The opening night of Taverne Tour began under a soft snowfall on Thursday, February 12. Over at the Esco, Vanille set the tone with a vaporous and delicate soundscape. Singer Rachel, dressed in a gown the same blue worn by Lady Gaga during her halftime performance, appeared on stage surrounded by her collaborators: Vincent Huard-Tremblay on bass, Victor Tremblay-Desrosiers on drums, and a guest guitarist and keyboardist joining the usual trio, in front of a crowd already buzzing for the launch of Mort Rose.
Despite a few off notes at the start, they quickly found their footing and delivered an atmospheric collage of songs drawn from their albums Soleil 96, La clairière, Tu me vois comme je suis, and more recently Un chant d’amour, offering a glimpse into their universe, at times soft and romantic, at times retro-folk. The audience was largely receptive, swaying gently with the music, though some seemed eager for the explosive energy that Mort Rose was set to bring.
Personally, I found the musical journey pleasant and the discovery refreshing. A perfect program to build anticipation ahead of the much awaited launch of Mort Rose’s new album, full of rhythm and dynamism, an impression perhaps less widely shared among the die-hard alternative rock fans gathered for the event.
