I’ll begin this article, ostensibly about the band Voilà!, by mentioning the night’s opening act, because they deserve it.
La Greffe is a four piece–drum, bass, guitar and cello. Their music-style, based on what I saw on the night of the fifth of November, is lilting, tending toward the 1-2-3 of waltzes. This pattern, though, is regularly shaken–every song seems to include at least one switch-up, some sudden shift in rhythm. It keeps the music engaging, and can make your ears prick up even if you’re chilling against the side wall (as I was, at first).
The lead singer wore a fuzzy cat mask at this show, which he’d pull on and off during different parts of different songs. What I saw seemed to indicate that the songs all told stories, with the lead singer switching voices and poses on-stage to evoke different characters. The cello also adds a lovely dimension to their music, a sense of epic-ness, of importance. A pleasant new discovery! They’ll be playing next at Alizé, in Montréal, December 16th.
On to Voilà!
I saw Voilà! two summers ago at Quai des Brumes and, coming into this show, I could only remember having had a favourable impression of them. They weregood, somehow.
The show on the fifth of November reminded me why.
Voilà! is a four- sometimes five-piece band–on the night in question they consisted of a guitarist, a bassist, a violinist, a keyboardist, and a drummer. Their songs are mostly instrumental, ambient and evocative. The guitarist sat in a circle of stringed instruments, including two 6-string guitars and something that looked like a soprano violin. There were distortion pedals at his feet and he broke a drumstick playing a stand-alone snare during their very first song. The whole of the music is well-timed and beautifully layered, showcasing the group’s obvious talent.
Vocals, when used, are rarely central, and tend to just add to the atmosphere rather than drive it. Often the band just sings haunting, wordless melodies that mesh with the lines played by their instruments. These boys can create and hold a harmony like nobody’s business. The violin slides, the guitars chime, and often there are catchy, staccato rhythms beneath. Their voices are often obscured and, in some cases, distorted by a chocolate box taped shut and stuffed with socks–possibly my favourite part.
A very talented, intriguing group, and well worth a listen! Their next show is Novemer 19th at Zénob (Feu de Fôret dans le désert), in Trois-Rivières.
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