Vraiment Beau

The title says it all...if you haven't noticed...all the millions of you out there, I've been gone for a quite a bit...Well let me fill you in with the music I went all the way to Montreal to take in!

I'll start with the concert that started this whole "weekend away": Les Trois Accords. My friend loves this band and unfortunately they only play in Quebec! So it was decided we go to see them on January 13,2011. They played a smaller venue, much like the Myer Horowitz in Edmonton. Opening for LTA was a band from Winnipeg called Les Surveillantes (the Supervisors). And to be honest, I really don't like making comparisons in music because everyone is different...BUT this band is like a less morbid version of The Burning Hell! They play witty songs about observing everyday life and love, with a French twist. Their vocals really add to the mix however, because even though their lyrics are what would typically draw you in, for myself...who understands only basic French...I still loved it. What surprised me is that they didn't use the whole stage; all four members, one girl included, gathered around two microphones and made it much more intimate. When Les Trois Accords (the three chords) came to the stage they quickly (and very brightly) turned the stage lights to the audience and immediately began playing. The crowd was so obviously into singing along that the lead singer invited everyone to the front (it had been a sit-down concert), and the crowd stayed at the front of the stage until the very last song. There was a huge variety of people attending from little kids, teens, to couples and more mature concert-eers (I made that up...). All of the opening band was available to chat afterwards, and one member of LTA came out. Of course we had to say we came all the way from the West, and I'm not sure if they either doubted us...or thought we were crazy! The venue, L'Etoile Banque Nationale, is in the newer outdoor shopping area called Dix-Trente (it intersects the Highways 10 & 30). It was really nice, but really...nothing too special...it was also in Brossard which we traveled to by Metro (across the river) and about a 1 hour bus ride, and back by about a $40 cab ride. Not to say that it wasn't an awesome concert...but personally it wasn't worth it to not understand more than half of it. If I was a local it would be a great venue, but if traveling there don't expect too much.