Justice: Live in Concert

By Jesse Ship
April 4, 2008

As played out as it sounds, Justice are a real indie phenomenon. Like most strokes of genius, their first hit came almost by accident. Enter a mid-level band known as Simian, and a remix contest for a jangly rock song called Never Be Alone, created by their record label as a means to stimulate the arts community and boost the band’s popularity. Next, place yourself in the shoes of two up and coming Parisian house producers (Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay) looking for exposure. A remix was submitted but it was turned down. Like any clever freelancer, they didn’t let their failure defeat them, and asked the people at Source, Simian’s record label, permission to shop the remix to other labels. Source complied, and justice was soon delivered to the boys when they got picked up by Pedro Winter aka Busy P, head of Ed Banger Records and Daft Punk’s manager. The critically acclaimed Never Be Alone remix was released in summer 2003 and became a mega-mega hit appearing in everything from movies to commercials for cell phone companies like Virgin Mobile.

Fast forward a handful of years and their full album, Cross, is released. Already on their 2nd world tour this year, I was privileged to attend a live performance by the duo. I don’t think I have ever seen such a tightly knit crowd of fans at The Sound Emporium (formerly known as the Docks) right here in Toronto. The fans formed an impenetrable shield of partiers. At the show’s peak, the flashing lights revealed a squirming mass of fans.

Opening for the evening was Mario J, former owner of the legendary house flavoured after hours, Industry, and now current manager of ADD productions. Many were surprised and confused to hear a minimal techno beat, as if they had never knew such sounds existed.

Busy P took up the reigns next, banging out bouncy house tracks. Most surprising (and I’m sure this mix was saved for the Canadian leg of the tour) was a mash-up of the Swollen Members hit Fuel Injected from a few years back. According to Pedro “the girls took off their shirts and the men got crazy” when this track was dropped in Montreal but maybe he meant Vancouver?

From my upper balcony view, a lone glow stick was flipped and tossed, high in the air. Despite Justice being dubbed a “nu-rave” band, this was probably the most fluorescent part of the crowd in attendance.

Oddly, the house lights went up after Pedro’s set, and we were subjected to a solid twenty minutes of bad ‘80s glam metal. I’m not too sure what they were going for, but I guess it made for a rare chance to make sure that chick you’d been chatting with was all that you had thought; or if you’re a girl, then you could have successfully scowled at all the creeps that had grabbed your butt on the dance floor...Or, if you were 19+, you could have gotten a drink at the respective drinking station...

But, moving onwards! At long last Justice took the stage, and revealing a veritable wall of amps ensconcing a massive cross. It wasn’t till mid way into the third song, that the stage was flooded with lavender lights and a massive analog switchboard of flashing lights, was revealed. Pretty much all the songs from the album were played in one way, shape or form, but few were true to the original versions in the album. There was definitely a heavy acid influence, followed by stripped down, bare-boned, almost acoustic remixes. The strangest remix of the night was easily the 90’s head-banging The Party with vocals by Uffie. There were no shortages of friendships going around that night either. Justice really wanted to share the love and managed to mix at least three versions of Never Be Alone, (including the more obscure Fast Track Live vs We Are Your Friends Etienne De Crecy version) meanwhile teasing the audience with short bursts of their Klaxons Golden Skans remixes.

If this show wasn’t enough, you could have caught more Justice action at the Rogers & Vice Magazine all you can drink free party bender the following night. Or you can still catch a glimpse of So-Me, Ed Banger’s coveted album cover artist at the unveiling of his art show at the newly opened Studio Gallery at 294 College Street. The show is available for viewing until May 22nd and features wacky images of Busy P’s iconic mug in various pop art guises, from sad clown, to Blue Jays baller, to Tupac-esque thug angel. This is definitely a sight to see, so check it out while you still can!