Choses Sauvages at Higher Ground

Rangus opened. The ticket-taker labeled them as a “Local punk band with a clarenet. We love em.”

They were very decent, had great energy, and were indeed very local. They spoke to things I related to: hating “the fucking F-35s” that are never far from ear-sight and calling out “Lazy little leftists” for not doing anything but posting (it me).

Then the six-piece settled into the headliner space. I gathered this venue and crowd was way smaller than they’re used to.

I came to this one cold, as a guest of someone who couldn’t make it.

They’re from Montreal and sing in french.

For the first few songs they sounded new-wave, guitar driven.

Then the singer changed the way he showed up. He began gyrating as the bass, drums, keyboards got dancier. It was rock. It was dance. It felt amazingly fresh to the usual rock shows I attend.

Otis disaspora was the phrase that kept bopping around my head when Wild Things (when translated) were playing. I bet half the room were also at the popular ADK music festival, and saw them there.

They were tight and knew how to write and inhabit a groove. Here’s a video session capturing that grove-building.