More than a month after presenting his 16th album “Je marche dans ma vie” at the Capitole de Québec, Éric Lapointe repeated the experience on October 20 at MTELUS in Montreal. An evening that was unforgettable and touching for both the experienced rocker and his loyal audience.
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To thunderous applause from a packed venue, Éric Lapointe and his eight musicians took the MTELUS stage in an extraordinary opening show that marked the rocker’s big reunion with his audience in Montreal. After a few years away from the spotlight, the artist has once again made the walls of this space he loves vibrate with his hoarse and powerful voice.
Fitter than ever and full of infectious energy, Éric Lapointe, who can look back on a career spanning more than 25 years, addressed his loyal admirers at the beginning of the evening with the words: “Hello, guys, thank you for being here!” This is not a typical start. With an album title like Je marche dans ma vie, I have no choice but to do the tour. So I decided to put a few songs in the closet and go back to old tracks that everyone knows.” An intervention that set the tone for a two-hour performance without an intermission in which he performed, to the great delight of the 2,000 admirers present that evening sang all of his biggest hits without exception.
DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS/JOURNAL DE QU
MORE ENERGY THAN EVER
Supported by his orchestra, armed with his microphone and his guitar, Éric Lapointe got the ball rolling with a series of great hits such as Désaccordé, Terrepromise, N’tout quoi, Mon ange and Les Boys. Brushing aside rumors of failing health, he redoubled his energy by climbing onto a piano, guitar in hand, to play Loadé with all the power of his voice like a weapon. The artist then failed to enchant the couples of all ages present in the room with his rock ballads “La Bartendresse” and “A last slow”. Based on his extensive repertoire, the rocker repeatedly passed the microphone to the audience and noted with joy on his face that his admirers had not forgotten any of the lyrics to his songs. “I’m thrilled when I see someone singing my words as if it were their life: people express themselves through my music,” he explained during a rare interview with the Journal de Quebec last September.
A SON’S LOVE FOR HIS MOTHER
For all his hits, Éric Lapointe has not neglected to pay tribute to his mother Doris, who has attended all his shows since he began. A loyal accomplice who always stood by him through ups and downs. “Mom, without you there would be no show!” he shouted to his mother before emotionally singing his 2014 song “Moman” to her. Apparently the rocker released some new tracks from the album “I walk through my life” that evening, what I want from you Stay with me, last whiskey, you will destroy me. The latter is a cover of a song written and composed by Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante for the musical Notre Dame de Paris. Eric Lapointe finally concluded this evening of triumphant reunion with his pieces Marie-Stone and Le ciel de mes Combats.
Photo: Valerie Blum / Echos Ve
A NEW LIFE, far from the city
Personally, in September he separated from the singer Judith Bérard, with whom he spent almost two years of his life. The 54-year-old bachelor admitted during his show that he would now start a new life far away from the city. “I was born in Montreal, I am a child of the asphalt. However, in recent years I have felt the call of nature. So I found myself in a beautiful little house on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, where I can plant flowers and rose bushes. Every evening I can see spectacular sunsets through the branches of the weeping willows. “During the pandemic, I often had fun playing guitar around the campfire with a friend and creating new songs,” he confessed. One thing is certain: the air of nature seems to have been very good for this stage animal, which has lost none of the voice and energy of its beginnings.
THE RETURN OF HIS HOLIDAY PARTY
In addition, Éric Lapointe wants to celebrate properly again this year after successfully reviving his traditional Christmas party last year after a break of several years. In fact, he invites his admirers to follow him on December 31st at the Zénith de Saint-Eustache as part of the festive show Le party des fête à Lapointe, for which the special guests and supporting act have yet to be announced. Like a soldier going to war, the rocker doesn’t lack courage to live up to his audience’s expectations. With his recent return to the stage in Quebec and Montreal, the old hand can now proclaim: “Mission accomplished!”
His album I go through my life is available on all platforms.
Find out more about his tour dates.