For the better part of the new millennium, a circle of French musicians (many in Lyon) have been producing batches of spirited DIY punk - whose output, purity, and idealism can give any jaded fool reason for optimism.
I was first turned on to the french punk scene at an Amanda Woodward show at 007 Strahov in Prague. The now defunct five-piece's EPs and two full lengths (try "
La Decadence de la Decadence" for a start) inspired a search for similar artists. I quickly found Daitro, whose LP "Laissez Vivre Les Squelettes" is regarded as their best work and an underground favorite.
Daitro released "Y" in 2009 amid a delicious non-controversy involving a tour offer from american band Thursday, which Daitro declined on principle (emails were published on
Daitro's website to clear the air). The band is now on hiatus, but has planned a reunion show in Toulouse in May with Sed Non Satiata.
Members of Daitro have quickly gone on to several other projects. Baton Rouge (trio fronted by Daitro guitarist/vocalist Julien Paget) released a full length last year titled "Fragments d'eux Memes" - a more straightforward and stripped down punk/guitar noise sound to Daitro's melodic, raucous, turn on a dime, deliberate and lengthy works. And this year 12XU (also fronted by Julien) released a full length as well. I think 12XU put out a more cohesive sound in its 4-part 7" single series, but it's all available for a free listen on their
bandcamp.
There is a lot here to catch up on. It's been exciting to follow the projects spawned from Daitro, I haven't listed them all so I hope to update in the future when there is material to post. Daitro remains my favorite of all the bands I've mentioned, and they have a great sample of
mp3s here for the uninitiated. It's been hard to obtain physical copies of Daitro's releases in the US - frustrating when you want to support something you love - but Baton Rouge and 12XU seem to have embraced wider distribution through Bandcamp, and a US distributer
Bakery Outlet.