“There are so many people, it has nothing to do with it!” It’s going to be the biggest show of our careers. It’s too big for me, says Philippe Brach. It’s sure that it’s the first and last time that we’re going to play on the biggest internship ! »
With a big smile on his lips, letting out his slightly crazy laugh a few times, Philippe Brach made this observation at the very start of the show, as if in disbelief at the moment he was sharing with thousands of festival-goers. Although he seemed impressed all evening to find himself on such a large stage, in front of so many people, he never seemed to be out of place, quite the contrary.
“Are you in an oven host? » It was first of all with these words that Philippe Brach greeted the spectators, while he gave his first concert on the biggest stage of the festival. As soon as he arrived, dressed in a bathrobe, socks and wearing his mushroom hat, he invited us into his slightly shaky world. As long as you’re too hot, you might as well be too hot in good company.
Brach started with one of his most demanding recent songs, Fear is avalanche, surrounded by his group of musicians, impeccable all evening. As he often does, he describes what is wrong in the world, using images that say everything without saying anything. Racism, pedophilia and human stupidity are all there.
Only him could open a show like this. His acolytes were immediately able to impress with a beautiful instrumental flight. Brach grabbed his acoustic guitar, Last call followed, festival-goers were seduced by his incendiary words.
Beautiful music and great warmth
It was so hot Wednesday evening, even though the sun was well down, that it was… frankly unpleasant. And yet, nothing would have made us leave the Place des Festivals, what was happening on stage was so captivating, almost making us forget that we were liquefying on the spot. The heatwave can do nothing against these artists who dispel discomfort with great bursts of happiness. Philippe Brach was obviously very happy to be there and his audience clearly wanted to enjoy the moment as well.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Spectators during the Philippe Brach concert on the Place des Festivals Wednesday evening
“Good job, because on a 43 degree day you figured you were going to the worst heat island in town. Thanks for that ! »
Crystel, Our blue desires, Born to be wild (the superb harmonies!)… Brach played the older and more well-known songs from his repertoire. He was all vocals, never disappointing in that regard. He danced, had fun, let himself go and seemed to have a lot of fun. A shared pleasure.
The catchy piece Tick tock brought back the new album. The more frenetic rhythm then immediately subsided: Happiness coughs less than beforepublished in 2015 on the magistral Portraits of famine, kept the tempo slower. The show was designed as a roller coaster, there are the high points of the songs that make you jump up and down and dance, then the gentle moments where you land at the bottom of the thrilling descent for a moment of respite.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Philippe Brach and his musicians on the Place des Festivals, Wednesday evening
Brach then played the MusiquePlus VJ by hosting an on-camera TV segment on stage to introduce his first guests, Population II. “You’re not ready,” he warned: rock-prog-electro full of distortions and vocals doped with reverb took over the show. It was great.
The sumptuous Autumn suns followed byAlice allowed us to go back down the roller coaster in a calm time. And then Heroin initiated a new moment of strong emotions which was then opposed by the calm of The end of the worldwhich led to a very generous instrumental moment where guitarist Simon Trottier shone.
New hilarious TV segment on MusiquePlus then, to present the second guest of the show, the electric Lisa LeBlanc for a funky interpretation of her song gossip.
Good that hurts
Then return to the main program. Philippe Brach’s songs do good and sometimes also hurt, because they attack all of humanity, reproach it for its deviances. After the great It’s all forgottenthe lugubrious but groovy (yes, yes, both at the same time) My white hands is another which places us face to face with criticism of the world that Brach writes and sings about. He does it without the moralizing side of those who think they know everything, he does it with an ingenious sense of dark humor, often introspection.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Philippe Brach, wearing his mushroom hat
Ridiculousness often prevails in a Brach show. Like when he screwed a mushroom and grass helmet onto his head to which a GoPro is attached which films his face very, very close. His cover of the Canadian national anthem, full of innuendo, was then sung with a solemnity that one guessed was artificial, with this grotesque shot of the singer projected on the big screens. It’s great fun, great entertainment.
Revolution came right after. A hymn to our false revolutions, to our unworthy indignations. After a crazy rendition of In my heada song with a text as quirky as the tune is catchy, to say goodbye to a crowd who braved the heat to share this beautiful moment of music, Philippe Brach sang A little magicguitar in hand.
After a short reminder (“OK, first of all, OK!”), the evening concluded with Good day, a cappella. “The sun has just risen, it’s raining ashes on Gaza…” begins the song, released in 2015, bitingly relevant almost ten years later. “But at MétéoMédia, they said it’s a beautiful day host! », continues Brach.
The world is not going well, we know it and Philippe Brach reminds us. And, at the same time, subtly, it also reminds us of the importance of coming together, of singing, of being indignant together, of making misfortune a joke so that misery is a little less overwhelming. The evening under the crushing heat of the heatwave hitting Montreal seemed much lighter thanks to Brach’s crazy tunes.