"It's not for nothing" that Alan Cavé wasn't playing in Montreal
Pierre-Phaill Goudou ·
The next stop of "Se pa pou dat 25\35" will be Paris in the spring of 2027.
Montreal welcomed, on Sunday, November 8, the fifth concert of "Se pa pou dat 25\35." This series of shows aims to mark the 35-year career of singer Alan Cavé and the 25th anniversary of his album "Se pa pou dat," released in 2001.
Having started from Boston, the concert tour had made stops in New York, Orlando, and Miami before setting down in Montreal. Sold out, Alan Cavé delivered his fifth show at Place Bell, which has a capacity of 10,300 seats. Those who suffer from the "first time" syndrome will forever remember that he is the first Haitian artist to have filled this venue to the brim.
As early as 5 p.m., media representatives were on site for the pre-concert press conference, while the most punctual spectators were already beginning to line up to secure a spot in the venue. Before the press conference had even ended, the atmosphere was starting to heat up in anticipation of the first arrivals entering the arena.
The concert, which was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., was delayed by only eight minutes due to some technical glitches. At precisely 8:08 p.m., a large screen at the back of the venue lit up, fog effects swept across the stage, and Alan Cavé made his entrance to loud cheers and applause from the crowd.
From the very first notes of the song "All I Want," a former hit by the group ZIN, the audience accompanied the singer right through to the end of the concert. Alan performed solo during the first hour of his fifth concert, revisiting his own hit songs and hits from his former group, ZIN — songs that plunged the older members of the audience into nostalgia, stirring up memories from the 1990s.
Singer Alan Cavé introduces his father, poet Syto Cavé, to the audience
The singer followed with a list of classics including "Je femen, Manyenw, Jwenn, 365 jou, Ma rose and Nan nanan" before transitioning into a ballad in order to introduce his father Syto Cavé for a poetry session.
This moment served as an ode to our beloved Haiti. In tribute to Haitian artists who have passed away, the show continued with "La pesonn," a song by Caribbean Sextet, performed by Boulo Valcourt, with lyrics written by Syto Cavé, Alan's father.
The concert resumed with the songs "Yereswa" and "Besoin de toi" to close out the first 60 minutes of the show. The hit "Saw ap fe avem" preceded the song "De la tête aux pieds." The former ZIN singer then introduced his first guest of the evening, Master Brain, whose real name is Vladimir Mead.
After "Cant do this to me" and "Fanm dous mwen," Alan welcomed a surprise guest who was none other than his cousin Richard Cavé, who set Place Bell ablaze with his first hit: "Malade" from his group Kaï.
Alan Cavé took back the stage with former ZIN hits such as "Tou kole, Yo pou ZIN," rolling out the red carpet to welcome the true Queen of Compas, Georgie Methelus. The venue erupted from the very first notes of "Coq," Georgie's former hit with the group ZIN.
Alan Cavé closed his concert with the songs "Fem vole," "Please baby," and of course, his mega-hit "Se pa pou dat," which lends its name to the tour.
Two keyboardists, a guitarist, a bassist, and drummer Shedly Abraham — the only well-known musician among them — accompanied Alan on stage in Montreal. The five young women who provided backing vocals at Alan Cavé's fifth concert delivered remarkable work. There were also around ten male and female dancers performing Hip Hop choreography of the kind we have come to expect at Haitian concerts.
"Se pa pou dat 25\35" was a great success in Montreal, particularly in terms of audience participation, as every seat was sold. Some technical issues and coordination problems, however, revealed a lack of professionalism among members of the show's organizing team.
The next stop of "Se pa pou dat 25\35" is set to be Paris in the spring of 2027.