I discovered Les Sarcastiques when I saw an online ad pop up on my feed for one of their shows. The eccentricity of their get-up and their irreverent humour intrigued me, so I looked them up further. Their Spotify bio describes them as a band that marries the energetic riffs of classic pop punk with lyrical irony, two things that I have a soft spot for, so I hit the play button and I have to say the sound did not disappoint. Musically reminiscent of the late 90s punk rock scene, Les Sarcastiques’ unique sound and irreverent lyrical stylings had me hooked from the moment I heard the first riff. Seeing them perform live was to be an inevitable outcome. Making my way through the sticky floors of Casa del Popolo, past the bar, I navigated through the narrow, black and white corridor that led into a separate room, where the stage was already set up with their glittered bass and iconic logo on their drum set. I was warmly greeted by the lead vocalist, Félix-Antoine, who gave me my pass and prepped me for the two other amazing bands that were set to play before them.
Le Plan Caneton, the first band that went up on stage, assured me that this was going to be a great night. A solid punk rock setlist, with a few ska beats peppered in between songs, made for a fresh and invigorating first act (and the frontman’s long, guttural screams were nothing short of music to my ears). After them came Flight of the Oryx, a band completely different in style and sound but no less dominant in stage presence. The singer’s Prince-esque demeanour lit up the venue as he danced and gyrated across the stage, intermittently taking off parts of his outfit until he was strutting shirtless.
Finally, it was Les Sarcastiques’ turn to close the night. They immediately started playing after coming up on stage, and their explosive riffs filled the room with a dazzling energy you only see in these kinds of intimate concerts. Starting off with the energetic “MILF,” their setlist contained a vibrant plethora of songs, from original material to covers of pop-punk classics (Blink 182’s “Dammit” and Green Day’s “Basket Case” being particular pieces that got the crowd positively riled up). Some notable tunes of theirs that stood out as infectiously head-bopping were “Superhéros” and “Choco Caramel,” peppered with electrifying beats and emphatic “HEYs” that the audience could sing along to as they danced and moshed through the night. Their stage presence was nothing short of electrifying, with frontman Félix-Antoine jumping, flipping, and twirling his body throughout every song, screaming their irreverent lyrics the whole way through. Drummer Elliot Filion’s performance was brimming with just as much energy, flipping his drumsticks as fast as he could keep the rapid beats, while bassist Alec Lafrance kept a cool demeanour as he plucked away at the irresistible basslines.
The show had to regretfully come to a close, and the band signed off with a rendition of their self-titled song, a fast-moving, vocally charged introduction to their irreverently humorous sound. Closing off the show with the first song off their album turned out to be a fitting bit of irony for an aptly named group, and I can’t wait to get the chance to see them live once again. Their new album, “Coeur Sucré,” is out now and is a wonderful 27 minutes of sardonic pop-punk bliss. Definitely worth a listen.
Review & photos – Alexander Distaulo
Share this :
