The evening promised a full carousel room, an artist who starts on time, and an introduction with Mrs Robinson. We joined it and never left because Roch Voisine's voice and friendly demeanor won over an audience that was simply waiting for a spark to ignite.
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| Roch Voisine |
It's been nearly 35 years since the Quebecer, with his guitar slung over his shoulder and Hélène on his baggage rack, found the hearts of the French. Since then, the citizen of "the beautiful province" has carved out a very eclectic career in which folk and country have equal footing.
Thursday evening at Aire-sur-la-Lys, it was the core of the concert, with guitars, guitars, and more guitars; no percussion but "foot tappers," as they say here, and a bit of harmonica. Roch Voisine entered with enthusiasm into this age of adaptations from the 1960s to the 1980s. " French melodies were Americanized, and American folklore was adapted by France barely out of 45 rpm."
Roch Voisine talked with the audience between two tracks, with simplicity and astounding complicity, provided by this wonderful accent that also adds to its beauty. A story about Kenny Rodgers, a renowned country singer, a tribute to Eddy Mitchell, and a homage to Bob Dylan or Johnny Cash, all luminaries. It seemed like a vigil around a wood fire, with tunes buried in the depths of memories rising to the surface at the first chord.
He complains of back discomfort at sixty years old (this Sunday), but the salt hasn't faded the pepper in his hair. "He's slimmed down," two ladies in the front seats observed. He possessed the enthusiasm (but just a few notes) to persuade a happy audience to sing Le Pénitencier or Beautiful Woman, with the drums found, in front of a furious Johnny Be Goode. Throughout the evening, the Airois communed with their Quebec relative.