Pouzza Fest 2015 - Seeing Pouzza Through Fresh Eyes

Photo: Simone & Annette

Simone Grenier was born in Quebec but has spent most of her life living in Corsica, a French island located on the Mediterranean Sea. Her parents made one hell of a good decision. Although the island is owned by France, it is closer in region to Northern Italy. A few years ago, Grenier decided at the young age of 18 to move back to the city she barely remembered—Montreal. This summer will be her last here, and she wanted to share with us her personal Pouzza festival experience. She is fan of punk, her favourite band is Guerilla Poubelle and in this write up/farewell she compares the differences and similarities within the North American and European music scenes.

My best friend Annette came to town from France during Pouzza Fest. This was her first time in Canada, and we hadn't seen each other in over three years. Having her here made me look at the festival a whole different way, as if it were my first time in Montreal. The normally quite busy Foufounes Électriques was buzzing with excitement as punks flooded the sunny terrace. Mohawks of every size and color, leather jackets full of pins and patches, beautiful dresses and tattoos everywhere to be seen.

We kicked it off gently with Kill Matilda and Pup on Friday. To cope with the usual heat of TRH Bar, Kill Matilda's singer Dusty took her shirt off before the other band members. My inner feminist self was pleased. I don't remember seeing a woman being so at ease with her body compared to shows in France.

On Saturday we listened to The Planet Smashers, then the band we were so excited to see: Guerilla Poubelle. My friend and I used to listen to them all the time in high school, and they were playing their one and only show to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of their album, Il faut repeindre le monde... en noir. Guerilla is one of the best current French punk bands, and most of their songs are about social problems, and rarely about girls or being too drunk. They represent exactly what Pouzza Fest is all about, a pure punk spirit, with genuine politically-engaged messages delivered in a brotherly manner.

The great thing about Pouzza is enjoying all the Saint-Laurent establishments in one night. On Sunday we danced our hearts out to The Jukebox Romantics, then caught Get The Shot and The Holy Mess at Foufs, and finished off the weekend at COOP ​Katacombes with The Nils. The hot and sweaty skater TRH Bar, Katacombes, and the classic Foufounes Électriques got together and created great stages for bands and the public, celebrating solidarity and singularity all at once. Alongside the outdoor Pabst Stage when we needed fresh air, the downtown area was a symbol of what Montreal always has to offer, easy-to-make friendships with bands from all around the world, and most of all, it is a flourishing platform for the whole punk scene, catering to each and everyone's tastes.