Bringing a massive wave of positive energy to La Noce, Etran de L’Aïr completely captivated the crowd. With a crisp sound and powerful vocals, the Tuareg desert blues group from Agadez, Niger, left the audience hypnotized by their bouncing moves and repetitive Sahara guitar rock rhythms.
The more we moved, the bigger the smiles on their faces grew; they really were having as fantastic a time as the audience, which gave the whole show a sense of authenticity and community! The crowd did not always read the room. At some point, mosh pits started, along with some crowdsurfing, leading to definite disappointment on the faces of some fans who just wanted to dance and soak in rhythms.
The closing guitar solo felt endless, and not entirely in a good way. My partner and I exchanged a look that said it all: something was definitely off. The guitarist lost his flow, hitting some pretty rough notes while trying to pull off a complex riff. Luckily, he quickly snapped out of the rut, and they managed to finish the set in style. They departed with the largest smiles. Hands pressed together in gratitude. Hope I’ll see them again—overall, one of the best performances at La Noce.
Photo: Sam Snow
