[Report] Pumarosa bewitches the Ephemeral Point

For the first time in Paris since the release of its album, the English band Pumarosa was in concert at Point Ephémère last Wednesday. Bewitching and majestic, it was a real slap.

We discovered them in the first part of Foals, at the Nuits de Fourvière for an energetic and convincing set. This Wednesday, the Londoners of Pumarosa were back in France, at the Point Ephémère in Paris more precisely, this time for their own concert.

Before the Londoners, it is the French of Dead Sea who invest the stage to interpret some songs. Already seen in the first part of Grands Boulevards at Batofar last June, the quartet is adorned with light bars behind him, dancing to the rhythm of the music. The handful of songs is nice, the style is similar to Pumarosa less electric. Nevertheless, the whole thing becomes quite repetitive and the public does not seem very convinced. It must be said that the band is not very present on stage either. Only the singer stands out, wearing a bright red sweatshirt. "We have one last song before we give way to Pumarosa," she announces. Last song, more energetic and lively, which makes us finally regret the departure of the group. 

Mystical atmosphere

9:20 p.m.: The ambient music of the room goes out, smoke comes from the stage. The mystical atmosphere specific to the group arises. For those who do not know them, voila. Pumarosa enters the scene soberly and begins with Dragonfly ; first track of the concert which is also the first track of The Witch, excellent first album of the group released last May.

If the group is composed of five members, our eyes will rest throughout the concert on Isabel Muñoz-Newsome, singer and leader with aura at Florence Welch. With her unique grace and voluptuousness, the Londoner charms everyone in the crowd that night. She even uses a stick on the strings of her guitar, original and effective. His dance moves go in all directions, his voice is divine. On soaring tracks such as Dragonfly, the latter bewitches you while on other quieter ones (Hollywood, Lions' Den), it touches you deeply. Throughout the concert, Isabel will also receive some declarations of love à la " Isabel, on t'aime", to which she will respond on a humorous background "What is it? I've been busy" ("What? I was busy").

But the other male members of Pumarosa (Neville James on guitar, Henry Brown on bass, Tomoya Suzuki on keyboard and saxophone and Nicholas Owen on drums) are not to be outdone and deliver a flawless instrumental. The animosity is at its peak during the repeated " Oh you, stupid son of a bitch" of Honey and the devilishly electric outro of Cecile, from the EP Pumarosa of the group released in September 2016.

The album The Witch lives up to its name

The long-awaited moment of the concert arrives after about forty minutes: Priestess. The front rows recognize the beginning of the introduction of the masterful title of more than 7 minutes 30 and shout a few shouts, far from hiding their joy. A true communion between the Point Ephémère and Isabel: during the pre-chorus, the latter lets go and begins her jerky dance moves with a big smile on her lips, she surely realizes the effect she provides at that moment. During the chorus, she then begins to make more fluid waves with her arms before loudly proclaiming a "Paris, I want to see you dance!". Then comes the introduction of the saxophone, particularly pleasant for the ears.

The concert ends with the fun Snake. However, the London quintet returns for two more tracks saying that it is a real pleasure to play for us. It will first be a cover of Hothouse by The Sound before ending on the most danceable My Gruesome Loving Friend, concluding a little more than an hour of show.

At Point Ephémère this Wednesday night, Pumarosa asserted itself as a true revelation of English indie rock, thanks to its singer Isabel Muñoz-Newsome, full of talent, grace and magic. Each of their tracks is a success, and even more live than on their excellent album The Witch.

Setlist:

Dragonfly
Honey
Cecile
Barefoot
Hollywood
The Witch
Lions' Den
Red
Priestess
Snake

Hothouse (The Sound cover)
My Gruesome Loving Friend