm
photo: Geneviève Massé
KUMPA'NIA is a travelling drum corps offering up unique, original music inspired by the mix of musical genres and of people. Six instruments make up KUMPA'NIA’s percussive juggernaut: surdos contribute a bed of bass, snares provide a solid, rhythmic backbone, toms big and small play harmony, and bells and shakers add a colourful flourish and a dash of madness to the proceedings!
The New Kings 25 at 9pm
photo: B. Arabian - NOW Magazine
The New Kings are a band of music veterans brought together by a fearless passion for social activism and a spirit for Rock ‘n’ Roll. Their live show is highly energetic, engaging and extremely provocative, most often drawing comparisons to The Clash, The Stooges and Tom Waits. On stage, Michael Louis Johnson is a preacher with the timing of a stand-up comic and the power of a punk-rocker from the old school, backed by a band with the chops to take a song anywhere at any time.
Ève Cournoyer 26 at 7pm
photo: Sylvain Dumais
Ève Cournoyer is a singer-songwriter who refuses to compromise her artistic integrity. She serves up folk-tinged pop-rock songs which she writes instinctively and idiosyncratically, drawing on her solid experience working as a sound technician in a recording studio. She does it all: songwriting, singing, arranging, recording, sound effects, sampling and mixing.
It would be mighty difficult to pigeonhole this singer-songwriter’s sound. It mixes shards of punk and glam-punk with garage rock shrapnel and pop. One thing is certain: the colourful character that is Xavier Caféïne plays the music he loves to play. And he knows how to fashion a hook-laden tune.
Photo: Martin Savoie