Being from Alberta, I had no idea who Aut’Chose was before this tribute show on the last day of FME, but I did recall the name from a conversation with rock and metal historian Felix Desfosses some years ago. He also references them a few times in his 2014 book, L’évolution du métal: No Speed Limit 1964-1989.
Singer/poet Lucien Francoeur (who passed last year at age 76) guitarist, Jacques Racine (who also passed in 2024) and Aut’Chose were a legendary force in the hard rock Quebecois music scene, releasing three albums in the mid ’70s. This FME Les Freaks de Montreal tribute show had new and younger artists: Rose Cormier of Mulch, Alix Fernz, N Nao, Pierre-Luc Gratton of Population II, and others, taking over the vocal duties and eulogizing Francoeur in between songs. The band was somewhat of a supergroup; on drums was Michel “Away” Langevin (Voïvod), guitars and synths were members of GrimSkunk, Groovy Aardvark, and Tricky Woo.
Again, I had never heard Aut’Chose songs before this show, but to me it felt like the best parts of RUSH, ZZ Top, Black Sabbath, and a bit of Lou Reed vocal delivery. There were moments of straight hard rock and moments of strange, fuzzy prog. It was fun and interesting to hear and see each vocalist in a different light: N Nao screaming, Alix Fernz without many vocal effects, sounding as clear as he ever has, and Pierre-Luc Gratton standing while singing, as he usually mans the throne and sings in Population II. Another standout has to be the double bass guitar action as Population II took the stage a second time.
