Fringes and cowboy hats took center stage on Friday night at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal, where Maxime Landry and Annie Blanchard, who were officially kicking off their Jolene & The Gambler – Le country de nos idoles tour, put on a whole ‘party’. with rural flair and nostalgic accents.
The duo, who will return to the cabaret stage on Saturday, performed songs from their collaborative album ‘Jolene and The Gambler’, which pays tribute to their idols Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, to a captivated audience.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
The two ex-academics naturally presented some essentials from the repertoire of these two American legends, including “Jolene”, “Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That”, “The Gambler” and “Coward Of”. The Country”, opening of the show, but also “9 to 5”, “I Will Always Love You” and “Islands in the Stream”.
They also took the liberty of reinterpreting some Quebec country classics, most notably “I Have a Love That Won’t Die” by the great Renée Martel – who was a major figure in the life of Annie Blanchard and took on the role of mentor and even a second mother for her – no doubt gathering the whole room singing, dancing and clapping hands, “To my mother” by Paul Daraîche, “When we are in love” by Patrick Normand and “Mile by Mile by Gerry Joly.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
The duo are also preparing a second album in French, “Le country de nos idoles”, this time dedicated to paying tribute to the pillars of the Quebec music genre. This work is due to hit stores in September, announced Annie Blanchard, recalling that it is important for the two artists to sing in French in their language.
Likewise, Maxime Landry and Annie Banchard presented a potpourri that combined popular Quebec plays in French and their English counterpart, including “Lucille”, “Ce n’est qu’un rêve” (“Just an Illusion”) and ” Help to get through the night”.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
On stage, while six musicians accompanied the two singers, there were two huge illuminated letters, K and D, for Kenny and Dolly at the back on a small pedestal. “No choice, our next show is called Kraft Dinner,” Maxime Landry said with amusement in his first side speech on Friday.
Maxime Landry and Annie Blanchard were greeted with great fanfare when the curtain rose and kept the audience engaged throughout the evening thanks to their efficient selection of chosen tracks, particularly during the potpourri tribute to Johny Cash, including Tennessee Flat Top Box ‘ and ‘Folsom Prison Blue’ – to which everyone in the cabaret got up to dance and clap their hands.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
Originally intended for country lovers and as a tribute to their idols, the show easily manages to bring even the least informed together. The vocal abilities of the two singers, whose friendship was palpable and contagious on Friday, impress at times, including on “Lady,” which Maxime Landry performed solo, or on “Coat of Many Colors,” which Annie Blanchard reserved for herself .
The duo will be back at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal on Saturday and November 17th and 18th. It will also be seen at the Capitole Theater in Quebec on April 2nd. About sixty dates of the tour “Jolene & The Gambler – The Land of Our Idols” are currently on the program, with planned stops in Acadie, in particular in Caraquet.