Summary
Highlights
Prof. John recounts his experience at the Montreal Jazz Festival, attending a show by Angèle Dubeau et Jean-François with friends. He describes the chaotic scene of overcrowding, with fans climbing structures to get a view, and streets gridlocked despite police efforts. He emphasizes the unprecedented crowd size, comparing it to Stevie Wonder's 2009 performance.
John questions how a recently popular indie band from Saguenay could attract a crowd comparable to Stevie Wonder's historic 2009 performance. He details the unique circumstances of Stevie Wonder's concert: the inauguration of the Quartier des Spectacles, and tributes to Michael Jackson shortly after his death. He highlights the stark contrast between these factors and the indie band's rise to fame, noting the huge crowd dancing to microtonal math rock.
John identifies three key reasons for the band's immense popularity. First, their striking visual presentation instantly hooks audiences. Second, their music, described as microtonal math rock, is exceptional, with tight drums providing a grounding force for the experimental guitar. Third, the band's timely appearance addresses current societal issues: divisiveness, Quebec's language politics, and the rise of AI-generated music. Their approach of speaking no human language and creating unique music offers a refreshing alternative to these conflicts.
The band's commitment to their unique path, refusing to engage in politics or choose a language, and performing authentically (eating hot dogs on talk shows, wearing masks and polka dots while playing microtonal guitar), inspires people. Quebecois are particularly proud of this local band's mainstream success. John praises their subtle but powerful political statements through actions, rather than words, suggesting it's a model for others. He concludes by reflecting on the difficulty of estimating the crowd size for free concerts and expresses his pride in the band as Canadian and Quebecois artists.