The crowd that came to see the band play is quite diverse, ranging from teenage fans with a gothic look to older individuals looking to have a good time. Some children are even present, eager to experience an exceptional musical moment.
The opening act is performed by Asyl, a French rock band with punk rock influences and music reminiscent of Indochine. The public reception is moderate, as fans are waiting for their favorite band.
The stage remains hidden by a curtain during the installation of instruments, leaving the audience with nothing but 40s music, which is more or less well-received. Nonetheless, the atmosphere is still explosive with anticipation for the concert to start.
A few seconds before Indochine arrives, the curtain becomes a screen for the giant projection of a short film with strong images and alienating music. We see scenes of war, great dictators, world destruction, etc. But above all, the symbol of the tour: a warhorse wearing a gas mask in the middle of a toxic cloud. The group’s new album, “La République des Météors,” indeed seems to focus primarily on World War I. The cover of the single “Little Dolls,” for example, depicts an execution. Some fans admit they find this subject “disturbing.”
Nicola Sirkis and his band kick off the “show” with “Go Rimbaud, Go!” It’s a good opener for the audience who immediately gets into the mood, as interaction with the singer is already underway. This is followed by “Marylin,” and then the song “Republika.” Nicola Sirkis is in great shape, singing with a smile, dancing, and jumping on stage.
The band continues under the audience’s joyful cheers with the hit single from the new album: “Little Dolls.” Five large screens are then deployed in the Nikaïa hall in Nice, immersing the audience in Indochine’s universe. Scenes of war, angelic-faced children, dramatic explosions, couples kissing… the music video of the song is broadcasted, adding immense value to the band’s performance. The success of the band shines through. The audience literally screams with delight. Nicola Sirkis is taken aback: “We’ve never had so many people in this city! Thank you, Nice!”
The band then performs “Play Boy,” the famous song about a young man confessing to trying on his mother’s clothes. The frenetic rhythm has the fans jumping in place. Nicola Sirkis encourages them to move, sing, and scream even more.
During the song “Punker,” the singer exclaims, “Do you want to have sex with me?” His words are then echoed by the enthusiastic audience. Indochine thus asserts its quirky style. “Le Lac,” a track from the new album, and “Le Manoir” enchant the audience.
With renewed cheers from the audience, Indochine decides to play the famous song: “J’ai demandé à la lune.” Nicola Sirkis stands at the front of the stage, listening, moved, to an incredible phenomenon. The audience sings the entire song in his place, without missing a single word, with almost total devotion in warm gentleness. Touched, the singer bows to them, as a wave of warmth envelops the hall. “Thank you,” he manages to say, “Thank you sincerely, Nice, we are very lucky to have an audience like you.”
But it’s during “3ème sexe” that Nicola Sirkis is left speechless; the audience takes over and once again sings the whole song. He kneels out of emotion. The end of the music is marked by a huge ovation. This is how you realize that most of the people present that evening are true fans, devoted, if not addicted to Indochine, its music, and its members.
For “La Lettre de Métal,” Nicola asks everyone to turn on their phones and hold them up. During the song, a swarm of white lights sweeps through the hall, like fireflies. This ambiance continues with “Un ange à ma table.” The band also performs the famous “Alice & June” and “Popstitute,” before launching into “Club Meteor,” a medley of “You spin me around,” the illustrious “Canary Bay,” “Les Tzars,” “Des fleurs pour Salinger,” and “Mao Boy!” The “show” concludes with a generous encore, a series of songs that delight the spectators.
June, a young fan, gives her opinion on the concert of her idols: “I attended the shows in Marseille and Nice, and honestly it was nothing like… The people of Nice are much more reserved, and as a result, the atmosphere was not as good. But Nicola and the Indoboys remain flawless… Nicola truly enjoys sharing his music with us.”
[Pictures and photo captions omitted for brevity.]
