On the second night of the Plants and Animals takeover of the recreated Divan Orange you can hear the older Montreal indie scene reaching towards us.
After a year of looking back at early 2000s indie music we can see a willingness for the former patrons of the space to appreciate its influence. From the release of Mile end kicks to the iconic and nostalgic patricwatson performance at this year’s jazz fest, everyone is thinking of the early hipsters and Montreal’s influence on that culture.
The crowd here to Plants and Animals were jubilant and chatty, running into old friends and singing to familiar songs. This seems like the platonic ideal of Montreal music, a chugging beat you’ve heard from half moon run and arcade fire with grunge inspired guitar. It sounds like this city.
Warren Spicer’s clear voice pierces through and is bolstered by the enthusiastic audience. The room is hot and bustling throughout the set, the band jumps and dances on stage playing out long transitions that lull us into a lovely state. The set shifts from their indie rock bangers that you can learn the words to after one listen and long melodic songs that draw us in.
Half way through the set they invite Adèle Trottier-Rivard to join them on stage. Known for being one half of the duo Bibi Club alongside Nicolas Basque the guitarist and bassist for plants and animals. Her gentle voice blends with the band and makes for a lovely transition with the end of the set.
The very last song of the set a second series of guests are invited on stage. Six young boys, the sons of the musicians, join and sing the chorus with the band as they pass the torch of the Montreal indie scene. While there was an undeniably special boom for the indie scene in their heyday it is still alive and well. The music of Montreal continues to be shaped by the city and be connected to it’s origins.
