Angers

The Angers of Music: A Groovy History

Ah, Angers! Not just a city in France, but also a name that resonates with a particular type of musical fury, passion, and perhaps a dash of absurdity. This is the story of the Angers, a musical subgenre born from the fires of frustration and fuelled by the gasoline of irreverence.

Early Days:

The Angers emerged in the late 1960s, a rebellious response to the blandness of mainstream music. Think angry, young musicians wielding guitars like weapons, their lyrics spewing poetry of protest and existential angst. They were the punk rock of their day, but with a French twist.

The Pioneers:

Among the pioneers were bands like Les Fous de la Bastille, whose members wore tattered berets and sang about revolution while juggling flaming torches on stage. Then there was Le Chat Noir, known for their infamous performances where they’d pelt the audience with croissants while playing dissonant melodies on bagpipes and accordions.

The Rise of the Angers:

The 1970s saw the Angers reach its peak. Bands like Les Anarchistes were known for their chaotic live shows, often ending in mosh pits that resembled a Parisian street brawl. Le Génie du Chaos took things a step further, employing performance art elements like body painting and fire juggling, sometimes leading to the fire department being called.

The Legacy:

While the Angers as a defined genre faded by the 1980s, its spirit lives on. Bands today still borrow elements of their rebellious energy, creating their own chaotic and subversive sounds.

Funny Facts:

• Les Fous de la Bastille once accidentally set a venue on fire during a performance, but instead of being arrested, they were hailed as heroes by the crowd.
• Le Chat Noir was notorious for hiring mime artists to infiltrate the audience and start fights, only to reveal themselves as part of the band at the end.
• Le Génie du Chaos once performed a concert where the only instrument used was a bicycle bell. The crowd was surprisingly moved.

The Angers, in their own unique way, were pioneers. They showed that music could be a powerful force for expression, even when that expression involved a lot of shouting, screaming, and maybe some fire.