Spoon at the FEQ: the long-awaited meeting

UPDATE DAY

Quebec is a city of rock and Spoon, although it has never broken album and ticket sales records, is considered one of the best rock bands of the last 20 years. Why on earth did it take so long for these two destinies to intersect?

This is precisely the question that singer Britt Daniel asked his interlocutor at Diary, during a recent conversation on Zoom as the Texan formation prepares to play at the Festival d'été de Québec.

Neither of them has could come up with a sensible explanation.

Never mind, Britt Daniel promised that Spoon would “make up for lost time” tonight in Quebec City. Because even after all these years, this is still what the singer prefers: to offer the songs of Spoon to the public. 

“You should never get tired of going on stage. I am not. I'm 100% in,” he says.

That said, the leader of the quartet has every reason to be confident in the group's ability to seduce a new audience at the FEQ. Spoon has a trick up his sleeve.

Launched in February, the band's tenth album, Lucifer on the Sofa, has won over fans and critics alike with its rock-and-roll packaging and blues of clearly above average quality.

A Better Band

Musicians can also pick songs from a rich repertoire, crafted with taste and style since their debut in 1996. Even though he has stayed true to his rock roots, Spoon has never been afraid to reinvent himself from album to album. another by adding electro, pop or punk textures here and there to their music.

“I like how the group has evolved. On stage, I think we are better than before. Everyone plays at their best,” says Britt Daniel.

In his opinion, the arrival in 2013 of multi-instrumentalist Alex Fischel, with whom he formed the side project Divine Fits, marked a turning point. It makes the difference.

“After Divine Fits, I told him he had to come with Spoon. Since he's been here, everything is easier, energetic and exciting for me and the public.”

Rock isn't dead

His optimism about his band's stage performances also carries over to his opinion about the future of rock. Although he wishes there weren't so many great rock albums coming out these days, Britt Daniel is a firm believer that rock will never die. He is encouraged by the great new talent that is growing.

“Since Spoon started, we have seen ups and downs, but now I see groups like Idles, Fontaines D.C. and Khruangbin – even if it's not really a rock band – they use a guitar and make live music that you can make in a garage. I see that people like it. […] I think it’s coming back to the fore.” May the rock gods hear you, Britt!

Spoon performing at the Festival d'été de Québec, tonight at 8 p.m.