Lyse and the Hot Kitchen

Show: Lyse and the Hot Kitchen
Venue: Mademoiselle, Montreal
Date: Saturday, December 19th, 2015

Heading to Mademoiselle on Parc Avenue, JJ is almost skipping he's so excited. Since spending time with him, I've learned there's much about music I don't know. Like Arthur Jaguars Cossette of, among else, Lyse & the Hot Kitchen. Mr Cossette launched his career playing instrumental rock with the Jaguars in the 60's. Yé-yé/Twist/Surf music.

JJ mentions having bought a plexiglas guitar pic from Cossette at a price I won't state here. It's a special pic that can break strings if not played the right way.

Arrive at the venue a bit early. The only ones there. The band members are eating supper. Plenty time for a few beers, an old fashioned and some sweet potato fries while the crowd arrives.

The show starts and we have on stage Lyse Déjeuner as lead vocalist/percussions, Arthur Cossette on guitar and Jérôme Hébêrt (never seen so many accents on a name) on bass.

Lyse & the Hot Kitchen

As soon as Cossette starts his solo, you hear the crowd roaring. Everybody is a fan although not many present. Some start dancing swing. You know there's a smile behind Cossette's huge moustache. I take a look at his guitar, it's a funny looking thing. Stickers of bees and pugs with a lot of glitter. Excited, JJ tells me he's never witnessed anybody that age play so well with the exception of Chuck Berry (yes, Mr Berry played in Montreal in the late 90's I believe, wasn't there to witness that).

Arthur Cossette

Lyse & the Hot Kitchen is great music. Some in French, some in English; a mixture of swing, rock&roll and yé-yé "dans le même biscuit, ti-gars" as mentioned on their Facebook page.

The set ends. We leave the venue with a smile on our face. Didn't expect to have that much fun. Next stop? Tumbao vs Mess Around at the Inspecteur Épingle. A disc jockey vinyl battle. Latin influence music with some soul.

I love Montreal.

Elvis Perkins | Kinsey | Petit Campus

Show: Elvis Perkins + Kinsey
Venue: Petit Campus, Montreal
Date: Tuesday, December 15th, 2015

It starts with a walk on one of the most romantic streets in Montreal. Laval street on the Plateau Mt-Royal. JJ and I are on our way to the Petit Campus for an Elvis Perkins performance. All is serene when suddenly he pulls out a sock from his pocket. "You left your sock at my place" he mentions. Only, the sock isn't mine. The remaining walk is spent discussing whose sock it could be. "Quite a Bermuda Triangle I have in my hand" JJ said.

I spot Dan Aykroyd as we enter the venue. Of course am star struck. I don't get star struck often you know? I mention this to JJ, he doesn't believe me. I mention this to AC, he doesn't know who it is. That's how it is in Quebec.

We arrive too late for Kinsey but just in time to order some beers before Elvis Perkins' entrance on stage. I love the Petit Campus. Always magical. Still remember clearly M. Ward's, Pokey Lafarge's and Justin Townes Earle's performances on that stage. No different this time. You feel the music, you don't listen. Nevertheless, that evening, you could hear someone else's music in the background. A bit disconcerting. But hey! Perkins is a pro.

Elvis Perkins at Petit Campus

One beautiful song after another with a variety of instruments to accompany guitar, voice, drums, bass and synths. Elvis Perkins' high notes are quite beautiful, especially on "My Kind" from his latest album I Aubade. The posture of his body in front of the mic shows his dedication to the music. He promises it won't take as long before releasing the next album and before a trip back to Montreal. He also pronounces a few French words but I couldn't understand.

Elvis Perkins an Kinsey

The set is long but it never gets tiring. Usually the crowd can feel when the musicians are exhausted. It loses interest. I only lose interest on the last song when someone stands in front of me. I feel my space getting tighter.

We leave shortly after. In the cab, AC summarizes quite perfectly Elvis Perkins "Yé comme parfait".

China xx