Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Visual artist Jacinthe Loranger presents her work. We met this girl a few years ago when she was working at the Casa del Popolo as a waitress. Then we found out she was also, and especially, a terrific visual artist with some unbelievably original work. It was that simple. We like what she does and we offered her space for one day in the Salon de la marginalité. We have no idea what she’s going to show, since she has so many talents. But we’re behind it all the way.

In French. This band, on the other hand, is a complete betrayal of our idea, since Fidel Castrol is made up almost entirely of poets. Like wolf pups, they describe themselves with a list of distinguishing features (reproduced here in their entirety). Sébastien Boulanger-Gagnon: “m’orgue”, sampling, slam, hard drugs. Maxime Catellier: insults, broken guitar, hunting shirt, tambourine. Shawn Cotton: slack bass, beat poetry, young Adonis, crooner. JP Tremblay: drums, pots and cushions, Xmas song. JP Catellier: insults, metal guitar, Beck double, the other guy’s brother. Danny Plourde: insults, guitar, harmonica, alcoholism and, um… censored!

Bilingual. As we all know, Les Filles électriques likes a girl who goes too far. You know the kind we mean — over the top, takes up a lot of room. For some time now, our Artistic Director has been wondering about a few things. Like, why does it get so complicated when a woman puts her body on stage? Why is a female always judged on her physical aspects/assets — especially when she dares to perform? She’s too fat or too skinny. She moves too much or not enough. She’s too sexy — or she isn’t. For five years, the Body and Soul show has brought in girls with enormous physicality, girls who take charge, girls who are “hot”. This year is extra special.

In Part One, two Montrealers. Giselle Numba One, the hot number from Hot Springs we’ve been burning to invite back. Expression pedals, glockenspiel, flute, melodica, rhythm box, kalimba… you name it, she plays it! Hers is a new kind of esoteric hip-hop. And Donzelle, the impertinent rapper with the naughty mouth, who will keep us grooving with her Janet-Jacksonesque dancers. Bonus: she’s half-Portuguese and may slip in a little Luso.

In Part Two, it’s American singer/musician Baby Dee and her band. A gender-blending, harp-playing former circus artist, she’s all out there. Born in Cleveland, Baby Dee learned piano as a child, and by 19 had acquired her first harp, supporting herself in fairs and freak shows disguised as a bear, on a tricycle or with her music. A huge physical presence, she sings folk ballads Brecht would approve, swinging from romance to burlesque. She has worked with Antony (& the Johnsons) and Marc Almond, and tours internationally, but her one visit to Montreal was slightly clandestine. Don’t miss this one.

Open mic, bilingual.