A night truly Cordial comme on dirait en français.

 "So who are you going to see?" 
"A new band in town, some say it might just be the next cultural revolution for french music."
"You believe that?"
"Of course not."

I left the apartment, I had 10$ on me, I wanted to split a ticket with someone to get in for half the price. After all, revolution was supposedly cheap, that's what they promised in Cuba back then. A certain band called Cordial were set to play with Sam on the drum who coincidently also plays in The Snatchers, Emile the long slim john lennon wit kind of guy, who reps a fender telecaster american performer worth much more than promises of a revolution, a female keyboardist, a certain Emrick on bass who started on the guitars giving way to interesting bass licks and Orleanne on violon.  Now to explain the context, a lot new bands are made every fucking day, it's become fast food to play music in hopes of escaping the nine to five life. Sadly, many just totally suck. Some have talent but not the brains. Some have the brains but not the talent. The combinations are infinite, but the outcomes of a brilliant band, being the end result of this equation, are very fucking low, low like the funds you have, low like the amount of cocaine you get for forthy dollars, low like the chances I had of surviving the overdose as the doctor checked alcool level which was around 5g/l back when I was eighteen. So when people chattered about a new band from St-Hippolyte, I dragged a puff of cigarette and thought, another shitty band who drives to Montreal thinking they can knock it out just like Dédé Fortin did back then. Needless to say,  I hadn't seen em' and I didn't plan to. But turns out, Serial Milk were hosting a show at Quai des Brumes on the 19th August, a Tuesday. The day were I'm always fucking bored, and well last time I saw them, I was deceived but I did see a glimer, a spark, something to hold on to. So why not go and see them again, why not give them another chance. Turns out, the openers were none other than Cordial. 

At my arrival, I greet Sam, other known faces and I head in with Sara whom I promised to split the entrance fee with. Luckily for us, they let us in free, courtesy of a good service I gave to the man back when I worked in a music shop. I settled in, bought a beer to say I contribute to the local economy and stood in the middle of the crowd waiting. A slim round glasses thin mustache guy with hair all frizzled comes up, the drummer, the keyboardist, the violonist, the keyboardist and the bassist all walk up, get their instruments ready and sound emerges from the speakers. I close my eyes as I always do when it's the first time seeing a band, in hopes of pinpointing their influences without being influenced by their looks or whatsoever. Karkwa, hum yeah sounds a bit like especially the voice which is tender yet on the verge of spilling out rawness, Les Colocs with the energy that pummels through my body and all the instrumentation. But where's the harmonica I think, oh whatever they've got violon it'll do. First song done, the singer indulges with the crowd in a well manered way, no Fuck You, I'm This or I'm That. Straight to the point, introduces the band, and they lead with a cover of Jean Leloup's song Edgard from the album Le Dome. Now that is a fucking surprise, but the question remains, was the rendition good, faithful, pleasing to hear, and artistic? Yes, I believe they could slightly work on the timing of certain lyrics, but again, it's Jean Leloup, do whatever the fuck you want with it right? After all, Jean Leloup is the guy who released six different versions of the same songs across cassettes, youtube, cds and other mediums. So who cares if you change the tempo, the lyrical rythmics and all. As long as the song is recognisable. And it was, I must say it was a whimsical cover, and the crowd was ecstatic. The rest of the songs were as amazing, and like many other bands, each song to come was a work in progress in the studio for a record to come up eventually along the next year. So was Cordial gonna be part of a musical revolution that would change existence? No, but they were surely going to be played all across Quebec in a couple years to come if they stick to their nature and playfullness and musical act. To say I was flabergasted is the least to say and just like I proved the doctor wrong by surviving, Cordial proved me they were fucking great. It is a performance that'll be ingraved in my mind for long especially for a tuesday. Sam who normally destroys drum kits at Batiment 7 was now grooving and stitching rythmics at complete opposite of what defines the drums in punk music. The tall slim witty looking singer Emile interacted with the crowd in such a great fucking way, bringing us closer to his heart, min and project, redefining the meaning of musicianship and authenticity of an artist. The three other members were the bones and muscles that held it all together the whole set. Great performance Cordial, and must I say, it is a matter of time before more discover the greatness of what a drummer and a singer can do in a basement with a bit of imagination, arrangements, brilliant musicians and a will to bring people closer to one another. 

Next up was Serial Milk. Serial Milk, the band whom I spat on recently. Last time they played at l'Esco which is right besides, tonight there at Quai des Brumes. So back after a couples cigarettes, laughters and au revoirs. On stage, the lead singer has a 12 string acoustique guitar, while the rest is two guitars, one bass and a drum. They kick it off with an original in which I could hear good old rock influences. Their style is a great reminder of U2's delay guitar sounds along with the smooth yet cutting voice. The second song was a cover, none other than Another Brick In The Wall part 2. To start, they introduce saying, "Well here's our attempt at covering a song we like and a band we honor, we hope it please the people." Now of course that in a way I kind of knew they were talking of me, knowing I was there. The crowd went crazy as they started and so did I, it already sounded better than last time. Was it the packed room, the width and depth of the room, maybe the sound was better, whatever it was , it got me better this time. Maybe the shrooms I took last time altered my hearing who knows. After that, if I can resume the rest of their set, I'd say they sounded like U2. It was cool, their songs are danceable, catchy and yet very ethereal with a gloomy leamy dreamy soundscape yet stuck between the barriers and progressions of pop songs. Which is what a crowd needs to stay longer and they got it. Congrats to the band and one last thing, surprisingly, I heard feedback during a couple songs, which was very sad and unexpected by Le Quai des Brumes because I do events over there and I never got this problem before. But oh well, nonetheless the two bands were incredible and Cordial was such a discovery! Thanks for reading and I say to the next time! La photo vu sur l'article est prise par Maori Lemieux