In 2018, Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire attempted something more ambitious than most band ever attempt: a concept album that gave birth to a theatrical rock opera. The charismatic characters’ larger-than-life stage presence already seemed indiscernible from any stage production spectacle, and their critically-acclaimed album, Viens avec moi, translated perfectly.
In December, 2019, Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire performed the last show of the Viens avec moi tour at the Grand Theatre in Quebec City and, luckily, someone had the foresight to record it all. Tonight, for the first time, the whole production is being broadcast via the band’s Facebook page.
For the band, the show wasn’t simply the culmination of a tour, it was practically a miracle to pull off. With a cast of eighteen, including performances from Les Hay Babies and Anne France Meyer from Les Deuxluxes, to say the production was ambition (not to mention an investment), would be an understatement. But, as the band say, they “got together and got it done.”
“Yup, we now can say we pressed every last drop of juice out of that lemon!,” says Serge Brideau, the band’s bearded frontman who is well known for his penchant for sporting muumuus and habit of hoisting provincial premiers.
“The audience will get a totally different perspective of the show since the camera work is in tune with the story. I had a great time during the editing since it was the first time I saw the show…”
The band express that, aside from Brideau’s usually colourful public service announcements on Facebook, this is the best they can do to stayed engaged with fans during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Much like everyone else, Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire have had their performances throughout the Spring de-railed, and are keeping a wary eye on their Summer dates. In the meantime, however, they are wrapping up on pre-production for their next album.
The broadcast of Les Hôtesses d’Hilaire’s Viens avec moi will be streaming, free of charge, on the band’s Faecbook page on Tuesday, March 31 at 9:00pm ADT.