The Posies @ Point Éphémère, Paris - April 8th 2016

There was a time when the Posies were destined to become the next big thing. And maybe they were for a while. They did have a string of radio hits in the early nineties which must have somewhat secured them financially. Nowadays, Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer re-activate the band every once in a while but seem to mostly devote their time to other projects, which is what makes their Paris date such a treat.

Their style of power-pop (for lack of a better word) isn't exactly fashionable these day but it doesn't seem to phase them: they're here to play.

They played eleven songs off o their new record, which thankfully is as good as anything they have released 25 years ago. Of course the best audience reaction came when they played Dream All Day and set closer Solar Sister, but new songs like We R Power and M Doll were also warmly welcomed by a small but enthusiastic crowd.

This is not arena rock. There are no mind-melting guitar solos, no stage heroics, no fist-pumping, crowd-chanting anthem. Just a duo of great songwriters performing their songs with craft and generosity, not because they have to but because they want to. 

In the words of another cult band with deceptively simple melodies, this is pop.