I first had the chance to see Bye Parula when I was shooting for Festival sur le Canal back in June of this year. It was only a few months after the release of their first album, I, and I was immediately ensnared. Their rich lyricism and canorous harmonies got the better of me, and it was a no-brainer that I would see them perform once again in the near future. So, when I heard they were going to be playing at Théâtre Outremont, I immediately jumped at the opportunity.
The band was formed in 2020 by its founding members, Sergio d’Isanto, Sebastián Riquelme and Loïc Calatayud, who synergized their love of 70s-era movie music and modern indie rock to create a wondrously eclectic musical style.
The experience at the theatre was quite different but no less immersive than at the outdoor festival. As the band members took their places, the crowd enthusiastically cheering on, Calatayud quietly walked up on stage amid the blue-tinged lights and, after belting out a soulful “Blame it on the season,” the band wasted no time diving straight into their first set. The song’s strong beats and Calatayud’s penetrating vocals made it the perfect introduction to a spectacular night.
The following songs resounded thunderously across the 700-seat auditorium and brought the show to life in a way I couldn’t even have imagined. When the band performed their signature Still Got the Spirit, with an infectious bassline and a head-bopping refrain, it was clear that Bye Parula’s fiery spirit was going to be relentless that night. Their on-stage presence, although slightly tempered, was nothing short of magnetic, cementing the band’s reputation as one of the most sonically rich emerging bands in Montreal.
The band members’ multicultural background is embodied in the diverse nature of their songwriting. Songs such as Gasoline, with Riquelme’s gentle guitar plucking and d’Isanto’s melodious whistling, carried a more intimate and stripped-down performance, while tracks such as the foot-stomping Recalling, brought forth a burst of Arcade Fire-esque energy to the stage. Even their song lyrics, bouncing deftly between English, French and Spanish, showcased their elegant and poetic use of language.
Before performing their latest single, Iaia (a Catalan word meaning “Grandmother”), Calatayud related an emotional story in which he recalled the words of his own grandmother, “You have to do what you love in life.” A watershed moment for the singer that was, among other things, a catalyst to the band’s inception and a maxim that resonated wholeheartedly with the crowd. A poignant end to a memorable night.
Review & photos – Alexander Di Staulo
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