My first full capacity show since the Pandemic was to be a hit of nostalgia.
Entry to the Fairmount Theatre was simple, show vaccination password at the base of the stairs, then make your way inside.
It was quite strange to be in a venue with so many people, and it seems Post-Punk/Goth is not dead in Montreal, judging by the size of the crowd.
Oiseau de Proie
Oiseau de Proie started us off and I really tried to get into it.
I think my brain simply couldn’t assimilate the Cure like guitar, which was outstanding, along with the heavy beat, equally outstanding, paired with the French upbeat singing.
It had nothing to do with the language, simply the voice didn’t match the vibe of the music, like there was a venue mix-up and the singer got onstage for the wrong band.
Regardless of my inability to commit to the songs, the crowd was swaying and mildly dancing, so that was something.
She Past Away
The PA started with a sound that I could only describe as what my stomach sounds like trying to digest spicy Indian food. After we digested that intro for a minute or two, the band came on stage to thunderous applause.
Volkan Caner (guitar/vocals) and Doruk Öztürkcan (drum machine/keyboards) started with Durdu Dünya, which is sung in Turkish. That song alone has a 2.6 million play count on Spotify.
The band played a collection of their Turkish songs that I couldn’t pronounce if I tried.
The deep voice of Volkan, along with the exotic language translates into a feeling, regardless of the actual lyrics.
It is their ability to create this dark & gothic sound that resurrects memories of listening to Sisters of Mercy in a darkened room.
This gloomy music can serve two purposes.
Some, who are struggling, identify with the feelings and create a connection to the band, sound or lyrics. The songs become this emotional release that allows someone to feel like they are not alone.
Of course, the atmosphere in the venue is exuberant, a dance party, as no one was left standing still.
Maybe it’s the nostalgia of those feelings, combined with the knowledge that we have come out of these recent dark times that give the songs their second purpose, to remind us of how great life can be.
What would music be without sad songs?
It’s up to us to choose if we sink lower, or rise up.
As Doruk said at one point, speaking of their September 8th, 2020 postponed gig: “We are late, but we are here.”
The crowd definitely got what they came to see and hear.
Just like Turkish food, it was a flavourful set filled with a sustained intensity, cooked perfectly.
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