At 8 a.m. on Thursday, the thrift store that occupies the space formerly held by the Divan Orange, which closed in the spring of 2018. Run by a cooperative comprising about ten salaried members and other professionals employed on a permanent basis, the Divan Orange had been in operation for 13 years; more than 325 programs were presented there annually, and more than 10,000 shows had been staged by the time the venue was sold.
Above the venue were cultural organizations, including the now-defunct MEG Montréal. And then things gradually took a turn for the worse. The office spaces were replaced by housing, and the immediate neighborhood shifted from commercial activity to residential rentals. Inevitably, tolerance for noise plummeted, as did that of the landlords.
The closure of the Divan Orange was followed by that ridiculous saga involving the Théâtre La Tulipe, which was shut down for relatively similar reasons. On Plaza Saint-Hubert, the managers of Ausgang saw a neighbour build a rental building populated by tenants who have nothing to do with the nightlife; things seem to be working out today, but the tide can always turn…
All this to say that independent venues in Montreal’s central neighbourhoods are facing decline, even on commercial thoroughfares. Building owners are increasingly reluctant to rent out these spaces—and they have every right to do so, since the City of Montreal has not established clear enough regulations to protect independent venues. Since the Divan Orange’s impending closure was announced eight years ago, three businesses have reportedly occupied the space in succession.
For Pop Montréal’s 25th anniversary, Dan Seligman had the brilliant idea of reviving the venue for three consecutive nights, after which the Divan Orange would return to the box of memories. Though initially reluctant, the venue’s owner was persuaded by Dan Seligman. It would be surprising if this were to happen again.
On Thursday’s main lineup: Plants and Animals, who have significantly scaled back their activities since 2020, fit perfectly into Pop Montréal’s plans: the return of an iconic band from the previous decade, the rebirth of an iconic venue from that era—ideal for Pop MTL’s 25th anniversary. And since it was a real hangout spot for Warren Spicer and his friends—the singer had even worked as a bartender there—the fit was perfect. So the famous trio took the stage again on Thursday night and will do it all over again on Friday.
It wasn’t just an extremely rare Plants and Animals show—it was a gathering of the indie generation, with so many familiar and recognizable faces. It took us right back to Park Avenue, Plants and Animals’ debut album from 2008.
The show was cool; we got to hear some pure indie classics from the Montreal power trio, as well as some lesser-known songs from Jungle, their latest album released six years ago. The three guys are seasoned musicians; they know how to excel on stage. More specifically, their performance didn’t strike me as particularly challenging or memorable—a bit lackluster at times, but generally good or very good. The whole thing was rounded out by a guest appearance from Adèle Trottier-Rivard, who, as we know, teams up with Nicolas Basque in the duo Bibi Club.
As the opening act, I was truly captivated by Sasha Cay’s stage presence—her whispered voice in the mid and low registers, her sharp gaze, and the seriousness and cohesion of her art rock and other songwriting endeavours—all of which led me to explore her work, which I highly recommend after an hour of listening.
A note to those feeling nostalgic: the Divan Orange hasn’t been recreated; it felt like stepping into an art gallery with immaculate white walls—the perfect backdrop for an avant-garde multidisciplinary performance. Tables served as a bar in that whitewashed tomb; only the wooden floor offered a faint reminder of the original space.
But we were really there all the same; memories sprouted there in September like dandelions in May.
Photo Pop Montréal
