Quelques semaines après son (très attendu) premier album, Scowl était de passage en France pour son plus gros concert en tête d’affiche d’une salle parisienne, au Trabendo. L’occasion donc pour les californiens de venir défendre Are We All Angels et pour nous d’également découvrir Modern Color, la première partie du groupe sur sa tournée mais également les locaux de MSS FRNCE, invités pour l’occasion.
La présence d’un groupe local qui vient se rajouter sur un plateau international en tournée est toujours à saluer et c’est le cas de MSS FRNCE, qui s’est ajouté à l’affiche quelques semaines avant le concert. Le groupe parisien qui vient de sortir son dernier EP VII, arrive sur scène devant un public pas si étranger que ça au quatuor. MSS FRNCE nous propose son punk rock brut, rapide, dépouillé et un peu décalé auquel le public semble accrocher. J’avais déjà pu voir le groupe, déjà au Trabendo en première partie de The Bronx en 2023 et je ressors de ce deuxième concert plus convaincu que la première fois. Un groupe sur lequel on peut garder un œil!
En résulte une très bonne ambiance où les stagedives, y compris ceux de Kat, et les singalongs se succèdent sans temps mort. En revanche, cette énergie brute laisse moins de place aux subtilités et aux sonorités plus pop des morceaux du dernier album. Il y a peut-être un meilleur équilibre à trouver entre ces deux penchants afin de réussir à trouver l’équilibre parfait entre la brutalité des premiers morceaux, le côté plus soft des derniers, et l’énergie que le groupe souhaite insuffler à ces prestations live. Dans ce style, et l’exemple va presque de soi, Turnstile a réussi à trouver ce parfait équilibre. On va évidemment pas attendre de Scowl de faire du Turnstile mais la recette qu’ils ont trouvé peut être source d’inspiration. Le show reste largement réussi, le public est enjoué et on ne voit pas passer les 50 minutes du set des américains, qui se termine avec Special, probablement le meilleur morceau de ce dernier album et sans doute un futur morceau incontournable du groupe.
Merci à Romain de Singularités pour l’accréditation, au Trabendo pour son accueil et merci à Méline pour ses photos!
A few weeks after the release of their (highly anticipated) debut album, Scowl stopped by France for their biggest headlining show in a Paris venue, at Le Trabendo. It was the perfect opportunity for the Californians to showcase Are We All Angels, and for us to also discover Modern Color—the band’s tour support—as well as local act MSS FRNCE, invited specially for the occasion.
The presence of a local band added to an international touring lineup is always worth highlighting, and that was the case with MSS FRNCE, who were added to the bill just a few weeks before the show. The Parisian band, fresh off the release of their latest EP VII, took the stage in front of a crowd that wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with the quartet. MSS FRNCE delivered their raw, fast, stripped-down and slightly offbeat brand of punk rock, which clearly resonated with the audience. I had already seen them once before—also at Le Trabendo, opening for The Bronx in 2023—and I came away from this second performance even more convinced. Definitely a band to keep an eye on!
Next up, the mood shifted to more post-hardcore sounds with Modern Color, whose direction is actually quite close to the path Scowl has taken on their latest album—explaining their presence on the tour. The band delivers music with a melancholic vibe, while retaining a rough edge. Personally, I didn’t really connect with their sound. For bands like this, the risk in a live setting is coming across as monotonous or lacking dynamics—especially with vocals that are somewhat recessed and feel distant. That’s the impression I got during the Californians’ set, although I wouldn’t say the performance was bad.
Scowl took the stage around 9:30 p.m., and despite being a relatively young band, the Santa Cruz natives have already played on French soil multiple times—whether at major events like Hellfest last year, Cabaret Vert in 2023, or in smaller underground venues thanks to local hardcore collectives. The band appeared extremely comfortable on stage, and Kat Moss continues to establish herself as a charismatic frontwoman. As expected, the setlist focused heavily on their latest album Are We All Angels, which is shaping up to be one of 2025’s standout releases. Already hinted at on their 2023 EP Psychic Dance Routine, the band has fully embraced more pop and alternative rock influences, moving away from their hardcore roots. These new influences are definitely felt live, but the band still leans heavily into their hardcore foundation in concert. Of course, early tracks like Bloodhound and Fuck Around are still part of the set—oozing the hardcore aggression and energy of their early days—but the newer songs are performed with the same ferocity.
The result was a great atmosphere with constant stagedives (including some from Kat herself) and singalongs from start to finish. However, this raw energy somewhat overshadowed the more subtle and pop-infused aspects of the new album. There may be a better balance to strike between their more brutal early sound, the softer nuances of the new material, and the energy they aim to channel into their live shows. In this regard, and it’s an obvious example, Turnstile has managed to find that perfect balance. Of course, no one expects Scowl to become Turnstile, but their approach could serve as a source of inspiration. That said, the show was a definite success—the crowd was energized, and the Americans’ 50-minute set flew by, ending with Special, arguably the best track on the new album and very likely a future fan favorite.
In a Trabendo that wasn’t as packed as it’s been on other occasions, but filled with a crowd clearly on their side, Scowl came to present their debut album Are We All Angels. While this new record embraces a more pop-oriented and ambitious sound, the band delivered a performance full of raw energy and passion, led by their charismatic frontwoman, Kat Moss.
