Last night’s Taverne Tour offered an evening rich in contrasts, oscillating between post-punk, dance-punk and raw garage rock. With Chandra, La Sécurité and The Gories, each performance made its mark with singular energy and electrifying ambience.
Chandra opened the evening with a hypnotic set, driven by her unique blend of post-punk and no wave. At just 12 years of age, she was already recording tracks influenced by ESG and Talking Heads, and her appearance on the Taverne Tour proved that her universe is still as captivating as ever after so many years of service. On stage, she exuded an almost mystical aura, her voice oscillating between spoken vocals and melodic flights. Her repetitive synths and mechanical rhythms created a spellbinding trance, accentuated by her charismatic presence and bright pink hair, like an icon from another time transported to the present.
La Sécurité took over with an explosion of frenetic dance-punk. The band fuses the edgy rhythms of post-punk with danceable grooves and euphoric energy, reminiscent of bands like Le Tigre and Bodega. Right from the start, singer Ramona set the mood with an enthusiastic “Let’s go Kenny” to her drummer, setting off an ultra-dynamic set.
His exuberant attitude and chanted vocals lent a jubilant urgency to every track. The bassist, impassive but magnetic, brought a hypnotic depth to the compositions, while the guitarist juggled between sharp riffs and more chaotic passages. Kenny, on drums, seemed to be the driving force behind the band, striking with an intensity that left no respite. Their performance was a perfect blend of tension and raw pleasure, turning the room into a frenetic dance floor.
Finally, The Gories rounded off the evening with a set of wild, primitive garage rock. Formed in the late ’80s, the Detroit trio remains faithful to a raw, minimalist aesthetic inspired by ’60s blues and rock’n’roll. With no bass, just two raw guitars and uncompromisingly pounding drums, they have awakened the punk instinct in audiences. Their return to Montreal after a ten-year absence unleashed a tidal wave of energy, with furious moshpits from the very first notes. Their lo-fi sound and casual attitude gave the impression of attending a clandestine concert in a clammy basement, where sweat and chaos are the only watchwords.
From the post-punk trance of Chandra to the dance-punk euphoria of La Sécurité and the garage fury of The Gories, this Taverne Tour evening proved once again that the independent scene is more vibrant than ever.
Photo La Sécurité: Camille Gladu Drouin
