Baboune, Mildew and Serial Milk At L'escogriffe on the 9th August.

 Shows and more shows. More bands, more music, but does this necessarely mean more entertainement? Depends which band and fan you ask.

Matteo the singer of Mildew.

Saturday night 9th August, I went to Escogriffe to see Serial Milk, Mildew and Baboune. The first band to play was Serial Milk, an esthetic band I'd say, then came Mildew, the holy knights of grunge and finally Baboune, wizards crafting a music never heard before, blending influences from heavy metal, hardcore, grunge and even a bit of pop rythms slipped to my ears. But before the show started, before I ever got there, before I even left, lots and lots happened. 

I woke from a bender, another night partying, another night spent in the gaze of so many kids aged about twenty who could either idealize you or despise you. But now it was saturday, I could forget about all those weird and funny faces I'd seen the night before. But the headache wasn't forgotten.I gulped cheese, I read somehwere it helps break down or soothen whatever it is that digests and transform the alcohol. The day started slow, and soon it was time to go to the show. I left, but before crossing the door, I gulped mushrooms, hoping it would help me lay down the bottle for the night. Arrived at the venue, I'm chilling with people over there. Times are good, weathers great and the moon shines brightly. Unlike the local scene. Unlike many bands who've eriged a barrier between em' and others. Names aren't what I want to spread. But as I discuss the matter with mates from different bands and all, we all arrive at the same conclusion. Why should people start dividing themselves now in the local scene if it'll only get harder as you try to reach the top and more and more drama will unfold naturaly if ever you get to Hollywood and more. Words are sharp, they do cut deep. I understand some spoken phrases and actions can taint the idea and vision we had of people, but unless it directly hurt you or someone you know, I don't think we should eridge walls between us. Kids around preach respect and equality and love, yet are ready to dig a line between them and others as soon as they hear a rumor or someone else opinion on others. Which is what I find sad, talk about it, make up for it, ask the questions to the persons concerned. Just like you did in kindergarden when a kid pushed you, you were ordered to go and settle it with him with words, allowing understanding and acceptance. If your reputation is too important for you to go talk to someone to settle things, well what the fuck are you gonna do when your known worldwide if you make it. Now's the time to settle and get all cleaned up, no one knows you, your mom and dad barely know you have a band, and most of the kids who come see you aren't that invested, they mostly come to drink and party. 

Bassist of Mildew mid air while bassing!

Back to the night, the first band on stage was Serial Milk. Very talented I must say. I recon they've got a singer who could emulate some Cornell and even some Lanegan. Great power house in the back on drums and bass and guitars. Only, they need cohesion, and they definitely need to define better everyone role with their instruments. What I mean is, as the singer sang the songs, I felt the two guitars got lost, not because of the sound system but simply because I couldn't understand what each played and it didn't feel like it added much. Secondly, I have to say, the singer was trying to hard, he should stick to a certain style and go all in. I liked his voice very much, but, he pushed certain notes that shouldn't have, and other times I felt he should've shined more. The perfect example was their cover of Pink Floyd, Another Brick In The Wall part 2. I'm a huge fan, got a tattoo and did most of my first times in all categories while listening to this album. So to have the singer change the arrangements of the voice at times, and to have the guitarist change the solo, quite daring I'd say. Jimi Hendrix reprised a Bob Dylan song and added more to it. But to substract from it, I don't personally believe it to be a good strategy. The fact that the solo was stitched up à la William S. Burroughs Cut Up technique got me quite puzzled. It's such an iconic solo, I believe they should've played it exactly the way it was. But all this to say, I appreciated their set, I can see their talent, they just need a couple more years and they actually become a very interesting band to have in playlists and surely get booked in festivals and more. Congratualtions for their performance and I hope to see em' again. They are set to play august 19th at the Quai des Brumes along the band Cordial.

Next up was Mildew, newly formed but the talent is there. Their love for grunge stems out every time they embrace the stage! Not a show goes without them tearing through the ceiling or the floor or guitars. As they start their set, a nirvana cover is issued and around the same time a mate comes to dance along but as he comes to hug me and take me dancing, he squeezes my beer all over me! I'm drenched and high on mushrooms which makes it quite the overall overstimulating experience to live. The set starts, the energy is already so high, the place crackles of laughter and excitement, another song is discharged upon us! Kids fall as they mosh, get back up, push, shove, jump! And as the notes end the song, I am called upon stage, but obliterated by the drugs and the beer spilled, I tell Matteo I'll be back. Another song roles along, more and more chaos unfurls, yet the band is steady! The place is on fire, almost! Steam goes around the stage, I get back up there, high, drenched, I recite a poem about Heroin, ask someone if ever you really wish to see what exactly that was all about! If you ask me to do a quick review of it, I believe I was tense, but to talk about a subject on heroin, it's alway tense, especially the veins. People clapped, and they continued to play. The rest of their set was great although, having seen them a lot, I'm starting to get excited for them to release the songs on Spotify and to hear new sounds! Although if not wrong, somewhere along a moshpit, as I was carried along two inches from the ceiling, a new song was played. James the bassist was along flung up in the crowd just like Woodstock 99 and guess what, he didn't miss a note nor did he bang his head on the ceiling! Spectacular.

Drummer of Mildew.

Baboune are set to play next. I'm outside, coming down again, like always.  People talk and squirmish all around. I talk to Charlie and another mate of poetry, music critics and more. But as I turn around, people are going in and noise can be heard. The singer on stage is wearing leather glove, a patty scarf on the head, he makes me think of Dédé Fortin but if he were to be a biker. The band starts and sadly I have no fucking idea what the songs are. They come from Quebec, I've heard their name, but never seen em'. The voice is heavy, a leech screeching for redemption. The man tiptoes across the scene, swirls around gently yet his acting on stage and performance is everything but gentle. The crowd is morphed into savages, à la Mad Max scavengers looking for water or food or anything shiny. The whole fucking set is kept up to the max. And I thought Mildew had it going. Well tabarnak, Baboune got us breaking shit. The singer at a point goes over the PA, and jumps backwards not looking and lands a stair down mint. What the fuck, that more than a hardcore move, that's gourmet shit I tell myself. These guys, they got no fucks to give about the music they play. They want it heavy, melodic, groovy and intense. Their doing it for the crowd! More banging, people going on others shoulders, getting dropped on the floor, getting batted by accident, and as I stretch out to see what's going on, they announce their last song. And out they went with a massive fucking bang! Alex Fernz is bartending that night, and as I glimpsed around the bar, I couldn't help notice that even him seemed to be amazed at how rowdy the crowd and the band were. Baboune have one song out, called Hanged In Chains. It's a great reminded of the night at L'esco. It's raw and alarming, groovy and thrashy. Noise condensed in a two minute song bringing out chaos and depravation for the listener. 

So basically, Babounce who are from Quebec, were fucking amazing, I hope they come back more often, I'll try booking them if that's what's needed, Mildew were great and Serial Milk were just like milk in coffee, smooth and greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading, Baboune are set to play le Centre Hub Creatif the 29 August, Mildew have nothing coming up for now and Serial Milk are set to play 19 August at the Quai des Brumes with Cordial. All pictures are taken by Mitch Lense . Sorry for not having pictures of the other bands that were there that night.