Wednesday evening, the programming at Le Volume hit the mark once again by offering us two radically different but equally interesting groups. The Nice-based band “Lily of the Valley” with their impactful and tortured indie rock opened the show, followed closely by the revelation of the evening, the electrifying “dirtrucks” from Japan. Halfway between ZZ Top and The Donnas (female clones of ACDC), this fiery trio from the Land of the Rising Sun literally ignited passions within the audience, bringing along some “sensual vibes” from their native archipelago. A true stage bomb, the “Dirtrucks,” with their hard and effective rock, performed for nearly an hour without faltering, in front of a crowd of already captivated fans.
For the record, these three rock gladiators started the dirtrucks adventure two years ago in Tokyo, armed only with their disarming smiles and their telluric play. But don’t be fooled by appearances, these charming young women are not here to joke around. With their “teenage rebel” look, caps, groupie t-shirts, and black-painted nails, they have nothing to envy from a male rock band. They drink, play, and drive like men, as proven by the inhabited solos of Rui, the guitarist; contortion, facial contortions, everything is there, minus the testosterone but with added charm. Rest assured, fans of “big sound” will get their fair share of hormonal rock, notably through the well-executed drumming of Sae the drummer, a fan of The Stooges, Kiss, Guns N’ Roses, and Motley Crue. Meanwhile, Dee, the delightful bassist and singer, and leader of the group, is not left out and takes everyone into more nuanced but incredibly exhilarating rock territories.
Determined to conquer the old continent after their Japanese tour, no less than twenty dates await them across Europe. Enthusiastically set on electrifying European audiences, there is no doubt they will achieve great success during their tour, leaving behind hundreds of fans orphaned of their irresistible smiles and contagious zest for life. (www.dirtrucks.com)
It is important to note that this wonderful evening would not have been possible without Le Volume and its association La Source, which fight every day to exist and offer Nice’s youth an alternative venue, incredibly comforting in this period of musical obscurantism. Before concluding this glorious episode, I just wanted to thank Le Volume and the delightful people who compose it and who allowed us to meet the group. I can only invite you to come and discover this immensely friendly and necessary place in large numbers. Hidden at the end of a backyard, nestled between the Mamac and the St Roch hospital, you will find it at 6, rue Defly in Nice. And remember, they need you as much as you need them… Support culture and believe me, it will help you more than you think… For more information, visit: www.source001.com or www.myspace.com/levolume.
